Miguel Davilla Logo text When it comes to cases taken on by New York’s top entertainment lawyers, the stakes can be high. From leading the criminal defenses of Sean Combs, Harvey Weinstein and Luigi Mangione to representing such A-list talent as Blake Lively, Matthew McConaughey, Robert De Niro and Spike Lee, these legal powerhouses operate at the highest levels of culture and controversy. And in helping bring Broadway and independent productions to life and championing First Amendment rights, these lawyers aren’t just contributing to make world-class entertainment happen, they’re also defending the freedoms that make it possible. The attorneys on this list were chosen based on the impact of their cases, the profiles of their clients and their reputation for success.
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Marc Agnifilo, Karen Friedman Agnifilo and Teny Geragos
Marc Agnifilo, Karen Friedman Agnifilo and Teny Geragos Courtesy of Subject (3) Logo text Agnifilo Intrater (Litigation)
After securing a partial acquittal for Combs — obtaining not guilty verdicts on the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking — Agnifilo and Geragos are defending Weinstein for allegedly raping an aspiring actress in a Manhattan hotel in 2013. It’s a case heading to court for a third time after charges in the first trial were reversed and then there was a mistrial. Meanwhile, Friedman Agnifilo is representing Mangione in state and federal cases stemming from the 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. She’s already scored significant early victories for the 27-year-old Ivy League graduate, getting the death penalty taken off the table in the federal case and the terrorism charges dismissed in state court.
WHAT MOVIE OR TV LAWYER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
GERAGOS ”Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. Growing up, I watched my dad represent people that society had already condemned. Scout’s experience felt similar to mine, and living it gave me the strength and the passion to do what I do every single day.”
