The Business Journal raises the curtain on the legal stars who work in L.A.’s entertainment industry.

WILLIAM L. COLE, 58

Firm: Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

Law School: Stanford University

Selected Clients: Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, numerous motion picture and TV studios, production companies, television networks, cable companies, as well as employers in the alcoholic beverage, power, defense and other industries.

Years in Practice: 33

Most Challenging Matter: Thirty-one-day arbitration on behalf of three motion picture studios against the Writers Guild, Directors Guild and Screen Actors Guild involving a residual issue putting tens of millions of dollars at stake.

Best Career Moment: Winning that arbitration.

Highlight From Past Year: Prevailing in a precedent-setting arbitration for a major television producer against the Writers Guild establishing important restrictions on the scope of rights retained by writers of television motion pictures.

Longest Workday: Thirty-six hours of collective bargaining negotiations in a successful attempt to avoid a strike at contract expiration.

How My Practice Is Changing: More class-action work than in the past.

If I Weren’t an Attorney: I would be on the golf course more often.