Joseph Mannis acts as of counsel to Summers Levine Lipsic & Hersh, LLP (SLLH) and was formerly a Founding Partner in the firm of Hersh Mannis LLP (one of the predecessors to SLLH). His life and work span many facets of the artistic and legal community. With over 50 years of career experience, the impact of his presence in Los Angeles’ entertainment and creative circles is quite profound. Mannis has represented dozens of professional athletes, entertainers, motion picture & TV executives, several individuals on the “Forbes 400,” as well as their spouses or coparents. Mr. Mannis has represented hundreds of actors, directors, prominent entertainment executives as well as many well-known artists in Los Angeles, while maintaining unyielding discretion with respect to the privacy of every client.
Mr. Mannis is no stranger to industry accolades. Chambers and Partners consistently recommends him in its annual High Net Worth Advisors Guide for Family and Matrimonial Law. The Hollywood Reporter has acknowledged Mr. Mannis among the top 50 Power Lawyers and the top 20 Legal Troubleshooters in Los Angeles for his work and innovation on behalf of clients in the entertainment elite. Mr. Mannis was also previously honored by the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Family Law Section as a Legend in his field.
Mr. Mannis is often called upon to participate in industry discussions on relevant family law issues. In 2019, Mr. Mannis spoke on the topic of “Hollywood Divorces: An Insider’s Perspective on Navigating A Divorce When Representing Clients in the Entertainment Industry.” On two separate occasions in 2016, Mannis was asked to present on the groundbreaking Obergefell Supreme Court (Marriage Equality) ruling and its implications on current and future family law cases. Over the years, Mr. Mannis has also offered his expertise to certified public accountants and attorneys on a broad range of topics, some notables including: “High Wage Earners, Celebrity Goodwill,” Beverly Hills Bar Association; “Support on Support,” 48th Annual Family Law Symposium, Los Angeles County Bar Association; “Private Judges,” Beverly Hills Bar Association; “Spousal Support,” Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section; and “The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005: The Impact on Family Law,” 31st Annual Family Law Symposium.
As an avid art collector and a Founder of MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Mr. Mannis is an artist’s advocate and active member of the philanthropic community. He previously served as Chairman of Board of Project Angel Food and continues to support the organization as Chairman of the Board Emeritus. The Los Angeles Business Journal named Mr. Mannis a finalist for their 2018 Health Care Leadership Award for his substantial philanthropic work on behalf of Project Angel Food.