For the second year running, the 2007 edition of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers USA, has named Franklin Weinrib one of only four top-ranking New York firms in the category of Media and Entertainment practice covering theater, film, television and music. Chambers describes the firm as “‘A leading boutique” that “remains on top because of its complete focus on entertainment matters. The team covers a wide range of issues, representing leading authors on their film rights and on topics relating to financing agreements, distribution and production, music publishing and recordings as well as theater and motion pictures. It is an active practice with a full range of clients across the board.” Chambers further notes, “The firm covers all areas of the industry, including authors; Broadway producers; documentary feature producers; film companies; foreign film producers; independent film production companies and television.”
Three of the firm’s partners also are cited as “leading individuals” in the Media and Entertainment category. Michael Rudell is noted to be “one of the deans of the media and entertainment Bar” and “‘an authoritative contractual attorney” who has “counseled entertainment companies ranging from startup ventures to Fortune 500 corporations.” Elliot Brown is described as “one of the upstanding theater experts,” and “a key player” with “an active profile” representing many Broadway shows. Nick Gordon is noted as “a major name in the music industry, representing big record labels … as well as smaller labels on distribution agreements and negotiation agreements” with clients that include content providers within the digital area.
The Chambers rankings are independently researched, published annually in book form, and available online at http://www.chambersandpartners.com/.