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Call for Nominations:

2026 AMEC Counsel of the Year Awards

Ceremony Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026=

The Assoc= iation of Media & Entertainment Counsel (AMEC) invites nominations for = the 2026 Counsel of the Year Awards, honoring outstanding legal professiona= ls who drive excellence across entertainment, media, sports, and technology= .

Who may nominate: Peers, clients, colleagues, and organ= izations. Self-nominations are welcome.

How to submit: Email mhappy@theamec.com with the subject line =E2=80=9C2026 AMEC Nomination =E2=80=93 [Nomin= ee Name].=E2=80=9D

Include the following in the message body:

Nominee Name

Title

Organization

Contact Details (email and phone)

Short Nominating Statement (3=E2=80=936 sentences highlight= ing impact, leadership, innovation, and service)

Categories: AMEC recognizes multi= ple disciplines each year, including but not limited to: Counsel of the Yea= r; PwC Daniel Brandhorst Dealmaker of the Year; Rising Star; Law Firm of th= e Year; Public Counsel; Labor & Employment Counsel; Music Counselor; In= ternational Counselor; Excellence in ADR (Warren Knight Excellence in ADR A= ward); and the Black Swan Award for Innovation. Final categories will be co= nfirmed by the Selection Committee.

Selection process: All nominations are confidential and= reviewed by AMEC=E2=80=99s Selection Committee. Honorees are chosen based = on demonstrated excellence, industry impact, integrity, and service to the = professional community.

Deadline: Friday, November 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT.<= /span>

Event details and updates comi= ng soon at: www.theamec.org<= /p>

How a TV Sh= ow Helps Resolve Disputes

with Joann = Rezzo

=E2=80=9CWhen l= itigants are able to fully unburden themselves, they often morph

into rational b= eings capable of listening to different perspectives and making

concessions on = formerly intractable differences.=E2=80=9D

In her recent Daily Journal article, Joann Rezzo shares= how borrowing a page from George Costanza=E2=80=99s =E2=80=9CFestivus=E2= =80=9D holiday, specifically, the =E2=80=9Cairing of grievances,=E2=80=9D c= an be a powerful tool in mediation. With over 30 years of litigation experi= ence and a thriving mediation practice, Joann has found that allowing parti= es to fully express frustrations often defuses tension, restores rationalit= y, and opens the door to settlement, even in the most entrenched disputes.<= /p>
Joann explains that this =E2=80=9CFestivus Phase=E2=80=9D is mor= e than a gimmick, it=E2=80=99s grounded in emotional intelligence research.= Litigants experiencing intense emotions may be in the grip of an =E2=80=9C= amygdala hijack,=E2=80=9D impairing rational thought. By creating space for= parties to voice grievances in a structured, respectful setting, mediators= can help them regain clarity and engage productively in negotiations.

She shares real-world examples, including a multimillion-dollar = case with years of failed mediations that finally settled after a Festivus-= style session. Joann also notes its effectiveness in workplace disputes, wh= ere guided discussions can transform relationships and lead to actionable p= lans for moving forward.

From business litigation to employment matters, Joann has seen F= estivus work for =E2=80=9Cthe rest of us,=E2=80=9D helping attorneys and cl= ients alike navigate high-stakes disputes with empathy, candor, and focus. = Her approach shows that even in the legal world, a little Seinfeld-inspired= creativity can go a long way toward resolution.

A reprint of the article is attached as a PDF to this email blast.

Shared with permission by Joann Rezzo

Joann is a respected mediator with nearly 30 years of litigation= experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants across a broad rang= e of disputes, including employment, business, personal injury, and profess= ional malpractice. A former founding partner of a successful law firm and a= n attorney at DLA Piper, she brings a balanced, deeply informed perspective= to mediation, backed by a track record of trial success and settlement neg= otiation. Known for her meticulous preparation, empathetic listening, and c= ollegial style, Joann is committed to helping parties reach resolution effi= ciently and respectfully.

LEARN MO= RE ABOUT JOANN REZZO

AMEC BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

AMEC'S LAW FIRM ADVISORY BOARD

David Zitzerman, Counsel

GOODMANS LLP

1. What pulled you into the fast-paced (and occasionally chaoti= c) world of media and entertainment law=E2=80=94and what=E2=80=99s kept you= hooked?

I began my legal career wo= rking on M&A transactions at a large corporate law firm. Advising on fi= lm and TV productions proved to be much more rewarding and interesting than= describing the differences between wolframite and scheelite ore in a prosp= ectus for a tungsten mining company=E2=80=99s IPO.

2. If your legal career were a movie, what would the title be= =E2=80=94and who would play you?

=E2=80=9CHustle & Flow= =E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 Tom Hanks.

3. What=E2=80=99s one m= oment in your career where you thought, =E2=80=9COnly in this industry=E2= =80=A6=E2=80=9D?

Meeting with Marlon Brando= on the set of =E2=80=9CThe Freshman=E2=80=9D in Toronto.

4. What=E2=80=99s the b= est advice you ever got about surviving and thriving in this business?

Not really the best advice, but I did have a former m= entor who used to say =E2=80=9CDress British, think Yiddish=E2=80=9D and (m= ore controversially ) =E2=80=9C No conflict, no interest!=E2=80=9D.

5. If you could swap pl= aces with anyone in entertainment for a day=E2=80=94on set, backstage, or i= n the writers=E2=80=99 room=E2=80=94who would it be and why?

Stanley Tucci- I love grea= t Italian food and a good papal conclave.

6. Fun Fact or Guilty Pleasure: What=E2=80=99s one thing most= people don=E2=80=99t know about you=E2=80=94like your go-to karaoke song, = secret snack obsession, or the show you binge when no one=E2=80=99s looking= ?

=

I eat gelato every night a= nd still manage to get into my jeans and have seen every Seinfeld episode (= Serenity Now!).

* * * * *

How would you like to be featured in our next AMEC B= oard Member Spotlight? Email Monique Happy, our Executive Director= , at mhappy@theamec.o= rg. We'll be creating AMEC Member Spotlights as well!&= nbsp;