Donald S. Zakarin

Pryor Cashman has been recognized by Law360, a leading source for online legal news, as one of the top five Media & Entertainment Groups in the U.S. for 2011. 

In the feature published on January 12, 2012, Law360 touted the firm’s Entertainment, Media and Communications Group for its ability to draw on “years of experience in the entertainment business to help guide titans of the industry through several high-profile disputes.” The article highlights the work Pryor Cashman has done for some of the most prominent names in the music and entertainment industry, including EMI Music; artists Nelly Furtado, Lady Gaga and others; independent record label association Merlin BV; and television production companies 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions, among other notable clients. 

“The significance of our courtroom victories and the size and complexity of our deals, not merely during the past year but year after year, have been noteworthy and involve some of the biggest names in the media and entertainment space,” said Donald S. Zakarin, Chair of Pryor Cashman’s Litigation Group and primary outside litigation counsel for EMI Music Publishing and Sony/ATV Music, two of the world’s most prominent music publishing companies, as well as Merlin B.V. and major record labels. “We are delighted to be recognized for our experience, the unique set of skills possessed by our partners and associates and our ability to successfully bring those skills to bear in the representation of our clients’ interests.  We appreciate Law360’s acknowledgement of our performance, dedication and overall impressive track record.”

Law360 also references Pryor Cashman’s unmatched ability to resolve “copyright feuds for several artists and record labels.” As noted by Brad D. Rose, Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group and counsel to entertainment A-listers including Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake and others, “iron-clad protection of intellectual property rights owned by artists, writers and content owners, among others, is critical in this business. Our clients come to us for this expertise and our ability to handle high-level work on the transactional and enforcement fronts. We are pleased that Law360 has recognized our efforts in this industry.”

In the feature, Law360 notes that “the firm's vertically integrated media and entertainment practice group allows it to handle a large volume and breadth of litigation and entertainment-related transactions.” It also points to Pryor Cashman’s ability to deliver value for clients. “By combining the resources of a large firm with the knowledge, experience and teamwork of small boutique firms, Pryor Cashman is able to build strong working relationships with the clients it represents.”  

In the article, Law360 discusses Pryor Cashman’s ability to leverage this experience and apply it to the growing digital media space. Law360 underscores the firm’s work on behalf of Merlin BV in resolving a well-publicized dispute with file-sharing service Lime Wire, and also underscores the firm’s leading expertise in interpreting the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).  

The Law360 feature closes by noting Pryor Cashman’s intentions to ensure that its near 50-year legacy as a leader in the media and entertainment space continues. The firm involves its  associates early on in litigation matters, allowing them to develop their own expertise. This establishes an infrastructure that enables a next generation of seasoned attorneys to form and carry the torch.

Pryor Cashman and the other firms named among the top five firms Media & Entertainment Groups in the U.S. for 2011 were selected based on the significance, size, complexity and number of their litigation wins or deals worked on between December 2010 and November 2011.  

To read the entire article, please click here.