Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, PC covers the full range of matters related to copyright law, and stands out in particular for its experience in copyright litigation for clients in book and music publishing. Based in New York, the team is noted for its expertise in handling photograph copyright matters and dealing with copyright trolls. Practice head Jonathan King deals with significant and highly controversial music publishing copyright issues. Litigator Thomas Kjellberg  has drafted amicus curiae briefs on behalf of key organizations in the music industry, and works closely with Richard Dannay  , who is often lead counsel on major copyright cases. Additionally, Richard Mandel is known for extensive copyright litigation work and Eric Shimanoff is highly regarded for advising clients in the music and technology sectors.

King & Spalding LLP acts for well-known clients in the media sector in high-stakes copyright litigation, with additional expertise in copyright arbitration and the negotiation and implementation of license agreements. In San Francisco, practice head Kenneth Steinthal has litigated in a range of court trials and has appeared before copyright tribunals regarding matters such as music rights. Washington, DC-based trial lawyer Stephen Baskin is an expert in representing technology companies in all areas of IP law. In New York, Bruce Baber and counsel Jason Blake Cunningham are notable for their longstanding work on the Google v Oracle case, which most recently saw them advocating at the US Supreme Court. Additionally, in May 2020 partners Michael Roth, Arwen Johnson, Kelly Perigoe, Julia Bredrup and Lennette Lee joined the team from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

With experts located in major commercial hubs throughout the US, Kirkland & Ellis LLP routinely handles high-profile copyright cases receiving major media attention, particularly for a broad range of clients in the entertainment, fashion, and financial services industries. Additionally, the firm's work has helped shape the scope of software copyright protection. Based in New York, practice head Dale Cendali and Joshua Simmons are recognized for their record at trial and appeals, including cases before the US Supreme Court. Also recommended in New York is Claudia Ray, who focuses on IP matters for online music providers. A contact on the West Coast is Diana Torres in Los Angeles, who has represented parties in federal and state courts in a wide range of licensing and copyright matters.

Loeb & Loeb LLP advises high-profile clients in entertainment and media, advertising, consumer products, and life sciences sectors on all critical and time-sensitive IP needs, including copyright litigation and transactions. Of note, the team often works alongside the firm's media, technology, and entertainment groups, enabling it to provide comprehensive advice on IP and copyright issues in a range of specialized areas. In New York, chair of entertainment and IP litigation Barry Slotnick advises clients in the areas of music and entertainment, advertising, and merchandising and is a highly regarded copyright litigator; while in Los Angeles, chair of IP protection Melanie Howard focuses on the acquisition and protection of copyrights, acting for well-known brands and luxury and e-sports talent. Another name to note in Los Angeles is David Grossman, who acts as deputy chair of the litigation group and is highly experienced in copyright infringement cases. New York-based senior counsel Sarah Schacter and partner Jonathan Zavin are also recommended for IP litigation. Jim Curry joined in Los Angeles from Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in March 2020.

The team at Arnold & Porter stands out in particular for its experience advising US sports leagues, film studios, and television networks on IP matters related to TV programming and distribution, both digitally and through traditional mediums. It is frequently involved in hotly contended litigation before federal courts and the FCC. Notably, the team recently represented Major League Baseball in connection with efforts to overhaul the US Copyright Act. Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar jointly lead the practice from Washington DC, while in New York, Dori Ann Hanswirth  is highly regarded for representing movie studios and comic book companies in copyright litigation. Theresa House is also recommended for IP litigation. Contacts on the West Coast include Los Angeles-based Rhonda Trotter, another of the group's respected copyright litigators. Additionally, the Chicago team grew in August 2020 with partners Christopher Renk and Michael Harris, as well as senior counsel Helen Minsker, joining from Banner & Witcoff, Ltd..

