Four GW Law alumni have made The Hollywood Reporter's (THR) 12th annual list of the 100 top "Power Lawyers" in the entertainment industry. The list recognizes the most influential attorneys in Hollywood who have guided industry-shaping mergers and deals with high-profile disputes amid the #MeToo and Time's Up movements. According to the magazine, attorneys were selected based on the year's biggest deals and most significant litigation, as determined by THR editors. "As part of the extensive research and selection process, THR accepts nominations of lawyers who have distinguished themselves in one of five areas: corporate dealmaking, litigation, talent dealmaking, technology/convergence and music."
This year, alumni have been recognized for helping many stars such as Elton John, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Trevor Noah capitalize on their success. Read more about how these alumni are changing the industry below.
Daniel Black, JD '76: During the past year, Mr. Black has helped more than a dozen clients—60 percent of whom are women and minorities—secure a combined $40 million in guaranteed compensation, among them Paramount's Dan Cohen, A&E's Elaine Frontain Bryant, and Lifetime's Gena McCarthy. "It means so much to be able to tell clients, 'You can sit in the board room and know you have earned your place at the table," he says. When he's not talking salaries, Mr. Black has carved out a niche helping digital clients, such as Pokemon and Microsoft, navigate Hollywood.
• If I couldn't live in L.A., I'd move to … "New York or Paris."
Craig Jacobson, JD '79: Since signing Trevor Noah, Mr. Jacobson extended the Daily Show host's deal through 2022 and struck a key pact between Noah and Comedy Central parent Viacom for first-look rights to any content (film, TV, or shortform) that he creates. Mr. Jacobson, who has long worked with Lorne Michaels and Ryan Seacrest, also this year started repping Mattel, which has Barbie and Hot Wheels films in the works.
• If I couldn't live in L.A., I'd move to … "New York."
Lawrence Shire, JD '82: Mr. Shire has been helping legends take on new projects, including David Letterman's $15 million deal to return to television with a Netflix talk show; Elton John's three-year, 300-city farewell tour; and Bruce Springsteen's one-man Broadway show. He also had the enormous task of helping Facebook strike dozens of licensing deals to bring programming to its new video tab.
• Please reboot Late Show With David Letterman or Caddyshack
Nancy Rose, JD '83: When Lin-Manuel Miranda rallied 20-plus Latin artists for the Hurricane Maria aid song "Almost Like Praying," Ms. Rose and her team worked with their reps and convinced platforms like iTunes to waive distribution fees. And when he mashed up tracks from Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen to create "Found/Tonight" for the "March for Our Lives," she secured the necessary releases. "Lin will drop the idea in our lap, and our job is to make it happen," she says. She also repped Beau Willimon in Hulu's straight-to-series deal for his space drama The First, which—in a rare instance — he will own via his banner Westward Productions.
• Favorite excuse for running late: "Blame Uber."
THR also ranked GW Law as a top 10 school for entertainment law in its April 4 Power Lawyers issue. Visit this page to read more.