Staffing Roundup: New Entertainment Law Hires & Promotions

Posted by Staff

• Summit Entertainment has named Patricia Laucella (left) senior vp legal affairs. In her new role, Laucella will be involved in negotiating and documenting rights, talent and production deals and supervising outside production counsel. She has worked in the legal departments of Warner Bros, MGM, Columbia Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.

• Kenneth Kaufman has joined entertainment group at Manatt Phelps & Phillips as a partner based in the Washington office. Kaufman comes to Manatt from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, and previously served stints as general counsel of PolyGram Records and Showtime Networks. Kaufman’s practice focuses on copyright, Internet law, content licensing, and ecommerce.

• Alan Friel has joined Wildman Harrold as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Friel comes to the firm from Kaye Scholer, where he specialized in intellectual property transactional matters and regulatory compliance, working heavily with many advertising, marketing, and online businesses.