Paramount's legal head returning to Greenberg practice. (Law).

ENTERTAINMENT attorney Barry Haldeman has been lured back to the high-powered firm of Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machtinger & Kinselia LLP after five years of running the legal department of Paramount Pictures.

Haldeman, who was executive vice president of legal and business affairs at the Viacom Entertainment Group unit, will re-join Greenberg Glusker on May 6 to work alongside famed entertainment litigator Bert Fields.

"When Bert Fields and the Greenberg people came after me and made me an offer I couldn't refuse, I thought it's time to go back," Haldeman said.

Fields has taken on a number of high-profile cases against Walt Disney Co., including the recent lawsuit over the royalty rights to the "Winnie the Pooh" characters. He also represents actor Tom Cruise and Dreamworks SKG.

Haldeman represented several actors, writers, producers and directors in his previous 10-year stint at Greenberg Glusker, including Gene Hackman and Sally Field.

At Paramount, Haldeman managed several departments and reported directly to superiors at Viacom. Norman Levine, managing partner at Greenberg Glusker, said Haldeman's experience on the studio side will prove useful in representing talent.

Staff reporter Amnanda Bronstad can be reached at [phone] ext. 225, or at [e-mail].