You are cordially invited to a solemn and prestigious Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Ceremony, Washington, D.C. This event honors the ultimate sacrifice made by unidentified American service members who gave their lives in defense of our country.
Date: November 12, 2024
Time: 12:15 p.m.
Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC) is deeply honored to have been selected to participate in this sacred ceremony, recognizing the profound connection between the military and the entertainment industry, which plays a crucial role in supporting our national defense.
The Patrons for this event are Dava Casoni, former Army officer, current Chief Compliance and Legal Officer, and Executive Producer at USC Institute for Creative Technologies, and Ric Arthur, a distinguished TV writer and U.S. Navy Captain with expertise in military operational design, East Asia security policy, and veteran-related policy. Both Dava Casoni and Ric Arthur were honored at the 2024 AMEC Counsel of the Year Awards.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, AMEC will host a short awards presentation to recognize the Tomb Guards. Afterward, we invite all attendees to join us for lunch to further commemorate the occasion. We understand that because of the location, many of our members may not be able to attend, and therefore, AMEC is opening the event to family members, friends, and colleagues of AMEC members and supporters, especially those who have served in uniform for the United States and its allies.
Since its designation, Arlington National Cemetery has been considered America’s most hallowed ground, where the nation’s military heroes are laid to rest. The Tomb of the Unknowns, constructed in 1921, has been continuously guarded 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by members of The Old Guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. Their vigilant watch honors the highest traditions of military service and symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice of America’s fallen heroes.
Laying a wreath at the Tomb is a time-honored tradition, allowing individuals and organizations to pay tribute to the courage and dedication of our service members.
Please RSVP by November 4, 2024 to amiller@theamec.org to confirm your attendance. We look forward to sharing this solemn and meaningful occasion with you.
Note: Visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow time for security checks and to observe the changing of the guard.
ASSOCIATION OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT COUNSEL TO HONOR
JONATHAN ANSCHELL OF MATTEL AS COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
Los Angeles, CA – September 16, 2024 – The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC), the largest professional organization in the world serving attorneys working in the film, television, music, publishing, and sports industries, will honor the career of Jonathan Anschell, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary of Mattel, during the organization’s forthcoming 20th annual Counsel of the Year Awards.
Founded in 2005, AMEC encompasses more than 14,000 attorneys at law firms and in-house counsel representing major entertainment organizations, sports teams, and media companies.
“This is an unprecedented time to be in entertainment as we face new and exciting challenges that will reshape the industry landscape in the years to come,” Anschell said. “It is an honor to be recognized by AMEC and I am grateful for the opportunities throughout my career thus far to work alongside so many talented attorneys, colleagues, and friends in one of the most dynamic industries in which to practice law.”
Anschell oversees all legal responsibilities for Mattel’s operations and transactions, as well as corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, litigation, privacy, compliance, and government affairs. Prior to joining Mattel in 2021, Anschell served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for ViacomCBS Media Networks, leading the legal affairs team for all CBS entertainment and news operations, as well as the business and legal affairs teams for the ViacomCBS cable networks in the U.S. and internationally.
Earlier in his career, Anschell served as General Counsel of CBS Television and Deputy General Counsel and Secretary of CBS Corporation, where he was responsible for corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, employment, and real estate legal functions. Before he joined CBS, Anschell was a partner at White O’Connor Curry, a Los Angeles-based law firm specializing in commercial and entertainment-related litigation. He holds both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Toronto, where he was an associate editor of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review.
“Jonathan’s leadership and strategic legal acumen have played a pivotal role for all of the companies he has served, most recently Mattel during this milestone time for the company,” said Bill Simon, AMEC co-founder and Global Chair of the Entertainment and Media Practice at Korn Ferry. “He is a well-deserved recipient of this prestigious honor as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of AMEC.”
About the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC)
The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel is a leading professional organization dedicated to recognizing and promoting excellence in the legal field within the media and entertainment industry. AMEC provides a platform for legal professionals to network, collaborate, and stay informed about the latest developments in media and entertainment law.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bennett Kleinberg
Jupiter Strategies, Inc..
Mobile (917) 416-4012
Email: bkleinberg@jupiterstrategies.com
To learn more about the 2025 Counsel of the Year Awards, click here.
From First Counsel of the Year to Founders Award:
Leah Weil’s Incredible Legacy to be Honored by AMEC
at 20th Anniversary Celebration
The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC) proudly announced that Leah Weil, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s long-serving General Counsel, will be honored with the prestigious Founders Award at the 20th anniversary of the Counsel of the Year Awards on January 16, 2025. Leah recently retired, and this recognition marks a significant milestone in Leah’s distinguished career, which spans nearly three decades at Sony.
