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The July 24-30, 2008 edition of The Hollywood Reporter, Esq. contains its annual list of “Power Lawyers – Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Most Influential Attorneys in Entertainment.” As in the past, Pryor Cashman LLP is well represented on the list, with partners Howard Siegel and James Janowitz selected for inclusion as “great entertainment lawyers.”

To read an excerpt from the article, please click here. 

Howard Siegel

Siegel was cited as being one of the top attorneys in the talent area. As noted in the article, “With film, TV, music and theater contracts expanding to include everything from new media to new clothing lines, the top lawyers boast creativity that rivals that of their clients themselves.” Here is what The Hollywood Reporter, Esq. wrote about Siegel:

Despite having represented more American Idol contestants than any other lawyer, Siegel travels each year to Los Angeles to participate in a “beauty contest,”" pitching contestants as to why they should hire him. For the second consecutive year, Siegel emerged victorious, becoming the lawyer for all 24 finalists in this spring's competition. His secret? He puts the contestants on the phone with prior Idol winners like Ruben Studdard, who tell the Idols-in-waiting what a wonderful job Siegel does. “I'd like to say that I would not have won this year's competition without Howard Siegel,” jokes current “Idol” David Cook. “I'd like to say that, but it would be a lie. Still, Howard is spectacular. I know I would be a lot more concerned about things – and a lot less protected – without Howard on my team.” Though some question the leverage that Siegel has in negotiating deals with producers of TV's No. 1 show, he’s pushed for finalists to receive more participation in sponsorships, such as the deal completed with Disney last year, and he often continues to represent the singers in record deals even after the season finishes.

James Janowitz

Janowitz was cited as being one of the top attorneys in the corporate area. As noted by in the article:  “With the economy teetering, entertainment-finance deals are tougher, which means a good corporate dealmaker is more important than ever. These are the creative minds keeping deals moving and finding money where there isn’t any.”  Here is what The Hollywood Reporter, Esq. wrote about Janowitz:

Janowitz handles both litigation and an impressive array of entertainment-finance transactions from his perch atop his firm's vaunted entertainment group. He got Michael London's Groundswell Prods. its financing from TPG-Axon Capital and handles big-ticket transactions for MGM, enabling the studio’s transition to releasing its own films. (He also reps former MGM COO Rick Sands.) Janowitz is now working on an unannounced structured finance vehicle that will enable a number of well-known producers to finance pictures through a common facility of several hundred million dollars. "Although the liquidity crisis has made some of these deals more challenging to close," he says, “I believe strongly that well-structured transactions will continue to be a significant source of capital to the film business.”