Eight Partners Named to Variety’s 2022 Legal Impact Report

Accolades  |  April 21, 2022

Variety


Variety has named Century City partners Scott Edelman and Steve Tsoneff, Los Angeles partners Kevin Masuda, Benyamin Ross, and Ilissa Samplin, New York partners Brian Ascher and Orin Snyder, and Orange County partner Michelle Gourley to its 2022 Legal Impact Report, an annual list of the leading attorneys in the entertainment industry who “win for their clients in court and guide them through industry disruptions.” The report was published on April 20, 2022.

Brian Ascher has represented corporate and individual clients in a wide range of commercial litigation, including through trial, in both federal and state court and administrative proceedings. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including contract, profit participation, trade secrets, and other intellectual property disputes.

Scott Edelman, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Media, Entertainment and Technology Practice Group, represents multiple studios, television networks, music companies, production companies and other media-related entities. Recognized as go-to counsel for his deep litigation experience, he is consistently recognized by legal and industry publications for his work.

Michelle Gourley practices general corporate and business law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate counseling. She has significant experience with domestic and international transactions, including acquisitions, mergers, round financings and buy-out options across numerous industries

Kevin Masuda, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Media, Entertainment and Technology Practice Group, represents content companies including motion picture studios and music companies, technology companies, gaming companies, private equity funds, sports and talent agencies, and other clients in various types of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, restructurings, public and private securities offerings, licensing agreements, sponsorships, and other strategic agreements.

Benyamin Ross, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Media, Entertainment and Technology Practice Group, advises companies, private equity and venture capital firms, and high net-worth individuals in mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, joint ventures, restructuring transactions and general commercial agreements. Ben works with clients in a broad array of industries, and has extensive experience working with media, entertainment and technology companies.

Ilissa Samplin, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Trade Secrets Practice Group, has represented corporate and individual clients in the media, entertainment, and technology industries in a wide range of litigation in both federal and state court, including breach of contract, unfair competition, copyright, trademark, and trade secret matters.

Orin Snyder, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Global Trial Practice Group, is one of the country’s leading trial lawyers and litigators. He represents both digital and traditional media and entertainment clients, which often seek him out for their bet-the-company cases.

Steve Tsoneff has two decades of experience advising content producers, distributors, and financiers in a variety of media and entertainment transactions, with a focus on the production, licensing, and distribution of audiovisual content and various approaches to the financing of such content, including single-project, slate, corporate, and co-financing transactions.