Based in Los Angeles, Fenwick & West LLP has broad expertise in copyright law in digital domains, including issues related to open source and DMCA safe harbours, as well as fair use and secondary liability. In addition to handling myriad portfolio issues for tech companies, including those in the gaming industry, the team also stands out in high-stakes copyright litigation. Copyright practice chair Jennifer Stanley, who also leads the firm's games industry group, is a name to note for tech transactions and related copyright protection and risk management issues. Copyright litigation co-chair Andrew Bridges has extensive experience at trial and appeals, and David Hayes handles IP counseling matters and litigation for software companies and other new technologies companies. Also recommended is Laurence Pulgram, another name to note for IP litigation.

The team at Mayer Brown has a strong track record as lead counsel in copyright litigation in both federal and state court, with particular emphasis on representing high-profile media and technology companies regarding major copyright infringement. Indeed, the team has obtained landmark rulings in a litany of media copyright controversies, and continued that trend in 2020 with a significant ruling on behalf of Spotify. Key figures in the New York office include practice head John Mancini and Jacob Ebin, who was promoted to partner in January 2021.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP handles a full range of contentious and non-contentious IP matters for clients in the areas of advertising, fashion, media, and artwork. In this space, the team regularly advises on DMCA compliance and fair use and has also litigated in significant copyright infringement class actions. Based in Washington DC, copyright practice leader Karen Butcher is particularly experienced in IP-driven transactions. Other key figures include Kevin Fee, who acts as lead trial counsel in major copyright cases, and in San Francisco, IP litigator John Polito, who advises on copyright claims related to software, mobile devices, and online content. Notably, Nicholas Bolter joined the team in London from Cooley LLP in July 2020, along with other key members of his team working on US-facing IP matters.

The copyright team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has expertise across the full range of high-stakes IP matters, with particular experience in copyright litigation and appeals before the Supreme Court and Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. The team's copyright advisors and litigators are local in several key cities across the US to provide comprehensive service to clients such as major media corporations, newspaper publishers, and record companies. Based in San Francisco, lead director Annette Hurst is highly regarded for her work in copyright litigation, while in Silicon Valley Jared Bobrow co-chairs the IP business unit and is a well-known IP litigator. A name to note in Washington DC is Sten Jensen, who focuses on IP issues in the tech sector and is noted for his experience litigating in the Delaware courts.

Leveraging an on-the-ground presence on both coasts, the copyright team at Proskauer Rose LLP provides comprehensive advice to multinational corporations on copyright litigation and counseling matters. The team has shown particular strengths in the sports and consumer products sectors, but it also has an impressive client roster in the media and entertainment space, including a number of prominent recording artists. Chair of the IP practice Sandra Crawshaw-Sparks divides time between Los Angeles and New York and leads on litigation and transactional matters in the music and entertainment industries. Alexander Kaplan is based in New York and is recommended for copyright litigation and counseling issues relating to the DMCA.

The team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP focuses exclusively on IP litigation and counseling, with significant work handling copyright infringement cases, DMCA safe harbor compliance, and music licensing disputes. Among its core clients, the team has had repeat engagements representing radio broadcasters and television networks. New York-based practice leader Benjamin Marks advises music streaming companies, social media platforms, ISPs, publishers, and radio and television broadcasters; he has a long track record of advising on high-risk claims regarding fair use doctrine, DMCA, and secondary liability matters. Randi Singer divides time between New York and Silicon Valley, and co-heads the firm's privacy and cybersecurity group; she has also handled major copyright claims for e-commerce and internet-based platforms.

Winston & Strawn LLP has a reputation for representing entertainment companies in high-stakes copyright disputes, though the team also acts for digital service providers and significant brands. In particular, the group is noted for its record in litigation and counseling regarding the DMCA and secondary copyright liability. Trial lawyer and practice co-head Michael Elkin splits his time between New York and California and represents clients in Silicon Valley and Hollywood in digital media copyright matters. California-based partner Jennifer Golinveaux is recommended for copyright and trademark litigation for technology companies and ISPs. Another name to note in California is Erin Ranahan, who handles litigation for clients in the media and entertainments sectors. In New York, Thomas Lane is rated for his expertise in DMCA and complex IP liability issues, and is handling a number of pro bono matters involving tensions between IP rights and First Amendment rights.

