Christopher C. Murray is Of Counsel in O'Melveny's Century City office and a member of the Entertainment, Sports and Media Practice, which he chaired from 1995-2004. He has over 30 years of experience in the legal and business aspects of the production, financing, and distribution of motion pictures, television programs, and music, as well as DVDs and other digital media, e‑commerce and digital distribution, videogames, the Internet, smart phones, musical concerts, sports, publishing, and the acquisition of entertainment companies, film libraries, and music publishers. He counsels clients in the fields of copyright, trademark, and merchandising/licensing and acts as outside counsel to major motion picture studios, publishers, entertainment companies, and others. He also represents high-profile individual performers, producers, and executives. In the merchandising area, he has acted as counsel for toy manufacturers, television and motion picture companies, and sports organizations.
Chris was recognized as one of the "Best Lawyers In America--Entertainment Law" (1995-2015); named a leading lawyer in Sports & Entertainment by Who's Who Legal (2015); named "one of the leading media lawyers in the world" in the Expert Guide to the World's Leading Media Lawyers (2010); received a LexisNexis Martindale Hubbel Rating as an "AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer" (the highest rating available) (2011, 2015); included in the Chambers USA "Leaders in Their Fields" directory as a Leader in Media and Entertainment (2004-2014); named a "Super Lawyer" in a survey conducted by Law & Politics Media, Inc. and published in Los Angeles magazine (2004-2015); named one of the "Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America" by Lawdragon (2005-2009; Finalist in 2010); named to The Hollywood Reporter's list of "Power Lawyers: Top 100 Outside Counsel" (2007, 2008, 2009); named by The Legal 500 as distinguished in "Media, technology and telecoms: Technology: video and online gaming - advice to corporates" (2009); selected for Lawdragon 500 Groups, “New Stars, New Worlds,” described "as those who are carrying the profession to new frontiers" (2006); named one of "The 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California" by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal (October 27, 2003 and September 27, 2004); included as one of the "Best Lawyers In America: Entertainment Law" by IP Law & Business magazine (2003, 2007, 2015); named "Leading Lawyer in Media" by Guide To The World's Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers (1999-2008); chosen as "Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year" by the Century City Bar Association (2001); named one of the "50 Top Lawyers" by the Los Angeles Business Journal’s "Who’s Who In Law" annual issue (2001); selected by Cyber, Esq. Magazine (Los Angeles Daily Journal) as one of only 16 lawyers chosen from around the country to make the "Suite 16" ranks, which identifies the top lawyers at the cutting edge of new media and the information age; and named one of "The Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys" in California by California Law Business (October 30, 2000).
Christopher also focuses on representing companies based outside the United States in connection with their motion picture, television, musical concert, Internet, and publishing activities in North America and throughout the world. The companies he has represented include well-known companies from Asia and Europe, among others.
Christopher has lectured and written articles on intellectual property and the digital revolution. He has acted as legal counsel (on a wide range of Internet-related matters, ranging from e-commerce, content licensing and domain name disputes, to strategic Internet ventures between companies in disparate industries) to a number of companies, ranging from established entities (some of which are leading digital production studios and special effects creators) to many start-up and emerging Internet and technology companies.
