Joseph A. Calabrese

It used to be said that the sun never sets on the British Empire. Nowadays, Calabrese says, that’s more applicable to Hollywood.

“We watch the sun set in Europe and watch it come up in China,” Calabrese said. “It’s a long day.”

The entertainment world relies now more than ever on expanding international markets, and as the global chair of an international firm’s entertainment practice, so does Calabrese. Sometimes he’ll rush home after a full day at Latham’s Century City office just to take calls, answer emails, and monitor markets overseas — occasionally, he joked, to his wife’s chagrin.

“Last night, I was hurrying home after a client dinner so I could catch up on e-mails. We can complain sometimes but the truth is that it makes for a stimulating lifestyle,” Calabrese said.“If you like things to move quickly, there’s nothing like it.”

Calabrese recently helped the Qatari entertainment company beIN Media Group in its acquisition of Miramax. On an ongoing basis, he serves as counsel for EuropaCorp, a French company that’s produced and distributed films like “Taken” and “The Transporter.” Stateside, he recently helped Atairos Management Company LP in its acquisition of Learfield Communications LLC, a sports marketing company with more than four decades of experience in the industry. It’s probably fitting, given the globe-trotting nature of his practice, that Calabrese has been a longtime adviser for the International Olympic Committee.

Calabrese serves on the executive committee for the Constitutional Rights Foundation and on the executive boards of the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television and the Cornell Law School Advisory Committee. The entertainment world’s never-ending day can make it hard to find minutes to spare, but Calabrese said he feels it’s important that attorneys make the time to give back in a voluntary capacity.

“Lawyers have this unique opportunity to contribute in ways beyond just paying clients,” Calabrese said. “This is something I think lawyers need to do more of — to just be involved in the great institutions we have here in Los Angeles.”

— Steven Crighton