Tom Ara is the Global and US Co-Chair of the Media, Sport & Entertainment group at DLA Piper LLP, a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Tom has received wide recognition in the media and entertainment industry for his representation of the top-caliber clients that look to him for their most important transactions, including those involving emerging technologies transforming the industry. Tom was one of a few Hollywood lawyers recognized by Variety Magazine as a Variety500 Honoree. He has consistently been recognized by Variety as a top “Dealmaker” and by the Hollywood Reporter as a “Power Lawyer.” He is frequently quoted by leading industry publications and financial news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg and many others on his industry insights and expertise in the Web3 and gaming arena, including NFTs and the Metaverse.