On April 8, Variety spotlighted Lee Brenner, David Fink, Michael Garfinkel, Max Wellman, Paul Bernstein, Jim Nelson, Kristen Ruisi, and Justin Behnam in its 2026 Legal Impact Report. The report profiles individuals who are making a significant impact on the legal industry, featuring litigators and transactional attorneys who focus their practices on film, television, music, theater, and digital media.
“Venable’s transactional team tackled a wide range of M&A and investment deals on behalf of the firm’s many multihyphenate industry stars such as Peyton Manning, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and their family and NBA great Stephen Curry,” wrote Variety. “Manning’s Omaha Prods received a strategic investment from Patrick Whitesell’s investment venture WTSL. The firm guided digital talent agency Silver Tribe Media through its acquisition by the TPG-backed Initial Group. On the litigation front, the group dealt with scores of problems for celebrities, including Snoop Dogg, related to talent, licensing and sponsorship deals.”
The publication also shared Mr. Garfinkel’s advice to his younger self about becoming too tightly wound amid intense, high-pressure cases. “It’s not personal. All this stuff is going on for the other side too. As a young lawyer, that used to really get to me and really upset me, and I did take it personally. Now, I obviously want to win, and I’m competitive, but I also understand the other side’s motives a little bit more,” Garfinkel told Variety.
Mr. Brenner, chair of Venable's Entertainment and Media Litigation Group and a member of the firm’s board of directors, is a trial attorney and high-stakes business litigator. Mr. Fink is an experienced and proven commercial litigator at both the trial and appellate court levels. Mr. Garfinkel is an entertainment and media litigator with more than 30 years of experience navigating his clients' most challenging issues. Mr. Wellman is the chair of Venable’s litigation department in Los Angeles.
Mr. Bernstein, chair of Venable’s Entertainment Transactions practice, advises clients on complex corporate matters. Mr. Nelson is a co-chair of the Technology, Media, and Commercial Group, a member of the firm’s Management Committee, and partner-in-charge of Venable's San Francisco office. Ms. Ruisi has more than 20 years of experience advising clients on their global intellectual property (IP) portfolios and branding initiatives. Mr. Behnam is a corporate attorney who focuses his practice on the entertainment and media industry.
Review the recognition announcement.