Entertainment Transactions lawyer to be honored at Beverly Hills event

The Beverly Hills Bar Association will honor transactional attorney Marissa Román Griffith as its 2019 Entertainment Lawyer of the Year at an event Thursday.

Griffith, a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP’s Los Angeles office, represents financiers, borrowers, distributors and studios involved in various stages of production, financing and distribution of media content. Recent projects she’s worked on include the films “Ready Player One,” “Hotel Transylvania 3,” “Mortal Engines,” as well as episodic series like “Ozark,” “House of Cards,” and “Counterpart.”

Much of her practice has her dealing with senior lenders looking to provide financing for individual films or film libraries, serving as a link between financiers and Hollywood’s creative side. While working primarily “on the money side of things as opposed to distribution,” Griffith said she does a fair share of studio-side work as well.

Griffith said Friday she was “extremely honored” to receive the award, feeling the bar made a concerted effort to find an honoree who is diverse. Griffith said she would be the third person of color to receive the award, and the first of Latin heritage.

“To me, that’s very meaningful,” Griffith said. “Diversity is something I really cherish, and making strides in any way I can is something that’s been very important in my career.”

Griffith will be recognized at an event hosted by the bar at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased through the bar’s website or by calling 310-601-2422. According to a bar statement, the event will benefit its education and community outreach programs.