Alan D. Sacks

Alan D. Sacks is a partner in the Entertainment, IP Finance and Sports Groups. He is recognized in the 2023-2025 editions of Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment - Motion Pictures and Television and The Legal 500 for his expertise in media & entertainment law. He is also recognized by Variety in its 2021 Legal Impact Report.

His blend of entertainment law and hands-on entertainment industry, transactional and advisory experience - combined with a substantial corporate finance and private equity background - makes him a go-to lawyer for significant film and television clients worldwide.

Mr. Sacks represents individual financiers, writers, directors, actors and producers in both the studio system and independent arena, in addition to authors, photographers, athletes, sports properties, sponsors and brands. He advises on a wide range of financing, distribution, talent, celebrity branding and sports endorsement and sponsorship issues. He has special expertise in entertainment finance, structured financing products, and motion picture distribution, and he applies all of these skills in both traditional media as well as the ever-evolving digital and split-rights arenas.

Mr. Sacks is active in philanthropic initiatives and supports community-based programs in New York and parts of Africa. He was also the founder of Centric SB Entertainment, a unit of Centric Capital Ventures, LLC, a principal investment firm. In this role, he helped to source and facilitate investments, strategic transactions, and new business opportunities in film, television, and other media in the U.S. and abroad.

Mr. Sacks has written for The Hollywood Reporter and other publications. He is admitted to practice in New York.

awards & recognition

Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment - Motion Pictures and Television (2021-2025)

Variety's Legal Impact Report (2021)

The Legal 500 for Media and Entertainment

education

Duke University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)

University of Witwatersrand in South Africa

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Past Speaking Engagements

Frankfurt Kurnit’s Fifth Annual (Now “Virtual”) Advertising Law Summit

Join us on June 18th for our Fifth Annual Advertising Law Summit. This will be our first virtual version. We will fill your screen with thought leaders from the FTC and our own ranks to tackle the most challenging legal and business issues facing advertisers today. Read more.

June 18 2020

Gotham Media 2015 Forecast Event

Frankfurt Kurnit hosts Gotham Media's 2015 "Forecast" event beginning at 8:30AM. Alan Sacks moderates a panel featuring executives from CAA, Rebel Mouse, Grand Street, and Vox Media.

December 9 2014

news & press

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2024

The Legal 500 praises four of our practice groups in 2024: Advertising & Marketing, Media & Entertainment, Advertising & Marketing (Litigation), and Cyber Law (Data Privacy & Data Protection). The London-based directory spotlighted thirty of our attorneys individually. Read more.

Neon Inks Strategic Partnership With Waypoint Entertainment For Indie Film Slate

Deadline mentions Alan D. Sacks as counsel to Waypoint Entertainment, which has just formed a strategic financial partnership with NEON aimed at fostering larger independent productions valued at $10 million and above. View Article

The Best Lawyers in America 2024

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

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2023

The Legal 500 once again praises Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups and attorneys in the 2023 edition of their United States guide. 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.

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2022

The Legal 500 once again praises Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups and attorneys in the 2022 edition of their United States guide. 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.

Variety’s 2021 Legal Impact Report

Variety’s 2021 Legal Impact Report includes Marcie Cleary for her representation of creators in film, TV and digital. Larissa Calva Ruiz, Hayden Goldblatt, Sean Jefferson and Alan Sacks are recognized for their work in entertainment finance. View Article

Bruce Lee’s Lost Passion Project ‘The Silent Flute’ to be Produced by Entrepreneur Jason Kothari  

PR Newswire mentions Alan Sacks as counsel to Jason Kothar. View Article

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.

Michael Fassbender to Star in David Sandberg’s Feature-Length ‘Kung Fury’

Deadline and Variety mention Alan Sacks as attorney to David Sandberg who will star, direct and produce the action-comedy ‘Kung Fury.’ View Article

June/July Sports Industry News

Here's what's happening at the intersection of sports, marketing, and entertainment law. Read more.

May Sports Industry News

Here's what's happening at the intersection of sports, marketing, and entertainment law. Read more.

April Sports Industry News

So much is happening at the intersection of sports, marketing, and entertainment that we've been inspired to send you summaries to help you put it all into context. Please enjoy this month's content. Read more.

Athletes Quarterly Publishes Alan Sacks Article on Selling Your Story

Alan Sack's article, “Selling Your Story: What Are Your Creative Life Rights Worth? More Than You Think” speaks to the valuable opportunity that can arise from selling your life rights for a feature film, television series or book based on your life. View Article

Tom Hanks, Emma Watson Thriller ‘The Circle’ Sells to EuropaCorp

The Wrap mentions Andrew Hurwitz and Alan Sacks in the article, "Tom Hanks, Emma Watson Thriller ‘The Circle’ Sells to EuropaCorp". View Article

“Building Your Brand-Smart Moves for Sweat Equity” by Deb Wolfe and Alan Sacks in Athletes Quarterly

Alan Sacks and Deborah Wolfe's article, "Building Your Brand: Smart Moves for Sweat Equity" is featured in the Holiday issue of Athletes Quarterly.

“MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING”:  A Securities Law Trap

We frequently see private placement memoranda, seeking to raise capital for films, which refer to independent film success stories such as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding,"  "Little Miss Sunshine," or other independent films which became box office hits. Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit Promotes Three to Partner

World Intellectual Property Review covered Frankfurt Kurnit's promotion of Christopher R. Chase, Alan Sacks, and Jeremy S. Goldman to partner positions. (Article behind a paywall) View Article

Terrence Malick-Produced ‘The Better Angels’ Gets U.S. Distribution

The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline listed Hayden Goldblatt and Alan Sacks as representation for the filmmakers of "The Better Angels" in a distribution deal with Amplify. View Article

Andrew Hurwitz and Alan Sacks in Variety

Variety cited Andrew Hurwitz and Alan Sacks as counsel to Freestyle Releasing in its acquisition of  North American rights for the sketch-comedy "Inappropriate Comedy." View Article