Six MSK Litigators Named to Variety's 2025 "Legal Impact Report"
MSK partners Emily Evitt, Adam Levin, Seth Pierce, Mark Humphrey, Marc Mayer, and Karin Pagnanelli were named to Variety's 2025 "Legal Impact Report" published on April 9, 2025. The annual list recognizes Hollywood’s top entertainment attorneys.
From the article...
Evitt has handled several high-stakes cases for Netflix in recent months, including a suit against the streamer alleging that their 2021 film “Don’t Look Up” infringed on the copyright of an author’s self-published novel, which she successfully motioned the court to dismiss on the grounds that the works were not substantially similar. She’s also repping Netflix in a litigation relating to their 2020 docuseries “Tiger King” that is currently pending appeal. Other recent matters include successfully defending Nickelback in a copyright infringement suit regarding their hit song “Rockstar.”
Levin made a name for himself 25 years ago when, in a case against writers on the hit series “Friends,” he clarified the principle that writing- room comments were protected expression. Today, he is applying the same code for Bravo’s defense in several high-profile cases by “Real Housewives” cast members alleging sexual harassment and discrimination. Last year, Levin scored a win for Warner Bros. in a discrimination case brought by a white former camera operator on “The Big Bang Theory” that could’ve hurt the industry’s efforts to diversify.
Pierce litigates sensitive cases for high-profile clients that frequently involve hot-button cultural issues. In recent months, he’s defended NBCUniversal in a salacious sex harassment and reverse gender case and a separate sexual orientation harassment lawsuit; Ziff Davis in a gender discrimination and equal pay claim; Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in multiple matters alleging religious discrimination and wrongful termination related to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate; and Mattel, Paramount Global, WBD and Ziff Davis in proposed class actions alleging various wage and hour violations.
Pagnanelli, Mayer and Humphrey have established themselves as go-to litigators in the gaming world. They’re currently defending a publisher against several claims that their games are addictive and cause harm to minors. These cases address issues of first impression, including the application of Section 230 Communications Decency Act of 1996 and the First Amendment to video game development. They’re also leading efforts against the multitude of “gambling” cases filed against companies that have games containing loot boxes and/or social casinos. In the past decade, they’ve successfully pursued over two dozen lawsuits against video game cheat-sellers, including a $14 million judgement won last year on behalf of Activision against a cheat software for “Call of Duty.”
