Michael P. Frankfurt

Michael P. Frankfurt is the Senior Partner and a founding partner of Frankfurt Kurnit, one of the pre-eminent media and entertainment law firms in the United States.

His experience is in all aspects of the business practice of law, focusing on entertainment and media law, representing advertising agencies, commercial film, television, publishing, graphic and fine arts and new media companies, and representing and counseling executives and talent in those and other businesses. He has lectured often at various conferences and schools, including New York University School of Law and Stern School of Business, Association of Independent Film Producers' Conferences and the TED Conference.

Mr. Frankfurt is an active member of the New York State Bar Association. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Creative Coalition and The Armory Foundation, a Director and Secretary of the New York Road Runners Club, a Trustee of the Hunter College Foundation, and a member of the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame Committee, Friars Club, Hunter College Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame, and Millrose Athletic Association. He is admitted to practice in New York.

awards & recognition

Best Lawyers in America

"Top 100 Power Lawyers" by The Hollywood Reporter

New York-area "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers magazine 

New York's Best Entertainment Lawyers by New York Magazine

education

University of Virginia (J.D., 1960)

New York University (LL.M., 1962)

Hunter College (B.A., 1957)

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Past Speaking Engagements

Price Media Law Moot Court Competition

Michael P. Frankfurt serves as a panelist at the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition's seminar on careers in Media Law at the Hearst Corporation offices in New York.

January 24 2014

Boot Camp for Digital Start-Ups

Michael P. Frankfurt moderated a session on 'Hiring Top Guns' at the Boot Camp for Digital Start-Ups.

October 29 2013

news & press

The Best Lawyers in America 2025

Best Lawyers in America recognizes 48 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in the 2025 edition. Read more.

39 Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2023

Super Lawyers magazine lists 39 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2023 NY-metro edition. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2024

Best Lawyers in America recognizes 44 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in the 2024 edition. Read more.

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2022

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Caren Decter, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Hannah Taylor, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, and Maura Wogan. Aaron Deitsch, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Jordyn Milewski, and Adam Osterweil are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2023

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services — continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2021

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Caren Decter, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Rick Kurnit, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Thomas D. Selz, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, and Maura Wogan. Marcie Cleary, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, and Adam Osterweil are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2022

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services — continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2020

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Rick Kurnit, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Thomas D. Selz, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, and Maura Wogan. Marcie Cleary, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Adam Osterweil and Rachel Santori are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2021

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services —  continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

Thirty Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers Metro List for 2019

Super Lawyers magazine lists thirty Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2019 NY-area edition. Read more.

Thirty-two Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named in Super Lawyers Magazine for 2018

Super Lawyers magazine lists thirty-two Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2018 edition. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2019

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services — continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2018

Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" ranked Frankfurt Kurnit nationally in "Tier 1" in Advertising, Copyright, Entertainment - Motion Pictures and Television, and Trademark Law, "Tier 2" in Litigation - Intellectual Property, Media Law, and Trusts & Estates Law, and "Tier 3" in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Read more.

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2016

Super Lawyers listed thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2016 edition. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2017

In its 2017 edition, Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" ranked Frankfurt Kurnit nationally in "Tier 1" in Advertising, Copyright, Entertainment - Motion Pictures and Television, and Trademark Law, "Tier 2" in Litigation - Intellectual Property, Media Law, and Trusts & Estates Law, and "Tier 3" in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement Litigation. Read more.

Michael P. Frankfurt and Deborah Wolfe Attend the Athletes Quarterly Game Plan Dinner

Frankfurt Kurnit’s Michael P. Frankfurt and Deborah Wolfe attend the Athletes Quarterly Game Plan dinner at STK Downtown presented by The Glenlivet. View Article

Mike Frankfurt in Running Times

Mike Frankfurt is mentioned in the "Roger on Running" column in Running Times, which features leaders in the running community over age 80. View Article

Mike Frankfurt in the New York Post

The Post’s Page Six covered a story from Mike Frankfurt’s 80th birthday party. View Article

