Steven M. Katleman

After 45 years in private practice, with the last 22 years as a partner at the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, I left to form my solo practice, Katleman Media Law, on January 1, 2025.  This allows me to be more nimble in assisting clients with navigating the ongoing transformative changes in the entertainment industry.  It is also a lot more fun.

I honed my legal and business skills in a variety of settings -- from a major talent agency (where I decided that being an agent was a great job for other people), to a small firm as a business and entertainment litigator (where I learned how to fight and not be intimidated, even when being yelled at by a federal judge), to a medium-size entertainment firm (where I learned how to intimidate the other side when necessary, while keeping it classy), to a giantic international law firm with a world-renowned entertainment and media practice (where I added more tools to my shed to broaden and diversify my practice and what I can offer to clients).

I think that broad legal, industry and practical experience is essential to being an effective entertainment and media lawyer.  I didn't go to law school to live in an ivory tower.  I went to learn a trade in order to help clients get to where they want to be. I find it very gratifying to work with clients who have a vision and are at the top of their game or on their way.  Even more gratifying is if I can be a small part of their succcess, whenever it comes.

I love what I do. The work is fascinating and challenging with the huge changes in the industry, and I love a challenge. I learn something every day.  Sometimes it may be an industry development that gets me thinking about how I could use it to benefit clients (or to protect them from it).  When wearing my law nerd hat, it may be new legal developments that may lead to new paths to be charted. Sometimes I learn from working with or observing people much smarter than me.  Sometimes I may see the depths of human behavior -- and then the fight begins...

On a personal note, I enjoy music (the louder the better), cooking, hanging with my kids (who still like to talk to me), and cycling and other high-speed sports (while doing my best to avoid blunt force trauma).  I am also trying to talk my wife into letting me get a new dog.  Updates to follow.