As the Senior Executive Vice President and Sony Pictures most senior legal advisor, Leah has overseen critical aspects of the company’s operations, including film and TV production, acquisitions, media networks, and digital content distribution. Among her most notable achievements is her leadership in securing key IP rights for the studio, all of the company’s acquisitions and divestitures, and guiding the businesses through the ever-changing and rapidly evolving business, legal, and regulatory landscape.
Leah’s legacy at Sony Pictures also includes guiding the company through the infamous 2014 cyber-attack and overseeing the negotiations of hundreds of collective bargaining agreements, including the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA deals. A recognized leader in the legal community, she has been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s Powerful Women and Variety’s Power Dealmakers lists multiple times and served on the Motion Pictures Association of America board.
Reflecting on the honor, Leah commented, “I am deeply honored to accept this award on AMEC’s 20th anniversary. This recognition commemorates not just my career but the incredible influence AMEC has had in promoting camaraderie, cooperation, and mentorship among the legal community supporting the entertainment industry.” Bill Simon, AMEC co-founder and former Chair of the Global Entertainment and Media Practice at Korn Ferry International, remarked, “In honoring Leah, we come full circle. It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago, we presented Leah with the inaugural Counsel of the Year Award. Since then, she has reached the pinnacle of her career, and we are honored to recognize her on this special anniversary.”
Click here for more details on the 20th Anniversary Counsel of the Year Awards.
AMEC Unveils Special Statuette for
20th Anniversary Counsel of the Year Awards
The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC) is proud to announce the recommissioning of “The Counselor,” a special award statuette that will be presented to the honorees at the 20th Anniversary Counsel of the Year Awards on January 16, 2025. This commemorative design was created by Bennett Awards, an internationally renowned awards designer known for crafting prestigious awards for major organizations, including the NFL, NBC, Disney, Netflix, and leading universities such as Harvard and Stanford, along with Fortune 100 companies.
The design of the statuette symbolizes both achievement and aspiration, incorporating a star to represent accomplishment and a figure rising to signify the future and the drive for continued success.
“We’re honored that Bennett Awards has crafted this special design for AMEC’s 20th anniversary,” said Peter Winkler, AMEC Co-founder and West Coast Business Development Leader for UHY Advisors, Inc. Peter added, “’The Counselor’ is more than just an award – it’s a symbol of the incredible dedication, achievement, and forward-looking vision that our honorees embody. This unique design perfectly reflects the core values of AMEC, and we are excited to present it to the outstanding leaders who have made a significant impact in our field on our 20th anniversary.”
For information about the 20th Anniversary Counsel of the Year Awards click here
Celebrating 20 Years of Legal Excellence:
AMEC’s Special Law Student Achievement Award
The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC) is proud to announce its 20th Anniversary Law Student Achievement Award to be presented during the AMEC Counsel of the Year Awards to be held on January 16, 2025. As it reaches this historic 20-year milestone, AMEC reflects on two decades of recognizing the industry’s finest legal minds. The Law Student Achievement Award has been specially created for this anniversary to acknowledge the importance of supporting emerging talent. The award honors law students whose work has already begun to shape the future of media and entertainment law through outstanding legal scholarship, significant volunteer activities, or meaningful practical experience.
This award is open to current law students who have made significant contributions in media and entertainment law and will be enrolled in a United States or international law school in January 2025. Whether through groundbreaking legal scholarship, involvement in important volunteer projects, or direct hands-on experience with entertainment law, these students are proving themselves as the future leaders of our profession.
In recognition of these accomplishments, the recipient of this award will be celebrated at the Counsel of the Year Awards in January 2025, AMEC’s flagship event. This event brings together the best and brightest in the legal field. The award will serve as a reminder of the Association’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals in the entertainment and media sectors.
We invite all law students who are passionate about entertainment and media law to apply for this prestigious award.
Please send your nominations to cspielvogel@theamec.org with the following information: Name, email address, current law school, and a 100-word description of the supporting details. Nomination deadline for this award is October 11, 2024.
The recipient of the Law Student Achievement Award will be honored at the AMEC Counsel of the Year Awards in January 2025, a grand celebration of the legal community’s contributions to the entertainment and media industry. As we celebrate 20 years of progress and success, we look forward to recognizing the new voices that will continue to push the boundaries of our profession. Click here for more details about the 20th Anniversary Counsel of the Year Awards.
#AMEC20 #LawStudentAchievement #CounselOfTheYear
#EntertainmentLaw #FutureLeaders
We are especially excited about next year’s Counsel of the Year Awards as it will be our Twentieth Anniversary! We’ve locked in the date of January 16, 2025, and it will be held at the Westdrift in Manhattan Beach.
Attached please find our sponsorship brochure. We ask that you share it with your firms and other legal professionals you think might be interested in this opportunity. We’d like to start locking in our sponsors by the end of August.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the sponsorship or the Awards. And don’t forget to send me those nominations!
