Craig Emanuel

Craig Emanuel is practicing as an attorney for more than 40 years. Most recently Craig was a partner in Paul Hastings’s Century City office and was previously the chair of the Firm’s Global Entertainment and Media Group. Prior to Paul Hastings, Craig was a partner at Loeb & Loeb for 20 years where he served as the Vice Chair of the firm. Starting in November 2023, Craig is currently working full time with his client of nearly 30 years, Ryan Murphy.

Recognized as one of the top dealmakers in the entertainment industry, Craig has been involved in the production, development and distribution of hundreds of leading motion picture and television projects and has built his career by seamlessly bringing together the right artists and business partners to turn creative vision into on-screen reality.

In private practice, Craig worked with prominent writers, directors, actors, producers, and production companies to navigate studio and independent film, television, and digital opportunities in an evolving entertainment landscape. In addition to negotiating top-tier talent agreements, he handles domestic and international transactions across all platforms, helping to create strategic alliances for clients by advising them on complex digital media content licensing arrangements, as well as on film and television investments.

Regularly named among the most influential in Hollywood, Craig has been recognized in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Power Lawyers Top 100” list and Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report” and “Variety500” list, among other leading publications. He is ranked in Chambers USA in Media & Entertainment, where clients appreciate his “‘great sense of the business and what’s happening in the industry’” and that he is “‘quick to respond, very knowledgeable and helpful with working through problems.’”

Craig serves on the advisory board of the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance and The Creative Community for Peace. He also serves on the board of the March on Washington Film Festival which is held annually in Washington D.C. focusing on civil rights issues and on the board of The Faith and Politics Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide bipartisan opportunities for political leaders and which holds an annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Selma Alabama which up until last year was led by the late Congressman, John Lewis.