Power Lawyers 2012

Johnson is fearless about taking on the biggest studio players. He’s representing older actors such as Richard Dreyfuss and Mike Connors (Mannix) in profit- sharing disputes. He has sued for groups like The Temptations over digital music royalties, and he’s fighting rapper Drake for using recorded phone calls in a song and not sharing credit. Having represented more individuals than any other attorney in civil lawsuits emanating from the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping affair, he just became involved in a suit against Tom Cruise and lawyer Bert Fields for their own alleged roles. At L.A. nightclubs, catch him performing with his folk-rock band Trevor McShane.

Most satisfying career moment: Johnson won a California Supreme Court decision against ABC’s Primetime Live over covert taping by a reporter. “We fought long and hard, and the odds were difficult, but the victory really advanced the law of privacy and now is taught in law schools everywhere.”

LIST: THR's Power Lawyers 2012

PHOTOS: Christian Bale, Lindsay Lohan Pose With Their Lawyers