LAWRENCE J. ULMAN, 60
Firm: Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Law School: USC
Selected Clients: Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros./New Line, Platinum Equity, Gores Group, Constantin Film.
Years in Practice: 35
Most Challenging Deal: Closing the multijurisdictional (Germany, New Zealand, United States) financing for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Best Career Moment: Walking down the red carpet at the Grand Palais in Cannes with a client who had won an award.
Worst: Going to a screening for a client’s film that was so awful all I could say after being asked what I thought of the film was “That’s a movie.”
Highlight From Past Year: Closing the Skydance deal for Paramount Pictures: It involved investments by Skydance in Paramount-produced films as well as Paramount investment in and distribution of Skydance-produced pictures.
How My Practice Is Changing: When I started practicing in 1975, there were no computers, e-mail, voice mail or BlackBerrys; namely, you could actually go home for the night. To be competitive now, lawyers must be available 24-7.
If I Weren’t an Attorney: I’d be a pediatrician.
My Colleagues Don’t Know: I used to ride a motorcycle.