Author/contributor
Lawrence Waks
Partner
NEW YORK — March 18, 2025 — Sterlington PLLC announced today that Lawrence A. Waks, a leading corporate lawyer renowned for advising A-list celebrities, global brands, and businesses on high-stakes M&A and strategic transactions, has joined the firm as a partner. Waks’ addition strengthens Sterlington’s growing corporate practice, particularly in the entertainment, media, and food & beverage sectors.
“Larry is a highly respected dealmaker who has been at the center of some of the most high-profile celebrity-backed transactions in recent years,” said Christopher S. Harrison, managing partner of Sterlington. “His ability to bridge the worlds of entertainment, celebrity brands, and corporate dealmaking makes him a natural fit for our firm as we continue to build a platform that caters to top-tier clients across industries.”
Amongst the many deals that Waks has worked on in recent years, he advised founders George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman on the $1 billion sale of their Casamigos Tequila brand to Diageo, achieving the highest return on investment in spirits industry history. He also advised on the $600 million sale of Aviation Gin (part-owned by Ryan Reynolds) to Diageo and the sale of Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey to Proximo Spirits. His experience spans M&A, joint ventures, and intellectual property transactions across the entertainment, media, food & beverage, retail, and consumer goods industries.
“Sterlington offers a dynamic and entrepreneurial platform that aligns perfectly with my practice and my clients’ needs,” said Waks. “The firm’s innovative culture and top-tier talent make it an ideal place for me to continue advising high-profile clients on their most complex and significant transactions.”
Waks’ arrival is part of Sterlington’s ongoing growth strategy. In the past six months, the firm has added a series of notable lateral partners, including Robert Ray, the former federal prosecutor who succeeded Kenneth Starr as independent counsel; Jonathan Sherman, a decorated litigator who spent much of his career at Boies Schiller Flexner; Courtney Rockett, another highly regarded longtime Boies Schiller litigator; Michael Smith, an international corporate lawyer; Jesse Sherrett, an international arbitration lawyer from A&O Shearman; and Paul Jebely, a leading private aviation attorney serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Before joining Sterlington, Waks was a partner at Reed Smith and Foley & Lardner, with earlier experience at Jackson Walker and Milgrim Thomajan & Lee. Waks serves as a member of the governing committee of the ABA Entertainment and Sports Law Forum. He has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer and is listed in Best Lawyers in America. He holds a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a B.Sc. (Hons) from Trinity University. He is admitted to practice in Texas and New York and is fluent in Spanish, French, Russian, and Portuguese.
