The Top Five Law Firms for Media, Entertainment & Sports

The five top-ranked law firms for media, entertainment, and sports practice based on Vault’s 2025 Media, Entertainment & Sports prestige rankings were Proskauer Rose LLP, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Latham & Watkins, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and Loeb & Loeb LLP.

Proskauer Rose LLP

Coming in at first place in Vault’s Media, Entertainment & Sports rankings, Proskauer represents major U.S. sports leagues and players. Moreover, it took the No. 6 spot in Vault’s Best Law Firms for Labor & Employment practice area rankings. Proskauer knows how to treat its 1,000 attorneys. In fact, it is the No. 12 firm in Vault’s Best Firm to Work For in Boston regional rankings. Proskauer offers a friendly atmosphere, and associates’ time is respected. Lawyers enjoy flexibility via a three-day in-office policy, and although they work BigLaw hours, associates need not worry about meeting a billable hour requirement. Those who wish to stay at the firm can follow a transparent path to partnership, and those who want to leverage their experience elsewhere can find positions in-house and at other law firms. Alumni who choose to return are welcomed back to this top 30 firm in the Vault Law 100 rankings.

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

The No. 2 firm in the Media, Entertainment & Sports rankings, O’Melveny & Myers was established in Los Angeles. It is also in the No. 4 spot in Vault’s Best Law Firm in Southern California rankings and the No. 11 firm on Vault’s Best Law Firm in Northern California list. Described as a people-centric firm, O’Melveny is home to approximately 1,000 attorneys, who enjoy a flexible hybrid work arrangement. The 1,900-hour billable requirement can be fulfilled with an unlimited number of pro bono credits and up to 50 hours of diversity-, equity-, and inclusion-related activities. Long-term roles, such as counsel, are offered, and one can move to equity partner from this position through a transparent pathway. Alternatively, attorneys can move into the government and in-house with the full support of this top 25 Vault Law 100 firm.

Latham & Watkins

Ranked No. 4 overall in the Vault Law 100 prestige rankings, Latham and Watkins is No. 3 in the Media, Entertainment & Sports practice area rankings. It is also the No. 3 firm in Vault’s Banking & Financial Services, Energy, Oil & Gas, Environmental Law, and Private Equity practice area rankings and in Vault’s Chicago, Texas, and Washington, DC, regional rankings. It takes many attorneys to support a firm with a top 15 placing in all 25 Vault-ranked practices, and Latham & Watkins employs 3,000 lawyers in 30 offices. In this large and social firm, attorneys easily establish organic connections among themselves, partners, and staff members. The 1,900-hour billable requirement is manageable, and the ability to work with highly competent people on sophisticated matters contributes to associate satisfaction. The career outlook for Latham & Watkins attorneys is outstanding. Promotion of senior associates to counsel or non-equity partner is realistic, and exit opportunities abound. Moreover, the firm hires professionals to help attorneys chart their own path to many exciting destinations inside and outside the firm.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

The No. 4 firm in the Media, Entertainment & Sports rankings is the No. 2 firm in Vault’s Best Law Firms in the Northwest rankings. In 11 U.S. offices, 9 of which are in the West, the 750 attorneys of Davis Wright Tremaine are relatively young, with many departments led by Millennial attorneys. This Vault law 100 firm is also recognized as the No. 20 firm in Vault’s Labor and Employment rankings. It has been successful in important cases involving entertainment and media clients; for example, the firm defended Showtime in a $95 million libel suit and stopped the execution of an executive order that would have banned TikTok from operating in the United States. Notably, Davis Wright Tremaine attorneys also advise clients on business and tax, communications, employment services, energy, environmental, financial services, and healthcare matters.

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Among the top five firms in Vault’s Media, Entertainment & Sports rankings, Loeb & Loeb is a relatively small firm with 500 attorneys, largely lateral hires, and a relatively flat hierarchical structure. The environment is collegial and supportive, and informal mentorship is prioritized. Attorneys at this self-described lifestyle firm need to bill 1,900 hours to receive a bonus, and the bonus amount increases for every 100 hours billed over the minimum threshold. In addition to working in media, entertainment, and sports, attorneys at Loeb & Loeb counsel clients in matters related to technology; bankruptcy/restructuring; capital markets; and corporate, employment and labor, and energy law. The firm offers long-term counsel and non-equity partner roles, and exit opportunities, particularly in the entertainment industry, are prevalent.

Although they all have a large presence on the West Coast, the Vault’s top five firms for media, entertainment, and sports have offices in other U.S. regions. They also offer openings for lawyers with other areas of expertise. Therefore, in addition to attorneys looking to engage in the highly visible and dynamic worlds of media, entertainment, and sports, lawyers with other professional interests should consider these firms. In fact, we encourage early-career associates and laterals to explore the firms that rank in Vault’s practice area, quality of life, regional, and overall prestige rankings to identify the one with the best cultural and geographical fit for you. The Vault profiles feature quantitative data about a firm, as well as historical background. Most important, the profiles offer insights into the experiences of the attorneys who currently work at these firms. With the information available from Vault, you can find the BigLaw or mid-sized firm that is right for you!

Best of luck from all of us at Vault Law on your legal job search!