Conner, Gilbert Tapped to Lead Firm's Nationally Recognized Practice
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced that Lindsay Conner and Gary Gilbert have been named co-chairs of the firm's national Entertainment & Media practice. Conner and Gilbert are both partners in Manatt's Los Angeles office.
Representing global corporate players and legendary talent across film, television, and music, Manatt provides entertainment clients with a full array of services. The firm's lawyers regularly handle film and television financing, production, and distribution on a worldwide basis, copyright matters, union and guild contracts, entertainment licensing deals, mergers and acquisitions of companies and film, television and music assets, as well as representation of high-profile music, film and television talent, and litigation of a wide variety of entertainment and media disputes. Manatt's Entertainment & Media practice is also at the forefront of transformative technologies and digital media.
"Lindsay and Gary are emblematic of Manatt's strength in the business of entertainment," said senior partner Lee Phillips, who established the firm's entertainment and media practice more than 30 years ago and continues to represent a roster of superstar clients. "Together, Lindsay's groundbreaking work negotiating important deals in film and television, and Gary's decades as a powerhouse music lawyer representing major talent, showcase what we do best. Under Lindsay and Gary's leadership, the practice will continue to provide exceptional counsel, combining expertise in both traditional and new media, and devising innovative solutions for entertainment clients, both corporations and talent."
With eight offices across the country, Manatt is nationally recognized as a leader in the industry, consistently ranked among the top entertainment law practices by Chambers USA. In November 2012, the firm was ranked as a Tier 1 practice for entertainment law by U.S. News & World Report, the publication's highest honor. Firm partners have also achieved star status, receiving accolades in The Best Lawyers in America, Los Angeles magazine, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
"Manatt is known industry-wide as a leader in the entertainment and media space," said Conner. "Our lawyers do cutting-edge work with a strong focus on client service. I am honored to be their colleague and to be named co-chair of the practice with Gary, who represents the best of what an entertainment lawyer can be."
Conner has served as chief outside entertainment counsel for several major film studios and television networks and numerous film and television production and distribution companies, and as lead counsel in large finance, distribution, and M&A transactions for entertainment companies, major financial institutions and private equity funds. He has restructured the production and distribution of a multibillion-dollar television franchise, closed half-billion-dollar feature film slate finance and distribution deals, and negotiated deals for the acquisition and sale of companies as well as film, television and new media assets.
Gilbert remarked that Manatt's many honors "have come because we've been privileged with opportunities to provide smart, creative counsel to a distinguished roster of clients. The caliber of lawyers in this group is second to none. I am very pleased to work with Lindsay to lead a practice that possesses such depth of experience."
Formerly the Senior Vice President, Business Management, of Capitol Records, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the ACM, Gilbert is well known in the music industry for negotiating record, performance, publishing, management, producer, and touring deals for top recording artists, songwriters, live performers, and producers, including several iconic Nashville stars. Among a broad array of services, Gilbert negotiates the sales of personal management companies, sales of music publishing catalogs, record contracts, tour agreements, producer agreements, publishing agreements and management agreements. He is currently counseling his legendary music clients on master reversions and copyright reversions, which will have significant impact on the entertainment industry for years to come. He also represents top executives within the entertainment industry, as well as well-known athletes and former athletes in the sports industry. Gilbert has been named a "Super Lawyer" for over ten consecutive years.
Conner and Gilbert succeed former practice chair Alan Brunswick, a labor relations and employment lawyer at the forefront of advising studios and producers on today's chief entertainment labor issues.
About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation's leading law firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base - including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies - across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.