The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC) is pleased to announce the distinguished recipients of the 2024 Counsel of the Year Awards. This prestigious annual event recognizes outstanding legal professionals who have demonstrated excellence and innovation in the field of media and entertainment law.

AMEC is a 17-year-old organization comprised of more than 14,000 accomplished men and women working in a variety of executive roles including in-house counsel and business affairs attorneys at major entertainment and media companies and law firms. AMEC gives their Counsel of the Year awards annually (notwithstanding Covid) in a handful of legal categories, including Alternative Dispute Resolution, beginning in 2021.

This year’s Counsel of the Year award for Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) goes to mediator Lee Jay Berman for his years of success in resolving some of the most intractable disputes, including complex litigation, in the media and entertainment space. Having worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, as well as athletes with world-wide reputations, Berman has used his 29 years of experience to manage the conflicts and the personalities in order to bring about mutually beneficial agreements, often ending in win-win resolutions and favorable press releases.

Berman began as a full-time private, independent mediator in 1994, and has successfully resolved over 2.700 disputes. He has mediated with most of the top entertainment law firms, and many of the top studios, networks, streaming companies, managers, agents, and business managers. Berman has received several other awards in recent years, including the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals’ 2017 Distinguished Neutral of the Year, the Southern California Mediation Association’s 2021 Cloke-Millen Peacemaker of the Year and 2009 L. Randolph Lowry Award for his thought leadership. Chambers USA has ranked him in their prestigious Band 1, as one of the top 13 commercial mediators in the U.S., and Who’s Who Legal Mediation named him one of the 10 global thought leaders in North America.

AMEC Co-founder Bill Simon, Chair of the Global Entertainment, Media and Digital Practice at Korn Ferry, Intl., stated: "We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these outstanding legal professionals who continue to shape and redefine the landscape of media and entertainment law. The Counsel of the Year Awards reflect our commitment to honoring excellence and innovation in our industry. Congratulations to each honoree for their significant contributions, and we look forward to recognizing and supporting the continued success of our esteemed colleagues."

AMEC’s Gala Awards Dinner will take place on Thursday, January 18, beginning with the red carpet at 5:00pm at the Westdrift Marriott – Autograph Collection at 1400 Park View Avenue in Manhattan Beach, California. The red carpet will be followed by a Welcome Reception at 6:00 and the Awards Dinner at 7:00pm.

Others being honored with AMEC’s 2024 Counsel of the Year Award include:

Jay Kogan
Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs
DC Entertainment/Warner Bros.
PWC DANIEL BRANDHORST DEALMAKER

Matt Blackett
SAG/AFTRA
RISING STAR

Sabrina Ment
Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Music
Disney Entertainment Television
MUSIC COUNSEL

Benjamin Starr
Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs
Fox Sports
SPORTS COUNSEL

Seth Stevelman
Managing Vice President & Counsel, Labor Relations
Disney Entertainment Television
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL

Natalie LeVeck
Senior Counsel
Google
TECHNOLOGY AND NEW MEDIA COUNSEL

Dava Casoni
Legal Advisor
Institute for Creative Technology
University of Southern California
PUBLIC COUNSEL

Julie Shapiro
Director/Associate Professor
Entertainment & Media Law Institute and
Entertainment Law Concentration Program
Loyola Law School
EXCELLENCE IN LEGAL EDUCATION

Pryor Cashman
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Captain Ric Arthur
United States Navy Reserve
EXCELLENCE IN CREATIVE INNOVATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

About the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC)

The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel is a leading professional organization dedicated to recognizing and promoting excellence in the legal field within the media and entertainment industry. AMEC provides a platform for legal professionals to network, collaborate, and stay informed about the latest developments in media and entertainment law.

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