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PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Variety
Davis Wright Tremaine
Edwards Wildman
Houlihan Lokey
JAMS
Latham & Watkins
Manatt
Innis Law Group
Counsel of the Year Awards Past Winners

2010
6th annual Counsel of the Year Award WINNERS

Counsel of the Year Award

  • Joaquin Balcarcel
    General Counsel
    Grupo Televisa 

Rising Star Award

  • Joanna Mamey
    Business Representative
    Theatrical & Interactive Game Contracts
    Screen Actors Guild

PWC Dan Brandhorst Memorial Dealmaker Award

  • Claudia Teran
    Senior Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs
    Fox Cable Networks

Sports Counsel

  • Bobby Sharma
    General Counsel
    NBA Development League

Live, Location Based and Hospitality

  • Danielle J. Bernthal
    Assistant General Counsel
    Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Labor & Employment

  • Keith Gorham
    Senior Vice President
    Labor Relations
    NBC Universal

Technology and New Media Entertainment Counsel

  • Clarissa Weirick
    Senior Vice President
    Business Development and General Counsel
    Warner Bros. Digital Distribution

Public Service

  • Steven Krone
    Professor of Law and Director
    Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute
    Southwestern Law School

International Counsel

  • Gabriella Dore
    Head of Legal Affairs for Europe
    Fox International Channels

Law Firm of the Year

  • Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Founders’ Award

  • Honorable H. Warren Knight (Ret.)
    Founder of JAMS

Peacemaker Award

  • Honorable Daniel Weinstein (Ret.)
    JAMS

2009
5th Annual Counsel of the Year Awards

Counsel of the Year Award

  • Michael Fricklas
    Executive Vice President
    General Counsel & Secretary
    Viacom

PWC Dan Brandhorst Memorial Dealmaker Award

  • David Steinberg
    Executive Vice President, Legal
    Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

Rising Star Award

  • Matthew G. Matzkin
    Director of Business Affairs
    Warner Bros Television

Sports Counsel

  • Sam Fernandez
    Senior Vice President and General Counsel
    Los Angeles Dodgers

Technology and New Media Entertainment Counsel

  • Dean Marks
    Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property, Corporate, Business Development
    Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

Labor and Personal Representation Counsel

  • David White
    National Executive Director
    Screen Actors Guild

Live, Hospitality and Location-Based Entertainment Counsel

  • Pam Reynolds
    Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs
    MGM Properties

Public Service Counsel

  • Robert Rasmussen
    Dean and Director of Entertainment Certificate Program
    University of Southern California Law School

Video & Online Games Counsel

  • George Rose
    Chief Legal Officer
    Activision Blizzard

Excellence in Branded Entertainment Award

  • David B. Stern
    Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Head of Business Affairs
    Key Brand Entertainment, Inc. (dba Broadway Across America)

International Entertainment Counsel

  • Aamod Gupte
    Legal Director and General Manager
    Times Group of India

Entertainment Law Firm of the Year

  • Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

2008
4th Annual Counsel of the Year Awards


Sports Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has demonstrated a high level of achievement in service to a sports league, team, players association or similar organization.
  • Ethan Orlinsky, Winner
    Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Major League Baseball Properties
  • Bobby Sharma
    Vice President & General Counsel, NBA Development League, National Basketball Association
Technology and New Media Entertainment Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has displayed a high level of achievement in technology and/or new media.
  • Linda Bagley
    Managing Vice President, Counsel, The Walt Disney Company
  • Elizabeth Mathews, Winner
    Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, MTV Networks
  • Clarissa Weirick
    Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Labor and Personal Representation Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has shown a high level of achievement in labor relations and collective bargaining in service to management, labor organization, multi-employer bargaining group, public agency or similar organization
  • Sheldon Kasdan
    Vice President and Senior Labor Counsel, NBC Universal
  • Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Winner
    Executive Vice President, Major League Baseball
  • Stuart Tenzer
    Senior Vice President, William Morris Agency
Hospitality and Location-Based Entertainment Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has achieved a high level of success in the field of hospitality and/or location-based entertainment including restaurants, hotels, theme parks, cruise line or other hospitality-related company.
  • Danielle Bernthal
    Assistant General Counsel, Six Flags, Inc.
  • Scott McLester, Winner
    Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
Public Service Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel Employed by a Government, public, quasi-public, public-private partnership or non-profit organization related to the media and entertainment industry.
  • Nancy B. Rapoport, Winner
    Gordon & Silver, Ltd. Professor, William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • David Sherwyn
    Associate Professor of Law, Cornell School of Hotel Administration & Academic Director, Center for Hospitality Research, Cornell University
Excellence in Branded Entertainment Award
Presented Jointly to a marketing executive and in-house counsel for a collaborative effort on an innovative branded marketing campaign.
  • David Matlin, Winner
    Vice President, Legal Affairs, Home & Garden Television (HGTV)
  • David B. Stern
    Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Head of Business Affairs, Key Brand Entertainment, Inc. (dba Broadway Across America)
Rising Star Award
Presented to counsel who is under the age of 35 or has less than 10 years of combined law firm and in-house experience.
  • Relani Belous
    Vice President Business & Legal Affairs WW Television Distribution, MGM
  • Jeff Friedman
    Vice President Business & Legal Affairs, Reveille
  • Caroline Jasmine Vranca, Winner
    Executive, Business & Legal Affairs, Yari Film Group, LLC
PWC Dan Brandhorst Memorial Dealmaker Award
Presented to Counsel who has been responsible for the most noteworthy or significant transaction(s) in 2008.
  • Neil Klasky
    Vice President, Fox Networks Group
  • Kristin McQueen
    Senior Vice President, Worldwide Business and Legal Affairs, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
  • Frank H. Smith, Winner
    Senior Vice President Business & Legal Affairs, AFG/Walden Media
Outstanding Media and Entertainment Law Firm Award
Presented to the Top Media and Entertainment Practice at a Major Law Firm.
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
  • Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
  • Loeb & Loeb LLP, Winner
Counsel of the Year Award
The overall achievement award for 2008, Given to the Top In-house General Counsel or business Affairs Attorney within a Leading Media and Entertainment Company
  • David C. Friedman, Winner
    Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Summit Entertainment
  • Andrea R. Hartman
    Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, NBC Universal, Inc.
  • Claudia Teran
    Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs, Fox Cable Networks