Mike Frankfurt in Politico

Politico mentioned Mike Frankfurt's 80th birthday in its daily blast, referring to Mike as "one of the most influential media and entertainment lawyers in America". View Article

Mike Frankfurt in the New York Post

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post mentioned Mike Frankfurt’s 80th birthday celebration in his "Equal Time" column. View Article

Thirty-three Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2015

Super Lawyers listed thirty-three Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2015 edition. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2016

Best Lawyers recognized our firm and 17 of our attorneys in their 2016 list. Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2015

The Legal 500, a London-based directory of leading lawyers, recommended Frankfurt Kurnit for Media, Technology & Telecom work (Marketing and Advertising) and Intellectual Property work (Copyright) in its 2015 edition. Read more.

Thirty-one Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2014

Super Lawyers listed thirty-one Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2014 edition. Read more.

Best Lawyers 2015

Best Lawyers recognized our firm and 16 of our attorneys in their 2015 list.  Read more.

2014 Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500

The Legal 500, a London-based directory of leading lawyers, recommended Frankfurt Kurnit for Media, Technology & Telecom work (Marketing and Advertising) and Intellectual Property work (Copyright) in its 2014 edition. Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit in “Best Lawyers 2014”

In its 2014 edition Best Lawyers ranked Frankfurt Kurnit in "Tier 1" in Advertising, Copyright, Entertainment, Trademark, and Trust & Estates Law, "Tier 2" in Litigation (IP) and Media Law, and "Tier 3" in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement Litigation. Read more.

Twenty-seven Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2013

Super Lawyers listed twenty-seven Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2013 edition. In addition Super Lawyers recognized Terri Seligman in its "Top 50 New York Women Lawyers List". Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit Top Ranked in Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms for 2013

Best Lawyers ranked Frankfurt Kurnit one of the "Best Law Firms" of 2013. Read more.

Twenty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named 2012 NY-Area “Super Lawyers”

Super Lawyers listed twenty-four Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2012 edition. Read more.

Eleven Frankfurt Kurnit Lawyers Appear in New York Magazine’s List of the “Best”

New York Magazine named eleven Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz attorney's to its 2012 "New York Area's Best Lawyers" list. Read more.

Michael Frankfurt Featured in New York Daily News on Armory Foundation

Dr. Norbert Sander, Executive Director of The Armory Foundation at The New Balance Track & Field Center, cited Michael Frankfurt as a key to the founation's success in helping children in New York City.  View Article

Seventeen Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named 2011 New York-Area “Super Lawyers”

Super Lawyers named seventeen Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2011 edition. Read more.

Mike Frankfurt Featured in Robert Redford’s New Biography

Robert Redford quoted Mike Frankfurt in his new biography (Alfred A. Knopf publishers).

Frankfurt Kurnit in Best Lawyers 2010

Best Lawyers ranked Frankfurt Kurnit in its 2010 edition. Read more.

Mike Frankfurt - Always There for Us

The Armory Foundation acknowleged Mike Frankfurt was acknowledged in its 2010 Yearbook for providing pro bono services to The Armory Foundation for the past 20 years. The acknowledgment also appeared in the Millrose Games 2010 program – 20,000 copies of which were distributed at the games at Madison Square Garden.

Run for Your Life

Michael Frankfurt appeared in the film “Run For Your Life” by Frankfurt Kurnit client and emmy-nominated documentarian Judd Ehrlich. The film explores the creation of the New York City Marathon.

Power Lawyers

The Hollywood Reporter named Michael Frankfurt as one of the "Top 100 Power Lawyers".

Here’s Your Cue

Michael Frankfurt's photograph with The Creative Coalition's prominent members -- including Heather Graham, Sean Penn, and Tony Godwyn-- appeared in The Hamptons Magazine's Fall 2007 issue, accompanying the article, "Here's Your Cue." Mr. Frankfurt is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Creative Coalition.

Michael Frankfurt in 2007 Power Lawyers Top 100 List.

The Hollywood Reporter, Esq included  Michael Frankfurt in its 2007 "Power Lawyers Top 100 Outside Counsel" list.