Walter (Beau) Stapleton
Partner, Corporate & Financial Services
Beau Stapleton is a partner in Willkie’s Los Angeles office, where he is a member of the Corporate & Financial Services Department and the Entertainment Transactions Practice.
Beau advises a wide range of stakeholders in the entertainment industry on complex and multidisciplinary deals. His transactional practice spans varied industries, including music, film, television and digital media. He represents some of the nation’s most well-known artists, studios, investment firms, media companies, directors, producers, publishers and composers.
Beau has been recognized for his work by numerous leading entertainment and legal publications, including Billboard, Variety and The Best Lawyers in America.
Beau advises a wide range of stakeholders in the entertainment industry on complex and multidisciplinary deals. His transactional practice spans varied industries, including music, film, television and digital media. He represents some of the nation’s most well-known artists, studios, investment firms, media companies, directors, producers, publishers and composers.
Beau has been recognized for his work by numerous leading entertainment and legal publications, including Billboard, Variety and The Best Lawyers in America.
Experience
Prior to obtaining his law degree, Beau spent ten years in the music industry as an entrepreneur, artist and composer, and he toured globally as a musician.
- Recognized as a Top Music Lawyer by Billboard, 2023-2025
- Named to “Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” by Lawdragon, 2025
- Recognized as a Dealmaker of the Year by Variety, 2025
- Named to “Legal Impact Report: Hollywood's Top Entertainment Dealmakers,” by Variety, 2023–2024
- Named “One to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in America, 2023
- Recipient of the Paul Miller Scholarship Award, Los Angeles Copyright Society, 2013
- Moderator, “Creator & Creative Services Perspective,” Music Investor Conference, June 13, 2023
- Co-author, “Capital Gains Election Will Keep Driving Music Catalog Sales,” Bloomberg Tax, January 3, 2023
Credentials
Education
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, J.D., 2013 Colorado College, B.A., 1999