2007
3rd Annual Counsel of the Year Awards

Counsel of the Year Award
The overall achievement award for 2007, Given to the Top In-house General Counsel or business Affairs Attorney within a Leading Media and Entertainment Company

  • Vernon Chu
    General Counsel, BBC WorldWide Americas Inc.

Outstanding Media and Entertainment Law Firm Award
Presented to the Top Media and Entertainment Practice at a Major Law Firm.

  • Greenberg Traurig

Rising Star Award
Presented to counsel who is under the age of 35 or has less than 10 years of combined law firm and in-house experience.

  • Andy Wong
    Assistant General Counsel, CBS Television

PWC Dan Brandhorst Memorial Dealmaker Award
Presented to Counsel who has been responsible for the most noteworthy or significant transaction(s).

  • Julie Jacobs
    Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, AOL

Sports Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has demonstrated a high level of achievement in service to a sports league, team, players association or similar organization.

  • Lisa Stancati
    Assistant General Counsel, ESPN

Technology and New Media Entertainment Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has displayed a high level of achievement in technology and/or new media.

  • Antonious Porch
    Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Nickelodeon/MTV Networks Digital Media

Labor and Personal Representation Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has shown a high level of achievement in labor relations and collective bargaining in service to management, labor organization, multi-employer bargaining group, public agency or similar organization

  • Laura Legge
    Vice President and Counsel, Labor Relations, ABC, Inc.

Hospitality and Location-Based Entertainment Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has achieved a high level of success in the field of hospitality and/or location-based entertainment including restaurants, hotels, theme parks, cruise line or other hospitality-related company.

  • Randy Winograd
    President and General Counsel, SBE Entertainment Group

Public Service Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel Employed by a Government, public, quasi-public, public-private partnership or non-profit organization related to the media and entertainment industry.

  • Steve Yamaguchi
    University Counsel, University of Southern California

Video and Online Games Counsel Award

  • Debra Baker
    Senior Vice President, Operations, Warner Bros. Interactive

Excellence in Branded Entertainment Award
Presented Jointly to a marketing executive and in-house counsel for a collaborative effort on an innovative branded marketing campaign.

  • Lynette Fuller-Andrews
    Assistant General Counsel
  • Claire Edgar
    Director, Champion Brand Marketing, Hanes Brand

2006
2nd Annual Counsel of the Year Awards


Sports Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has demonstrated a high level of achievement in service to a sports league, team, players association or similar organization.
  • Brooke Beyer Jr.
    Marketing Counsel, NASCAR INC.
  • Daniel M. Siegel
    Vice President and Legal Counsel, CMG Worldwide INC.
Technology and New Media Entertainment Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has displayed a high level of achievement in technology and/or new media.
  • Eric Golden
    President and Counsel, Imagility, INC.
  • Victoria Libin
    Senior Director, Legal Affairs, Atom Entertainment INC.
Labor and Personal Representation Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has shown a high level of achievement in labor relations and collective bargaining in service to management, labor organization, multi-employer bargaining group, public agency or similar organization
  • Jean Bonini
    Executive Vice President, Labor Relations, Sony Pictures Television
  • Patric Verrone
    President, Writers Guild of America West
Hospitality and Location-Based Entertainment Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel who has achieved a high level of success in the field of hospitality and/or location-based entertainment including restaurants, hotels, theme parks, cruise line or other hospitality-related company.
  • Michael Silver
    Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Universal Parks and Reports, NBC Universal
Public Service Counsel Award
Presented to Counsel Employed by a Government, public, quasi-public, public-private partnership or non-profit organization related to the media and entertainment industry.
  • Nancy B. Rapoport
    Gordon & Silver, Ltd. Professor, William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Rising Star Award
Presented to counsel who is under the age of 35 or has less than 10 years of combined law firm and in-house experience.
  • Kevin Garrett Monroe
    Senior Counsel, Walt Disney Pictures
Deal Maker of the Year Award
Presented to Counsel who has been responsible for the most noteworthy or significant transaction(s) in 2007.
  • Rick B. Levy
    Chief Business Development Officer & General Counsel, Office of the Chairman, International Creative Management
Counsel of the Year Award
The overall achievement award for 2007, Given to the Top In-house General Counsel or business Affairs Attorney within a Leading Media and Entertainment Company
  • Bob Gerrard
    Executive Vice President and General Counsel

2005
1st Annual Counsel of the Year Awards

Rising Star Award
Presented to counsel who is under the age of 35 or has less than 10 years of combined law firm and in-house experience.

  • Travis Tygart
    Senior Managing Director and General Counsel, USADA
Deal Maker of the Year Award
Presented to Counsel who has been responsible for the most noteworthy or significant transaction(s) in 2005.
  • David Baker
    Arena Football League, Former Commissioner
Counsel of the Year Award
The overall achievement award for 2005, Given to the Top In-house General Counsel or business Affairs Attorney within a Leading Media and Entertainment Company
  • Leah Weil
    Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Sony Pictures Entertainment
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