Baker & Hostetler LLP advises major publishing companies, professional sports leagues and other clients in areas of television and radio on contentious and non-contentious copyright matters, including copyright infringement claims. Additionally, the group is highly experienced in litigation regarding DMCA protection and digital media on the internet. Mark Tidman chairs the IP group in New York, while in Cleveland, Deborah Wilcox leads the trademark and copyright team and advises clients in the areas of manufacturing, technology, and healthcare. Based in Philadelphia, Chad Rutkowski is highly experienced in copyright-related matters relating to software. The team also handles IP matters relating to fine art, jewelry designs, and software.

Based in New York, Davis+Gilbert LLP is recognized in this space for its advice on domestic and international copyright matters, from litigation to multi-jurisdictional commercial initiatives. The team provides assistance to advertising agencies, marketers, digital media, and content producers, and has an extensive client list in publishing, media, entertainment, tech, and academia. It has also been increasingly active in copyright matters relating to social media posts and graffiti art. Key figures in the team include IP group chair Ronald Urbach; Sara Edelman, who is highly regarded for her work on fashion-related IP matters; IP litigator Guy Cohen, who has expertise in copyright infringement lawsuits; and Ashima Dayal, a name to note for copyright takedowns.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP handles domestic and international copyright disputes and media litigation, more generally, acting for motion picture and television studios, fashion houses and other multinational corporations. Floyd Mandell in Chicago is a contact for copyright-related disputes in the software industry, while New York-based Karen Artz Ash focuses on IP matters in the areas of fashion design and clothing manufacturing. The team in Los Angeles stands out for its strength in the media and entertainment industry, acting for clients such as NBCUniversal and Sony Pictures; Zia Modabber and Joel Weiner are contacts in this space. Brian Sodikoff in Chicago and Terence Ross in Washington DC focus on copyright issues relating to software code.

Latham & Watkins LLP is recommended in this space for its strength in copyright litigation. The practice group is jointly led from San Francisco by Andrew Gass and Joe Wetzel, both of whom have expertise in music copyright litigation and licensing disputes in the digital music industry. Gass also has additional expertise in matters at the intersection of copyright and antitrust law, while Wetzel is also noted for copyright matters in the software industry. Also recommended is Sy Damle in Washington DC, who plays a key role in copyright-related cases that reach the Supreme Court. In September 2020, Allison Levine Stillman joined the team in New York from Mayer Brown.

Acting for an impressive roster of clients in the art, music, and film industries, the team at O'Melveny & Myers LLP has a long history of successful copyright litigation. Moreover, the group is noted for its experience advising Silicon Valley companies on copyright law relating to software, database technology, and microcode. The team is lead by Ryan Yagura in Los Angeles, an experienced litigator and chair of the IP and technology practice. Other names to note include David Eberhart in San Francisco, who focuses on copyright matters in the tech industry. In Century City, litigator Matthew Kline has been involved in copyright claims for movie studios, video game developers, and major clothing designers; and Daniel Petrocelli is active in copyright litigation.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP covers all areas of IP law, with notable experience representing clients on copyright cases, including copyright class actions, digital media copyright controversies, and royalty rate-setting. Based in New York, Lynn Bayard represents clients in the areas of media, sports, and entertainment, while Jay Cohen, a highly regarded trial lawyer, focuses on IP issues in the media and entertainment sectors. This expertise reflects the strengths of the wider team, which is active in the music, film, and fashion industries, among others.

Williams & Connolly LLP is known for its extensive litigation and counseling work on behalf of copyright holders, including anti-piracy suits, re-transmission of broadcast television, and infringement claims for motion picture scripts and photographs. Its copyright litigation practice is strongly linked to and integrated into its general commercial litigation practice. In Washington DC, co-chair Thomas Hentoff focuses on IP disputes, complex civil litigation at both trial and appellate levels, and First Amendment and media law. Co-chair Robert Shaughnessy handles a variety of civil litigation, including copyright and trademark matters and product liability. Lisa Blatt is highly regarded for her IP litigation work in front of the Supreme Court. Nicholas Boyle left for Latham & Watkins LLP in April 2020.