May 2018 – Five of KBK’s attorneys were ranked as “leaders in their fields,” and the firm was once again recognized as a top media and entertainment litigation firm in the newly released Chambers USA 2018. The prestigious legal publication listed Robert L. Corbin, Janet I. Levine, and Jeffrey H. Rutherford among the leading lawyers in litigation dealing with white collar crime and government investigations. It listed Bert H. Deixler and Richard B. Kendall among the top litigators for media and entertainment law.
Chambers described the firm as a “compact litigation boutique capable of representing sizable media and entertainment companies, including major motion picture studios and top broadcasters. Experienced in handling disputes about entertainment finance, content production and distribution as well as intellectual property claims.”
It interviews clients, and one told Chambers that the KBK team is “very responsive, and we get an immediate turnaround. The lawyers are smart, practical, and they’ve been able to establish really good relationships with our clients.”
Regarding the individual attorneys, Chambers noted that Mr. Deixler “handles a wide array of entertainment disputes on behalf of artists, studios, television networks and production companies. He has experience in intellectual property and contractual disputes.” The publication quoted clients as saying Mr. Deixler “does a terrific job,” adding that “he takes the big-picture view while still delving into the details.”
Chambers said that Mr. Kendall, the firm’s co-founding partner, is “sought out by key players in the entertainment industry, including major motion picture studios.” It also said that clients praised Mr. Kendall for his “notable expertise in distribution, copyright, and profit-participation disputes.” In addition, clients told Chambers that Mr. Kendall is “really smart” and “exceptional at providing thoughtful advice.”
Chambers reported that Ms. Levine receives plaudits for her “‘great written work product and strong advocacy skills,’ which she applies to a range of high-stakes criminal litigation work.” It also said that she is “held in particularly high esteem for her representation of senior executives, whom she defends in disputes in areas including bribery, money laundering, and healthcare fraud.” One client told Chambers that: “She has impeccable judgment; knowing when to push prosecutors and when to lighten up. She is widely respected by the Bench.”
Chambers also noted the Mr. Rutherford is “widely lauded for his white collar defense practice, which covers representation of both companies and prominent individuals in matters such as public corruption, healthcare fraud, and antitrust investigations.”