Variety Power of Law Breakfast, presented by City National Bank, will be headlined by Will Packer, Lynette Howell Taylor and Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group president Sanford Panitch on April 9 in L.A. Darrell Miller, partner and founding chair, Entertainment & Sports, Fox Rothschild LLP, will receive this year’s Variety Power of Law Award 2025.
Taylor, an Oscar and Emmy-nominated producer and founder of 51 Entertainment, will speak about her creative vision in film and TV. This past year, Lynette produced “The Accountant 2,” starring Ben Affleck, for Amazon/MGM, which will release theatrically on April 25, 2025. She also recently wrapped production on “Roofman,” directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, which Paramount Pictures will release in theaters on Oct. 3, 2025. Under the 51 Entertainment banner, Lynette produced the Academy Award-nominated film “A Star Is Born.”
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Packer, founder and CEO of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, will speak about his extensive storytelling across platforms. Last year, Packer produced the critically acclaimed limited series “Fight Night” for Peacock, which was the most-watched premiere in Peacock history. Packer has produced or executive produced a wide range of movies grossing more than $1 billion worldwide at the box office, including “Girls Trip”, “Night School”, “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man” and “Straight Outta Compton.” Most recently, Packer was listed as a New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling author, for his book, “WHO BETTER THAN YOU? The Art of Healthy Arrogance and Dreaming Big.”
Panitch will provide insight into the current state of the theatrical business. Panitch oversees development and production for Sony Pictures film studio, which includes Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Animation, AFFIRM, Acquisitions and Sony Pictures International Productions.
Miller, attorney and dealmaker for such entertainment clients as Angela Bassett, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Taylor Tomlinson and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, is being honored for his accomplished career and dedication to service in our community. He is a passionate advocate who has advanced the cause of leveraging brands into multiple revenue streams, helping to create and build upon sustainable business opportunities among wide array of creators, Fortune 100 corporate brands, traditional studios, networks and streaming platforms. Miller is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries, and the Grammy Recording Academy and the Beverly Hills Bar Association, as well as the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association’s Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Music Center Board of Directors.
“City National Bank celebrates the honorees featured in Variety’s Legal Impact Report, whose contributions help shape the entertainment industry and its ongoing success,” said JaHan Wang, executive vice president and head of Entertainment & Sports Banking, City National Bank. “I would also like to congratulate Power of Law Award recipient, Darrell Miller, for his remarkable career trajectory and advocacy efforts within the entertainment industry.”
“Variety is grateful to City National Bank for their ongoing support of our annual Power of Law Breakfast,” said Variety chief operating and marketing officer Dea Lawrence. “Our event brings together the entertainment industry’s top dealmakers and litigators to engage in dialogue about the most important challenges in our ever-changing industry.”
