“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,” Shakespeare famously wrote 500 years ago.
All respect to the Bard, but we disagree.
Which is why on September 17, 2026, Deadline wants to celebrate the lawyers — especially the ones holding down the Hollywood fort.
Joined by heavy hitters and game changers from the most active firms in town, Deadline’s L.A. Law Summit will gather top lawyers, talent, agents, managers, executives and other industry insiders. The invite-only half day event will be held at PMC’s City of Angels HQ.
To meet the demands and curiosity of a changing industry, the Century City-adjacent summit will cover the four topics and questions on everyone’s mind and docket: IP, M&A, the Creator Economy and AI’s collision with Hollywood.
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In addition, Deadline’s L.A. Law Summit will honor Patricia Glaser and Nina Shaw.
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The Glaser Weil partner will be presented with a Visionary Award for her distinguished and sometimes fierce career. A fireside chat with the esteemed litigator will follow with Deadline Executive Editor for Legal, Labor & Politics, Dominic Patten, and some very special guests. The tribute to the Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano founding partner aims to salute a towering career that has shaped, and often protected, some of the industry’s biggest names.
Moderated by Patten, Deadline’s Political Editor Ted Johnson and Senior TV and Labor reporter Katie Campione, L.A. Law’s four panels, comprised of lawyers, agents, managers and talent, will dive into:
IP – How film and TV creators can defend and protect their intellectual property in the streaming era, what creators can do when they’re falsely accused of stealing an idea and the unfortunate cost of litigation over such claims.
M&A – How media, tech, content libraries and creator businesses are consolidating fast, whether today’s mergers can integrate people and creative control, and whether spinoffs, royalties and joint ventures can serve as alternatives to blockbuster deals.
The Creator Economy – How creators can build durable businesses beyond film and TV, from ownership to audience development to dealmaking, the latest trends in the creator economy and why staying focused beats growing fast.
AI – How AI-generated likenesses, voices, and creative works are driving new legal fights – from unauthorized commercial use to disputed copyright. The discussion will cover licensing, the extent of platform accountability and where fair-use protections end.
More details, including how to RSVP, will follow in the coming days … Clear the court and save the date!
