Sasha H. Levites

Sasha H. Levites is a partner in the Entertainment Group, where she focuses on motion picture, television and digital media work, representing talent, production companies and intellectual property owners.  

Ms. Levites handles a broad range of transactional entertainment and intellectual property matters, with a focus on advising clients in the film, television and digital media industries. She represents writers, directors, producers, documentary filmmakers, motion picture studios, distributors, and private equity financiers, and works closely with intellectual property owners to  help maximize the value of their rights in an ever-changing marketplace. Ms. Levites is experienced in structuring and negotiating film and television development deals, talent agreements, co-production and financing agreements, rights acquisition, content distribution and foreign sales agreements, as well as all forms of production legal releases.

Prior to joining Frankfurt Kurnit, Ms. Levites served as Manager of Business and Legal Affairs for FilmNation Entertainment where she negotiated international film sales and distribution agreements for award-winning titles such as “Nebraska” and “The Imitation Game”, along with motion picture finance and development deals. Ms. Levites also spent time in the Business and Legal Affairs department at MTV, where she focused on international content distribution and format licensing for the music networks.

Ms. Levites is recognized by Variety in its 2022 Legal Impact Report, Best Lawyers in America in the 2023 edition of “Ones to Watch” for Entertainment and Sports law, and in the 2022 and 2023 editions of The Legal 500 for her expertise in media & entertainment law. She was previously recognized in Variety’s 2019 “40 Under 40” New Leaders List, and in the Up Next List of Variety’s 2017 Dealmaker’s Elite New York Report. Since 2016, she has also been recognized in Super Lawyers magazine as a New York-area “Rising Star” in the Entertainment & Sports field. Ms. Levites currently serves on the Creative Executive Council for the NYU Production Lab.

Ms. Levites is admitted to practice in New York.

awards & recognition

Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” 2021-2023 (Entertainment and Sports)

The Legal 500 for Media and Entertainment (2022, 2023)

Variety's 2022 Legal Impact Report

Variety’s 2019 “40 Under 40” New Leaders List

2016-2022 New York-area "Rising Star" in Super Lawyers Magazine
Up Next List of Variety’s 2017 Dealmaker’s Elite New York Report

education

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D., 2011)

  -Articles Editor of the Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender

  -President of the Cardozo Women Law Student Association

Vassar College (B.A., 2008)

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Past Speaking Engagements

2022 Gotham TV Series Lab

Sasha Levites leads a legal advice panel for TV creators during the 2022 Gotham TV Series Lab. Read more.

May 12 2022

2021 Gotham TV Series Lab

Sasha Levites leads a session on legal issues for TV creators during the Gotham TV Series Lab.

May 27 2021

NYU Production Lab

Sasha Levites speaks on the “The Art of Collaboration” panel for the NYU Production Lab.

April 30 2021

2020 IFP Episodic Lab

Sasha Levites leads a virtual session on legal issues for the fellows of the Independent Film Project (IFP) Episodic Lab.

June 4 2020

2019 IFP Episodic Lab

Sasha Levites gives a lecture on legal issues to the 2019 Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) Episodic Lab Fellows.

June 6 2019

Sasha Levites Speaks at NYU

Sasha Levites speaks to students at the NYU Production Lab’s Development Studio Episodic Program. 

July 31 2018

Entertainment Lawyers & Business Affairs

Sasha Levites teaches a class on "Entertainment Lawyers & Business Affairs" at the Ghetto Film School in the Bronx.

March 14 2015

Entertainment Careers at Vassar College

Sasha Levites participates in a panel about "Entertainment Careers" hosted by the film department at Vassar College.

March 6 2015

news & press

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2023

The Legal 500 once again praises Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups and attorneys in the 2023 edition of their United States guide. Read more.

Baby Banton in The Hollywood Reporter

The birth announcement of Lucy Pearl Banton, Sasha Levites’ baby, is featured in The Hollywood Reporter. View Article

Thirty-five Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2022

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Caren Decter, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Hannah Taylor, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, Craig Whitney and Maura Wogan. Aaron Deitsch, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Jordyn Milewski, and Adam Osterweil are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2023

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services — continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

Peyton List to Star in ‘School Spirits’ YA Drama Series at Paramount+

Deadline mentions Sasha Levites as counsel to Nate and Megan Trinrud whose novel, “School Spirits” has been ordered to series by Paramount+. Nate and Megan wrote the pilot and will serve as executive producers of the series. View Article

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2022

The Legal 500 once again praises Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups and attorneys in the 2022 edition of their United States guide. Read more.

Variety’s Legal Impact Report 2022: Top Attorneys Winning Cases and Making Deals

Variety’s Legal Impact Report 2022 includes Marcie Cleary, Andrew Hurwitz, and Sasha Levites. Dorian Slater Thomas is included as an “Up Next” honoree. Read more.

Get It In Writing with Sasha H. Levites and Marcie Cleary

Marcie Cleary and Sasha Levites are guests on Movies Inc: The Business of Film podcast. Read more.

Thirty-five Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2021

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Caren Decter, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Rick Kurnit, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Thomas D. Selz, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, Craig Whitney and Maura Wogan. Marcie Cleary, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, and Adam Osterweil are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2022

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services — continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

Law360 Names Attys Who Moved Up the Firm Ranks

Law360 mentions Tiffany Caterina, Marcie Cleary, Daniel Goldberg, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Julie Murray and Adam Osterweil’s promotion to partner. View Article

Mark Rylance, Dylan O’Brien, Zoey Deutch & Johnny Flynn To Star In ‘Imitation Game’ Scribe Graham Moore’s ‘The Outfit’; Focus Pre-Buys World Rights From FilmNation

Deadline mentions Sasha Levites as counsel to Scoop Wasserstein who is producing “The Outfit.” View Article

Thirty-five Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2020

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Rick Kurnit, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Thomas D. Selz, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, Craig Whitney and Maura Wogan. Marcie Cleary, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Adam Osterweil and Rachel Santori are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit Elects Seven New Partners

Frankfurt Kurnit has elected as partners Tiffany R. Caterina, Marcie Cleary, Daniel M. Goldberg, Sasha H. Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Julie Murray, and Adam J. Osterweil. The promotions take effect January 1, 2021. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2021

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services —  continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

Super Lawyers - New York Metro Top Women for 2020

The New York Times distributed the Super Lawyers list of the New York Metro Area's Top Women for 2020. Fourteen Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys made the list: Wendy Stryker (Employment Law), Victoria Cook, Lisa Davis & Jean Ward (Entertainment Law), Barbara Shiers (Estate Planning & Probate), Catherine Farrelly (Intellectual Property), Kim Maynard & Maura Wogan (Intellectual Property Litigation) Candice Kersh & Terri Seligman (Media and Advertising). Marcie Cleary & Sasha Levites (Entertainment Law), and Rachel Santori (Intellectual Property Law) are listed as "Rising Stars."

Variety’s New Leaders 2019

Variety lists Sasha Levites as one of the next generation leaders in the entertainment business. Sasha is the only attorney listed. View Article

Thirty-one Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers Metro List for 2019

Super Lawyers magazine lists thirty-two Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2019 NY-area edition. Read more.

Thirty-three Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named in Super Lawyers Magazine for 2018

Super Lawyers magazine lists thirty-three Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2018 edition. Read more.

Dealmakers Elite New York

Variety’s 2017 Dealmakers Elite New York list includes Frankfurt Kurnit partner Sean F. Kane. Counsel Sasha Levites is included on the Dealmakers Up Next list. View Article

Thirty-five Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2016

Super Lawyers listed thirty-five Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2016 edition. Read more.