Waks’ arrival brings to 35 the number of lawyers at Reed Smith in Dallas, which is the firm’s newest office in the U.S. among its 30 worldwide, having opened in May 2019 with 16 lawyers. The firm’s Austin office, opened in 2018, now has 11 lawyers. Waks comes to Reed Smith from the Dallas and Austin offices of Foley & Lardner.
Waks has a wealth of experience in three key areas: Entertainment & Media, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Copyright & Trademarks. He represents numerous celebrities, including sports icons, musicians and rock stars, top Hollywood talent, high net-worth individuals and prominent entrepreneurs.
“Within the entertainment and media group at Reed Smith we aspire to do the best work for the biggest clients. As such, Larry is a perfect fit because he’s an experienced lawyer practicing at the highest level with marquee clients,” said Steve Sessa, Co-Chair of the firm’s Entertainment & Media Industry Group. “Working alongside of a global group of complementary entertainment and media lawyers, the synergies are axiomatic; Larry’s clients will benefit from the deep bench of legal talent at Reed Smith, and the firm will benefit from Larry’s unparalleled experience in corporate entertainment transactions. The entire team is excited about collaborating with Larry and the opportunities which will flow from it.”
“Few if any BigLaw firms have such a significant commitment to their Media & Entertainment Industry Group and all the various constituents that make up that diverse industry,” said Waks. The global platform is a necessity for my clients and the firm’s presence in all the major U.S. cities that are key in the entertainment industry, will be enormously beneficial and I will also be spending time in the firm’s international offices.”
While Waks will be based in the firm’s Dallas and Austin offices, he travels frequently and expects to spend time in the firm’s offices in Century City, New York, and Miami. Waks speaks fluent Spanish and French, and represents many Spanish-speaking clients in the food and beverage, music, film and TV industries.
“Larry extends the reach of Reed Smith’s industry-leading Entertainment & Media practice to Austin, which is one of the country’s leading entertainment and media centers,” said Jeff Layne, managing partner of the firm’s Austin office. “Once again, Reed Smith is growing to match strength-for-strength with the Austin market.”
In addition to the Casamigos deal, Waks recently assisted with the representation of Davos Brands’ Aviation Gin, whose brand ambassador is Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds, in its 2020 sale to Diageo; the $100 million sale of Stubbs Bar BQ sauce to McCormick & Co.; and the $44 million stock swap acquisition of a UK/French anime company. Waks has also recently handled multiple acquisitions and sales of businesses in excess of $2 billion and negotiated the details for Conor McGregor in connection with the exercise of a call option by Proximo/Cuervo regarding ownership of Proper No.12 Irish whiskey.
“As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the coming year is going to be very busy as the economy and the entertainment industry reignite,” predicts Waks. “Over the past year, there have been all manner of enterprising deals struck to deliver virtual entertainment to fans, but there will soon be a major release of pent-up demand for in-person events.
Waks received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and his B.S from Trinity University. He is the past president of the Texas State Bar Entertainment and Sports Section, a member of the New York Bar Entertainment Practice Section and former chair of the litigation division of the American Bar Association Entertainment & Sports Practice.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Larry’s high-profile practice to our expanding Texas platform. Reed Smith is truly establishing itself as market leader within the Lone Star state, where we now have more than 100 lawyers in only eight years’ time since our first Texas office opening in Houston,” said Bobby Majumder, Dallas Co-Office Managing Partner.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. Now celebrating more than 140 years of service, our firm spans 30 offices with 3,000 people, including 1,700 lawyers.
For more information, please visit www.reedsmith.com.
