Power Lawyers 2012

"It's been the year of television," says Edelman. He filed the high- profile CBS case alleging ABC's Glass House is a ripoff of Big Brother (a judge denied a temporary restraining order, but the case is still pending), and he successfully defended a stolen-idea case brought against FX and Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter by biker Chuck Zito. "He's actually very charming," says Edelman of Zito. "There's a reason they call him Charming Chuck." He's repping CBS against NCIS creator Don Bellisario over profits from NCIS: Los Angeles and Fox in a case brought by American Idol creator Simon Fuller over his claim on profits from The X Factor. And he's got an October trial date in a profits case for Warner Bros. against the creators of Smallville.

➻ Most satisfying career moment "I had to cross-examine a witness who doubled-crossed me. He led me to believe he was on our side prior to the trial, but when he was called to the stand by the other side, it became clear within 30 seconds that he was out to nail us. I had to ditch my direct exam outline and cross him on the spot. He had completely betrayed me, and by the end of my cross, the jury understood that. They came back in our favor for $120 million."

LIST: THR's Power Lawyers 2012

PHOTOS: Christian Bale, Lindsay Lohan Pose With Their Lawyers