Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is known for its expertise in handling antitrust cases for media and entertainment clients. The firm has won a number of significant antitrust cases for entertainment companies, challenging acquisitions and mergers up to Supreme Court level. The team also handles IP, securities and commercial litigation alongside contractual disputes. The practice advises media and entertainment companies through government investigations and competition agency clearance for M&As. The East Coast team is led by litigation specialist Wes Earnhardt who resides in New York. Earnhardt has been key to major media and entertainment litigations involving copyright and antitrust issues. David Korn is experienced in handling antitrust, securities and commercial litigation for the media sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Kevin Orsini is a great tactician.’
‘Cravath, Swaine & Moore has an exceptional trial litigation practice. What sets them apart is that, unlike many fine firms where there are a few superstars supported by many good people, at Cravath everyone is a superstar. Their trial practice in particular is very active compared to most firms, so they really know how to win cases at trial, and they prepare every case as though it will be tried. ’
‘In the media and entertainment litigation field in particular, Wes Earnhart is a superstar.’
Key clients
- The Walt Disney Company
- EchoStar Corporation
- Elsevier B.V.
- Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc.
- Epic Games, Inc.
- Light & Wonder, Inc.
- Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Paramount Global (Special Committee)
Work highlights
Represented a music producer in a copyright case, winning a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that a copyright owner may recover damages under the Copyright Act for any timely filed infringement claim, regardless of when the infringement occurred.
Represented Disney and its subsidiary FSLA Holdings as lead trial counsel in an action filed by Santos Laguna S.A. de C.V., which alleged breach of contract and other claims arising out of Disney’s agreement to divest certain broadcasting assets in Mexico.
Represented Live Nation in a monopoly suit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, 39 states andthe District of Columbia in New York federal court seekingto break up Live Nation/Ticketmaster.
Lawyers
Other key lawyers
Wes Earnhardt; David Korn; Kevin Orsini