2025 Counsel of the Year Awards
COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
AWARD HONOREES
Journalist Law School
LMU Loyola Law School
BLACK SWAN AWARD
Jonathan Anschell
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Mattel, Inc.
COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
RR Consulting
Naschitz, Brandes, Amir & Co.
INTERNATIONAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
Melissa Vantrease
Senior Vice President Labor & Employment
Universal Parks & Resorts
NBC Universal
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
Sheppard Mullin
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Madelyn Armes
St. John’s University School of Law
LAW STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Susan Chertkof
Senior Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Recording Industry Association of America
MUSIC COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
Bernetta Hardy
Business Affairs Executive
The Walt Disney Company
RISING STAR
Honorable Monica Bachner, Ret.
Judicate West
Honorable Jay C. Gandhi, Ret.
JAMS
WARREN KNIGHT EXCELLENCE IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AWARD
Joe Patrice
Senior Editor
Above the Law
PUBLIC COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
Leah Weil
Former General Counsel and Current Senior Advisor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
FOUNDERS AWARD
EVENT DETAILS
2025 Counsel of the Year Awards
January 16, 2025
Westdrift Manhattan Beach, Autograph Collection, 1400 Parkview Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
5:00 p.m. Red Carpet Arrivals & VIP Reception
6:00 p.m. Reception
7:00 p.m. Awards Dinner & Ceremony
Attire: Black Tie*
*Dress code: Black tie. Tuxedos or formal business suit and tie for gentlemen and gown/cocktail dress for ladies.
About the Event
Presented by The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC)
Purpose: Recognizing the role of attorneys in the judicial process, popular culture and entertainment industry.
Expected attendance: 250 participants.
Participant Profile
- Crème de la crème of the legal world in Media & Entertainment. Accomplished men and women working as in-house counsels and business affairs attorneys at major entertainment and media companies and law firms.
- Past attendees and honorees have included executives from: NBCUniversal, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, MGM, Paramount, Electronic Arts, Writers Guild, Creative Artists Agency, SAG/AFTRA, Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Lincoln Center and many others.
Nathaniel Hargress – Viacom
Clarissa Weirick – NBCUniversal
Navine Karim – Red Bull Media House
Venue & Location Highlights
- South Bay beach cities include Manhattan Beach, Playa Vista and “Silicon Beach.”
- Emerging center for digital content and distribution.
- The following companies’ headquarters are located here: Manhattan Beach Media Campus, Marvel Studios, Electronic Arts, Mattel and Skechers.
- Home to entertainment and creative executives, performers and athletes.
- Located close to freeways with plenty of parking.
Event Demographics
- AMEC mailing list of 14,000 senior legal and business executives in entertainment industry.
- Past attendees and honorees have included: NBC/Universal, Warner Brothers, Sony, MGM, Paramount, Electronic Arts, Writers Guild, Creative Artists Agency, SAG/AFTRA, Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Lincoln Center, etc.
- Expected attendance at Awards: 250.
- Media includes entertainment, international, regional and local.
- Past sponsors include: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Korn Ferry Intl., Screen Actors Guild and major international law firms.
Event Contact
Monique Happy,
Executive Director of AMEC
Phone: (310) 913-6136
Email: [email protected]