Joel A. Katz, chair, Global Entertainment and Media Practice of Greenberg Traurig, to be honored with City of Hope's 2016 Spirit of Life® Award

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Jun 28, 2016, 01:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- City of Hope, a world leader in cancer and diabetes research and treatment, said today that its Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group will honor Joel A. Katz, chair, Global Entertainment and Media Practice of Greenberg Traurig, with the 2016 Spirit of Life^® Award. The award is City of Hope's highest honor, and each year recognizes a leader whose work has fundamentally impacted the music, film and entertainment industries.

Katz will be presented with The Spirit of Life Award at a gala in Los Angeles on November 10, 2016, which follows a year-long fundraising campaign that supports City of Hope's ability to quickly speed new therapies and scientific breakthroughs to patients who need them.

"City of Hope is proud to honor Joel this year in recognition of his support of our mission," said Robert W. Stone, president and chief executive officer of City of Hope. "We deeply appreciate Joel's unwavering commitment to our Spirit of Life campaign which propels our innovative research and treatments that outsmart deadly diseases — one patient at a time."

"It is my honor to receive The Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope. I congratulate this organization in launching this outstanding fundraising campaign which supports the physicians and scientists who are dedicated to developing innovative, disease-fighting strategies in the battle against cancer," Katz said.

City of Hope is dedicated to speeding new research ideas to medical treatments in order to quickly bring cures to patients. Its breakthrough research has led to therapies now used by millions of people worldwide.

The Music, Film and Entertainment Industry has been a longtime supporter of City of Hope's mission and has partnered on many innovative fundraising campaigns.

About Joel Katz
Joel Katz, Billboard's number-one-ranked entertainment attorney, has been called "the dealmaker who thinks outside the box." The world's most famous entertainers place their trust in him to craft the breakthrough deals that boost their careers, cultivate their talents and safeguard their assets. His star-studded client roster includes music industry legends from an array of genres, as well as music producers, record companies, concert promoters and corporate heavy hitters. Katz is Founding Shareholder and Managing Shareholder Emeritus of the Atlanta office and global chair of the international entertainment and media practice of Greenberg Traurig, which has 68 entertainment media and sports lawyers located in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. A powerful force in the entertainment industry, Katz is an energetic and influential contributor who has played a profound role in shaping his profession and also in spearheading philanthropic endeavors in education and in cancer research.

Katz began his career in 1971 leading his own law practice, Katz, Smith and Cohen, which became one of the nation's largest entertainment law firms. In 1988, when Katz merged his thriving practice with Greenberg Traurig, his client list had expanded to include some of the nation's most renowned entertainers. His first client was music icon, James Brown, followed by B.B. King, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, who remains a client to this day. His and Greenberg Traurig's client roster grew rapidly to include more than 50 celebrated artists, among them Gregg Allman, Kix Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Ronnie Dunn, Jamie Foxx, Josh Groban, Sammy Hagar, Faith Hill, the estate of Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias, Alan Jackson, Michael Jackson/estate of Michael Jackson, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Little Big Town, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Justin Timberlake and others.

Katz and Greenberg Traurig serve an ever-growing number of high profile entertainers, as well as corporate clients such as The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Big Machine Label Group, BMG Rights Management GmbH, Coca Cola Company, Country Music Association, Dick Clark Productions, The Gabonese Republic, Gospel Music Channel (UP Network), Jason Owen and Sandbox Management, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (LARAS), National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), Scooter Braun Management (Silent Media), Troy Carter (Atom Factory), and many other corporations that turn to Katz and Greenberg Traurig for counsel on developing their entertainment strategies, even if they're not necessarily in the entertainment business.

For more information on the 2016 Spirit of Life campaign, please visit www.cityofhope.org/mfei.

About Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group
Inspired by the guiding humanitarian principles of City of Hope and motivated by the institution's commitment to innovative medical research and compassionate patient care, a group of key industry executives founded the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group in 1973. In its 42-year history, the group has raised more than $110 million for City of Hope and has honored some of the most important figures in the music and entertainment industry. Recent past honorees include Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group, Shelli and Irving Azoff, chairman and CEO, Azoff MSG Entertainment, Eddy Cue, senior vice president of Apple's Internet Software Services, and Doug Morris, chairman and CEO, Sony Music Entertainment.

About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 45 comprehensive cancer center, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution.

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CONTACT
David Caouette
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SOURCE City of Hope