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  • Christopher Chatham
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Christopher Chatham

Partner

Manatt Entertainment
Contact
  • cchatham@manatt.com
  • Phone: 310.312.4159
  • Download vCard
  • Los Angeles
Bar Admissions
  • California

    Hawaii

    Washington, D.C.

Education
  • Southwestern Law School, J.D., 2005

    University of Virginia, B.A., Government, 2000

Services
  • Corporate and Finance
  • Digital and Technology Transactions
  • Litigation
  • Venture Capital / Emerging Companies
Industries
  • Film, Television and Digital Content
  • Manatt Entertainment
  • Manatt Retail and Consumer Products

Show Full Bio

  • Profile
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Honors & Awards
  • Memberships
  • Publications
Profile

Profile

Chris represents high-profile individuals and companies from media, entertainment, production, sports and technology, as well as family offices, startups, professional athletes, celebrities, public figures and influencers. His execution-oriented approach and unique breadth of experience handling cutting-edge transactions allow his clients to adapt and grow their businesses in today’s advanced data- and technology-driven marketplace. His portfolio also includes mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, brand monetization, cross-border transactions, equity and debt financings and corporate governance, as well as general business and dispute resolution-related matters.

Chris' broad litigation and counseling practice includes media and entertainment law; misappropriation of the right of publicity; employment disputes; defamation; business torts; breach of fiduciary duties; privately-held companies; the formation and division of trusts; real estate; and commercial law. Understanding his clients’ objectives and risk tolerance, he serves as a trusted business and legal advisor, structuring and negotiating unprecedented deals on behalf of his clients and bringing them successfully across the finish line. Chris has become the go-to lawyer in town for complex corporate and commercial transactions involving icons and moguls across a wide range of industries, including media, entertainment, technology, sports, consumer brands and health and wellness.

Frequently recognized as one of the entertainment industry’s top lawyers, Chris’ clients are currently functioning on multiple platforms generating more than 800 hours of television per year (including the #1 syndicated TV talk show), engaged in the development of dozens of pilots, selling more than 50 million books and operating a number of digital platforms with over a hundred million users per month. His impactful work has earned him recognition as a top Hollywood dealmaker from various media publications across the country, including Variety’s Legal Impact Report and the publication’s highly competitive Dealmakers Impact Report, The Hollywood Reporter’s Top Dealmakers which features major game-changing deals that have impacted the showbiz landscape, as well as other major publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Bloomberg and other nationally recognized outlets. Before starting his career as a lawyer, Chris was a corporate bond trader on Wall Street and a Registered Representative of the National Association of Securities Dealers, coordinating billions of dollars in debt offerings for clients.

Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagements

Serves as an on-air legal analyst on network television and is part of Dr. Phil McGraw’s team of attorneys who explain complicated legal issues

Honors & Awards

Honors & Awards

Dealmakers Impact Report, Variety, 2014–23

Legal Impact Report, Variety, 2014–23

Top Dealmakers, The Hollywood Reporter, 2022

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2015–23

Rising Stars, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2012 and 2014

Memberships

Memberships

Admitted to practice in the state of California, the state of Hawaii and the District of Columbia

Publications

Publications

Quoted, “How Dr. Phil And Robin Have Fought Back Against Scammers Stealing Their Identities,” Dr. Phil, February 27, 2023.

Quoted, “Why “Mogul” Is the Title Everyone in Hollywood Is After,” The Hollywood Reporter, October 25, 2022.

Featured, “Entertainment Lawyer Christopher Chatham Joins Manatt, Phelps & Phillips,” Variety, January 6, 2022.

Featured, “Manatt adds Hollywood dealmaker to L.A. entertainment practice,” Reuters, January 6, 2022.

Chris in the News

  • 04.19.23

    Six Manatt Entertainment Attorneys Named to Variety’s 2023 Legal ...

    Manatt Entertainment Leader Jordan Bromley and Partners Eric Custer, Gary Gilbert, Beau Stapleton, Christopher Chatham and Sophia Yen were ...

  • 02.27.23

    Chatham Featured on ‘Dr. Phil’ Discussing Fighting Celebrity Scams

    Chris Chatham appeared on the “Dr. Phil” show to discuss his work defending the titular star and his wife from scams using their n...

  • 12.23.22

    Chatham Named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2022 Top Dealmakers

    Manatt Entertainment Partner Chris Chatham was named as one of Hollywood’s Top Dealmakers of 2022 by The Hollywood Reporter, a list that ...

  • 12.19.22

    Manatt Represents Chris Harrison in Launch of iHeartRadio Podcast ...

    A Manatt team led by Manatt Entertainment Partner Chris Chatham represented former Bachelor host, Chris Harrison, in the launch of his new ...

Show More


Chris's Newsletters

  • 01.19.23

    Entertainment Industry Predictions: Streamers, Litigation, Emerging ...

    Below we predict what 2023 will bring, ranging from the continued explosion of the creator economy to advancement of novel technologies such as NFTs ...

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