Entertainment, Digital, & Sports
Jackson Walker’s Entertainment, Digital, & Sports Group leverages both its years of experience and full-service resources and capabilities to provide clients with valued advice in the multiple sectors and disciplines of the entertainment and sports industries, including with respect to their digital or “new media” matters.
Not surprisingly, the digital marketplace has quickly become the focus of Jackson Walker’s clients within entertainment, sports, and across other commercial industries. Advances in new technology are leading to new fields of industry and, in turn, new legislation and precedent-setting cases on a seemingly regular basis. The multidimensional development of the new digital age, together with the globalization of financing, production, distribution, and licensing, is driving change at a speed and level of complexity never before encountered.
Clients turn to Jackson Walker because they are looking for creative, insightful attorneys who combine business acumen, legal experience, and vision to guide them safely and profitably through both known and unexplored commercial and legal landscapes. Such cutting-edge advice requires unique market insights about what drives these industries and the legal acuity necessary to not only know what today’s issues are, but to anticipate what tomorrow’s issues will be as technology and its related business models and practices continue to develop.
Areas of Service
- Entertainment Litigation
Our entertainment litigators take an aggressive but strategic approach toward helping clients across the entertainment industry to solve their business challenges, protect their creative works, and defend their legal rights.
- Digital
Our digital and new media attorneys help assess, create, and implement winning legal solutions for clients in furtherance of their online, e-commerce, social media, digital marketing, digital distribution, and digital rights management strategies.
- Sports
From teams to owners, governing bodies, venues, and professional and Olympic athletes, our sports law attorneys have represented the full range of players in the business of sports.
* Jackson Walker does not accept unsolicited submissions for films, television programs, musical works, or other ideas or materials for any entertainment or media industry projects; and does not provide literary or talent agent services, talent management services, artist development services, shopping services, broker/dealer services, business management services, or the like.
Jackson Walker Secures Dismissal of Claims Against Jed Wallace in ‘It Ends With Us’ Defamation Suit
Jackson Walker obtained a dismissal of all claims asserted in New York federal court against Jed Wallace, a Texas-based social media strategist and principal of Street Relations, Inc. On November 5, 2025, Judge Lewis J. Liman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Mr. Wallace’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The court held that the claims—rooted in allegations of reputational harm tied to publicity surrounding the film It Ends With Us—fall within New York’s defamation exception to the state’s long-arm statute and therefore could not proceed in New York.
Client Results • November 6, 2025
Jackson Walker Secures Summary Judgment for Kirk Weddle in Nirvana ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover Lawsuit
Jackson Walker secured a complete victory for renowned photographer Kirk Weddle, with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granting summary judgment on September 30, 2025, and holding that Nirvana’s Nevermind album cover is not child pornography as a matter of law. The court dismissed the case with prejudice.
Jackson Walker partners Joshua A. Romero and Emilio B. Nicolas led the defense for Mr. Weddle alongside California counsel at Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP.
Client Results • October 1, 2025
Paul Watler Defends Press Freedom Involving Citizen Journalist in US Supreme Court Case
In a notable development for press freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court on October 15, 2024, vacated the judgment of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the high-profile case of Villarreal v. Alaniz and remanded the case for further consideration.
Paul Watler and Maggie Burreson, along with lawyers from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, served as counsel for the amici curiae, comprising 21 media organizations, in support of petitioner Priscilla Villarreal.
Client Results • October 21, 2024
Jackson Walker Submits Amicus Brief on Behalf of Prominent Authors and Publishers in Book-Banning Case
The Fifth Circuit heard oral argument yesterday in Little v. Llano County, a First Amendment challenge to Llano County’s removal of books from public library shelves. Jackson Walker’s amicus brief was filed on behalf of best-selling authors Stephen King and James Patterson, the Association of American Publishers, The Authors Guild, and publishers Candlewick Press, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks.
Client Results • September 25, 2024
Jackson Walker Obtains Appellate Victory for Local Radio Station in Defamation Suit
Bob Latham and Michael Murtha successfully defended Chris Samples Broadcasting, operating as KXDJ Radio, against defamation claims related to a series of episodes discussing the death of a teenager from Canadian, Texas.
Client Results • August 15, 2024
Jackson Walker Wins Dismissal of Business Disparagement Lawsuit Against ProPublica and The Texas Tribune
A Jackson Walker team including Marc Fuller, Maggie Burreson, and Josh Romero has won a significant victory for leading nonprofit news organizations ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. On May 22, 2024, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin ordered the dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit alleging business disparagement, tortious interference, and civil conspiracy claims based on an investigative article about local governments’ response to COVID-19 and an entrepreneur’s attempts to market his company’s medical services during the early days of the pandemic.
