Top 100 Hollywood Power-Lawyers Tell All

Hollywood is returning to normal, and according to the Hollywood Reporter’s 15th annual Top 100 list of Most Powerful Lawyers, the tinseltown who’s who “has the industry’s high-stakes litigation, mega-mergers and big-ticket talent deals under control.” Topping the list is James Adams, who prefers clients who don’t want to be just one thing, or as he refers to them, “multihyphenates.” Karl Austen, who juggled the empire of Seth MacFarlane, put Jude Law in Fantastic Beasts and Peter Pan & Wendy and helped directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah navigate the Marvel and DC worlds, comes in at number two. Queried about the worst advice he ever received, Austen dodged the bullet and said he’s gotten nothing but good advice. Lucky him! Jill Bassinger, ranked number three, says her work is crossing into politics with her representation of Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to publicly accuse New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment. But like a true politician, Bassinger is working both sides of the street. She also reps confidential clients who have been accused of assault. Bassinger says the pandemic changed her work life forever by making her hate pants with buttons or zippers.