Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has appointed Julie Brill as a National Advisor in its Boston office. Brill formerly served as Chief Privacy Officer at Microsoft and as a Commissioner at the US Federal Trade Commission. At Microsoft, Brill led global advocacy on privacy, digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence whilst overseeing the company's regulatory strategy. During her FTC tenure, she addressed consumer privacy, data protection and financial fraud prevention. The appointment strengthens Manatt's capabilities in privacy, data security, AI governance and consumer protection. The firm recently launched its AI Consulting and Testing offering to help organisations deploy AI whilst meeting safety and compliance standards. Brill has received numerous accolades, including the Global Leadership Award from the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Future of Privacy Forum.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has expanded its creator economy practice with four strategic hires in Los Angeles. Partner Ellie Heisler joins the entertainment group, bringing expertise in representing content creators and digital-first media companies including Matty Matheson and Friday Beers. Her clients collectively command hundreds of millions of subscribers across streaming, publishing and brand partnerships. The firm also added Partner Jessica Boardman, specialising in non-scripted entertainment and production legal work; Partner Mike Lawhead, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance for talent and creators; and Associate April Hua, handling brand deals and commercial agreements. The expansion strengthens Manatt's position as a comprehensive legal and business advisory platform for creator-led enterprises across content creation, brand building and fundraising.