Member News

Reed Smith Adds Superstar Entertainment & Media Partner in New York

NEW YORK (August 9, 2016) – Reed Smith LLP today announced the addition of Jess Drabkin as a partner in the firm’s global Entertainment & Media Industry Group in New York. Drabkin was most recently a partner at Grubman Shire & Meiselas. The addition of Drabkin follows on that of Leif Reinstein who joined the firm’s Entertainment & Media Industry Group in Los Angeles in April.

“Jess is a world-class entertainment and corporate lawyer and we are incredibly fortunate to have him join our team,” said Stephen Sessa, Co-Chair of Reed Smith’s Entertainment & Media Industry Group. “For the past 20 years, Jess has been the architect of many of the most creative and complex corporate transactions in the entertainment business, representing the world’s leading entertainment companies, artists, executives and entrepreneurs. People who have worked with Jess know he’s a brilliant lawyer. His specialized skill set as an elite dealmaker will be a valuable asset for Reed Smith’s clients.”

Drabkin specializes in corporate and executive compensation matters in the entertainment industry. His extensive transactional experience includes representing major media and entertainment companies, as well as leading artists, producers, performers, entrepreneurs and fashion designers, in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing, distribution, venture capital and private equity transactions. Drabkin also represents leading executives of public and private companies with respect to their employment and equity arrangements. Prior to joining Grubman, Drabkin spent more than a dozen years as a corporate finance lawyer in venture capital and private equity. In addition to fund formation and equity and mezzanine debt financing for portfolio companies, Drabkin has extensive experience in private and public exits from these companies.

“Reed Smith’s international practice and platform will give my clients access to an amazing global resource,” Drabkin said. “The firm’s reputation as a client-focused, relationship law firm is an ideal fit with my own practice and business philosophy. I’m also thrilled to be joining the likes of Steve Sessa, Gregor Pryor and my former Grubman colleague Ed Shapiro.”

Drabkin received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his A.B. from Columbia College. He began his legal career at Reavis & McGrath (now the New York office of Norton Rose Fulbright) and O’Sullivan Graev & Karabell (now the New York office of O’Melveny & Myers).

Commenting on Drabkin’s arrival, Cindy Minniti, Office Managing Partner of Reed Smith’s New York office, said, “Jess is a great addition to our team in New York as he further enhances our corporate group, with a focus on one of our key industry groups: media and entertainment. His experience as a corporate finance lawyer and a leading entertainment lawyer are great complements to our practice here.”

Reed Smith’s Entertainment and Media Industry Group is a global multi-disciplinary group of lawyers based in strategic locations throughout the world, including Los Angeles, New York, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris, Munich and the United Arab Emirates. Lawyers in the group act as trusted advisors in all aspects of the media and entertainment industries, including film, television, advertising and marketing, technology and telecommunications, music and sports.

Compliments of Reed Smoth LLP – a member of the EACCNY