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.