Monique Happy
Executive Director
AMEC
mhappy@theamec.org
ANNOUNCING THE BLACK SWAN AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN
THE STUDY, TEACHING, OR PRACTICE OF ENTERTAINMENT/MEDIA LAW
As part of the 20th Anniversary Celebration, AMEC will introduce a new category for the Counsel of the Year Awards: The Black Swan Award for Innovation in the Study, Teaching, or Practice of Law. This award celebrates groundbreaking advancements that defy conventional expectations and significantly impact the legal field. It recognizes rare and transformative innovations that disrupt traditional paradigms, highlighting individuals, teams, or organizations pushing the boundaries of legal scholarship, pedagogy, or practice.
Nominees for the Black Swan Award demonstrate exceptional creativity, vision, and ingenuity in their approach to legal research, education, or advocacy. Whether through pioneering technological solutions, novel teaching methodologies, or visionary legal strategies, recipients of this prestigious honor make remarkable contributions to the evolution and improvement of the legal profession.
Judged on the basis of originality, impact, and sustainability, the Black Swan Award acknowledges those who challenge the status quo and inspire others to rethink existing norms and conventions. By honoring innovation in the study, teaching, or practice of law, this award encourages continued experimentation and exploration, fostering a culture of forward-thinking excellence within the legal community.
Please submit your nomination to: mhappy@theamec.org.
20th Anniversary Celebration Of The Counsel of the Year Awards
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
CELEBRATING LEGAL EXCELLENCE
Step into the realm of greatness as the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC), an illustrious organization with an esteemed 20-year legacy, beckons forth the crème de la crème of legal minds. With over 14,000 distinguished in-house counsel and business luminaries hailing from renowned studios, networks, Guilds, talent agencies, and leading entertainment and media conglomerates, AMEC proudly presents its most momentous occasion yet – the Annual Counsel of the Year Awards.
Mark your calendars and prepare for an unforgettable evening on January 16, 2025, as we honor the paragons of legal prowess across a spectrum of categories:
Black Swan Award
PwC Daniel Brandhorst Dealmaker of the Year (Talented Dealmaker)
Rising Star (Shining Bright with less than 10 years of law practice)
Music Counsel
Sports Counsel
Labor and Employment Counsel
Technology and New Media Counsel
Public Counsel (Governmental Agency/Non-Profit)
Live, Hospitality, & Location-Based Entertainment Counsel
Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution (Expert Mediator, Arbitrator, Referee/Special Master, Neutral Evaluator)
Excellence In Legal Education
Law Firm of the Year
In a special commemoration of our 20th anniversary, each honoree will receive an exclusive 20th-anniversary commemorative award, crafted to mark this historic milestone. These commemorative awards will be retired after the ceremony, making them a cherished symbol of distinction for years to come.
To nominate an outstanding candidate, kindly provide the following details:
Name
Title
Organization
Contact Details
Should you prefer to keep your nomination anonymous, please let us know.
Seize this momentous opportunity and submit your nominations now to AMEC Executive Director Monique Happy at mhappy@theamec.org. Prepare to bear witness to the ascent of legal legends as they are rightfully acknowledged at the 2025 Counsel of the Year Awards.
For a glimpse into our esteemed past honorees, click here.
PLEASE NOTE: Except for the Law Firm of the Year category, nominations and honorees are limited to in-house counsel only.
We are getting an early start on the nomination process so you don’t miss your chance to be a part of this historic celebration of legal excellence!
Memorable Moments: Relive The Excitement Of
The 2024 Counsel Of The Year Awards In The Highlights Video
We are thrilled to highlight the exceptional work of the media and entertainment legal community at the 2024 Counsel of the Year Awards. As the only organization of its kind, AMEC plays a pivotal role in our industry, providing cutting-edge legal seminars, invaluable networking opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, recognizing the outstanding but often overlooked achievements of in-house counsel across studios, networks, guilds, talent and management agencies, and all the major entertainment and media companies.
From navigating complex contracts to safeguarding creative rights, this year’s honorees are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, ensuring that the magic of storytelling thrives while upholding the highest standards of integrity and legality. Their inspiring acceptance speeches, filled with passion and gratitude, serve as a testament to their dedication and vision.
The atmosphere at the event was nothing short of electrifying, with industry leaders, influencers, and rising stars coming together to celebrate our collective achievements. It was a night filled with inspiration and camaraderie, reminding us all of the incredible impact we can make when we collaborate and support one another.
As we reflect on this unforgettable evening, we eagerly anticipate the milestone 20th Anniversary Counsel of the Year Awards ceremony on January 16th, 2025! (Click here for the 2024 Counsel of the Year Awards Recap Video)
Save the date, as we continue to honor and elevate the brightest lights in our industry!
#CounselOfTheYear #MediaExcellence #EntertainmentIndustry #Inspiration #20thAnniversaryCelebration #2025COTYA
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