AMEC Counsel of the Year Sponsors
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Wildman Harrold
Hogan Lovells
HSBC
Loeb & Loeb LLP
Hermes, Netburn, O'Conner & Spearling, P.C.
Variety
Latham & Watkins
portolano colella cavallo
Blank Rome LLP
AMEC Counsel of the Year Awards

ASSOCIATION OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT COUNSEL ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 5th ANNUAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Michael Fricklas of Viacom Honored As Counsel of the Year
And Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP as Law Firm of the Year

LOS ANGELES, December 18, 2009 -- The Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC), the leading trade association serving general counsel and business affairs attorneys, today announced the winners of the prestigious 5th Annual Counsel of the Year Awards. Founded in 2005, the Media and Entertainment Counsel of the Year Awards are the only awards designed to honor attorneys who are part of the leadership at the major global media and entertainment companies. This year’s awards were presented at a Gala Luncheon held at the legendary House of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

“We are proud to announce this year’s winners who represent the best of the best,” says Peter Winkler of PricewaterhouseCoopers and one of the founders of AMEC. “The awards recognize the tremendous talent and contributions each of these professionals make to their companies and to their overall industry. On behalf of AMEC, its founders and the advisory board members, we extend heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners.” Each winner will be honored with a distinctive statuette specially created by Bennett Gallery, which has designed awards for the NFL, NBC Universal and the American Red Cross.

The top award this year was presented to Michael Fricklas, Executive Vice President, General Counsel  and Secretary of Viacom Inc., who  was cited by AMEC as its Counsel of the Year, the top award.  “It is a privilege to be honored with this distinctive award by AMEC,” states Fricklas.  “The award is a particular honor because it is  presented by leaders in the entertainment bar - people for whom I have enormous respect and admiration.  I particularly want to thank my colleagues at the Viacom companies, without whom my success would not be possible."