America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2011: Media & Entertainment

Chambers & Partners has compiled its independent and objective list of America's Leading Lawyers for Business based on comments gathered from thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers from Maine to Hawaii. This guide — which is designed to reflect market opinion — contains a view of the firms and attorneys who are considered leaders in their field.

In Chambers' 2011 review of national legal talent in the area of "Media & Entertainment," our Firm and our lawyers are listed among the best in the country.

Chambers' comments:

New York Ranking: Tier 2

The Firm: Kirkland & Ellis' standing in the market was transformed by its hire of Dale Cendali and her team from O'Melveny & Myers in 2009. Commentators are now unanimous in acknowledging this team's position among the elite of media and entertainment litigators, as evidenced by its representation of prominent clients such as Twentieth Century Fox, JK Rowling, Warner Bros and The Associated Press.

Sources Say: "Top-quality, skilled entertainment litigators."

Key Individuals: Dale Cendali is a leading IP litigator with a national practice. Clients regularly turn to her regarding matters of copyright, trademark, patent and Internet law.

District of Columbia Ranking: Tier 2

The Firm: Kirkland & Ellis is acknowledged as a leading firm for plaintiff-side representations in First Amendment and defamation cases. The group represents both corporations and high-profile individuals across a wide variety of industries. Examples include Chiquita Brands International, Ford, GM and Motorola.  

Sources say: "Clearly the leading plaintiffs firm – these guys are the ones to go to if you are on that side of the table."

Key Individuals: Thomas Yannucci is "one of the best plaintiff-side media lawyers you will find." He has a great track record in handling high-profile matters for high-profile clients, having represented the award-winning HBO program 'The Sopranos' as well as the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Tigers and 'super agents' Leigh Steinberg and Jeff Moorad.

Reprinted with permission from Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2011— www.chambersandpartners.com.