Client Results • May 24, 2024
Jackson Walker Advises Mark Cuban and Dallas Mavericks in Sale Transaction
A Jackson Walker team led by Brian Lidji and Kyle Hooper represented Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks in the sale of a controlling interest in the team to the families of Dr. Miriam Adelson and Sivan and Patrick Dumont.
Client Results • January 5, 2024
Texas Federal Court Dismisses Doctor’s $100M Defamation Suit Against CNN, Setting Useful Precedent for Cases That Interject Political Debate Into Courthouses
Bob Latham and Demi Williams represented CNN in a defamation lawsuit brought by Dr. Stella Immanuel, who publicly advocated for the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat COVID-19 during a speech in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the suit, Dr. Immanuel contended that CNN reported she “is unfit to be a medical doctor, that her medical judgments and advice are unsafe and/or unsound, and that she peddles disinformation, including harmful medical treatments, and therefore, endangers patients.” She sought $100 million in damages.
Client Results • October 25, 2022
Renowned Photographer Kirk Weddle and Nirvana Win Lawsuit Over Iconic ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover
Josh Romero and Emilio Nicolas successfully represented Kirk Weddle, the photographer behind Nirvana’s iconic Nevermind album cover, in a dispute brought by Spencer Elden. On September 2, 2022, a California-based U.S. District Judge granted the defendants’ Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss the lawsuit as time-barred and, in doing so, dismissed the entire lawsuit with prejudice.
Client Results • September 6, 2022
California Appellate Court Grants Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss Case Brought by Guest on ‘Dr. Phil’
Chip Babcock, Nancy Hamilton, and Joel Glover obtained dismissal of a case brought against Dr. Phil McGraw, Peteski Productions, Inc., and CBS Media Ventures by a former guest of Dr. Phil.
Client Results • August 25, 2022
Seven Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s List of 500 Leading Global Entertainment and Sports & Media Lawyers
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of the following seven partners to Lawdragon’s 2026 list of “The 500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers”:
Attorney News • February 23, 2026
Texas Expands Mini-TCPA: New Requirements Under Senate Bill 140
By Valery Piedra and Shannon Zmud Teicher
Texas has expanded its “mini-TCPA” telemarketing law with the passage of Senate Bill 140, that may create new compliance obligations for businesses that send text messages or initiate calls to or from Texas. In addition to the general requirements of the federal TCPA, covered entities may now be required to register with the state and post a bond before conducting certain outbound calls or texts.
Insights • September 18, 2025
Emilio Nicolas to Present at the 35th Annual Entertainment Law Institute
Jackson Walker partner Emilio B. Nicolas will be a featured speaker at the 35th Annual Entertainment Law Institute (ELI), an event co-sponsored by The University of Texas School of Law and the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Speaking Engagements • August 19, 2025
Demi Williams Coles Joins Sports and Entertainment Law Fireside Chat Celebrating Women’s History Month
Demi Williams Coles took part in an inspiring all-women fireside chat in celebration of Women’s History Month. Hosted by the SMU Dedman Sports and Entertainment Law Association, the event brought together leading female attorneys in the sports industry to share their stories, career advice, and insights.
Speaking Engagements • April 1, 2025
Seven Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s List of 500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers
Jackson Walker partners Chip Babcock, Marc Fuller, Bob Latham, Emilio Nicolas, Nate St. Clair, Paul Watler, and Shannon Zmud Teicher have been selected to “The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” list. The professionals chosen for this prestigious list have demonstrated exceptional skill and leadership in their respective fields, reinforcing Jackson Walker’s reputation as a powerhouse in media, entertainment, and sports law.
Attorney News • March 10, 2025
Emilio Nicolas Discusses Legal Standards for Copyright Infringement in the M. Night Shyamalan Case
In a recent article published by Asia IP, Jackson Walker partner Emilio B. Nicolas provided an in-depth analysis of the legal standards for copyright infringement, focusing on a high-profile trial involving acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and the Apple TV+ series “Servant”.
Mentions • January 29, 2025
October Highlights: Demi Williams Coles Leads NIL Discussions
During the month of October, Jackson Walker senior counsel Demi Williams Coles participated in three NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) events, providing valuable insights into this evolving legal landscape.
Speaking Engagements • December 27, 2024
