Kenneth A. Kleinberg

As one of Hollywood’s busiest transactions lawyers, Kleinberg urges his clients to “diversify their menu of activities.” “Take charge of your own life. Don’t wait for a script to come through the door,” he tells them.

Kleinberg represents Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, and LEGO, among others. Anyone can see his advice made manifest in their careers.

One of his biggest clients is J.K. Rowling, who has deals for films, theme parks and theatrical productions. Kleinberg represents her in all of these ventures and related licensing.

He is also a director of Pottermore Inc., a corporation established to handle the expansion for the digital franchise activities of Rowling with Warner Bros. He is on the board of HPTP (Broadway) Inc., the entity formed to bring a live version of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” to Broadway.

After its success in London, the play opened at the Lyric Theater to sell-out crowds. He is also involved in bringing companies performing the play to San Francisco, Australia and Germany.

Kleinberg is U.S. counsel for LEGO, the toymaker which has licensed the production of four films for Warner Bros. in addition to theme parks and licensing deals.

Kleinberg said he has watched technology disrupt the industry throughout his career. In the early 1980s, satellite television and the rise of HBO brought massive changes. Now it is streaming television and mobile phone technologies.

“There are always changes from technology,” he said. “There are some who can take advantage of that and others less so.”

— David Houston