April 8, 2026
Seven Willkie partners have been named to Variety's Legal Impact Report 2026, an annual series recognizing the entertainment industry's top attorneys:
- Tamerlin Godley, Chair of the Entertainment Litigation Practice
- Michael Gottlieb, Chair of the Crisis Management Practice, Co-Chair of the Media & First Amendment Practice, and a member of the Firm's Executive Committee
- Alex Weingarten, Managing Partner of Willkie's Los Angeles Office
- Thomas Baxter, partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department
- Alan Epstein, Chair of the Entertainment Transactions Practice
- Steve Hurdle, partner in the Entertainment Transactions Practice
- Andrew Kramer, Chair of the Motion Picture, Television and Entertainment Finance Practice
Tamerlin Godley, Michael Gottlieb and Alex Weingarten were recognized for achievements in high-stakes disputes that have helped make Willkie's Entertainment Litigation practice a market leader. The publication highlighted the team’s high-profile cases, including representing actor Blake Lively in her retaliation lawsuit against the director and co-star of It Ends With Us. The profile also noted Willkie’s representation of Pacsun in a copyright dispute with Warner Music Group.
Variety also recognized Thomas Baxter, Alan Epstein, Steve Hurdle and Andrew Kramer among Hollywood’s leading dealmakers. They were noted for leading cutting-edge transactions involving AI-related contractual and rights-use issues, including copyright protection, global piracy, licensing, consumer products, catalog sales and brand partnerships.
Willkie’s honorees are widely recognized as go-to attorneys for the entertainment industry. This is the sixth time Tamerlin Godley has been named to the Legal Impact Report, the eighth time for Alex Weingarten, the tenth time for Alan Epstein, the third time for Thomas Baxter, the fifth time for Steve Hurdle and the second year in a row for Andrew Kramer.
View Variety’s Legal Impact Report 2026 here.
