Power Lawyers 2012

Peter Jackson's longtime lawyer remains a fierce advocate for directors. Following the success of Mark Wahlberg's Contraband, he sealed a deal for Baltasar Kormakur to direct Denzel Washington and Wahlberg in Two Guns for Universal. Client Andrew Adamson has two films out this year: the James Cameron-produced Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away from Paramount and Mister Pip from Focus. Nelson engineered Jackson's complex Hobbit pacts and a deal for Sony to distribute his West of Memphis doc, and Drive's Nicolas Winding Refn will direct a remake of Logan's Run for Warner Bros. Nelson also finalized a deal for Edgar Wright to direct Ant-Man for Marvel.

➻ Worst thing ever said to me "I was trying to close a deal with [then-president of 20th TV] Peter Roth, and I thought he was going to punch me. Now we send each other end-of-the-year gifts."

LIST: THR's Power Lawyers 2012

PHOTOS: Christian Bale, Lindsay Lohan Pose With Their Lawyers