ATTORNEYS

Media, Entertainment, & Intellectual Property Litigation

• Successfully represented Nirvana and Universal Music Group in securing the dismissal of a high-profile lawsuit that alleged the band’s iconic Nevermind cover art constituted child pornography; developed legal arguments and drafted successful motion for summary judgment, resulting in dismissal with prejudice; drafted answering brief in pending appeal.
• Representing Wasserman Group and Laundry Service in $250 million lawsuit against John Schnatter, former CEO of Papa John’s, alleging breach of confidentiality, invasion of privacy, and defamation; developed facts and legal arguments in drafting motion for summary judgment, resulting in dismissal of all claims against Wasserman Group with prejudice.
• Successfully represented a large studio in dispute against a famous director alleging breach of contract and intellectual property and participation rights; developed pre-litigation factual and legal arguments, resulting in director declining to bring lawsuit against studio.
• Representing a well-known talent agency in MLB arbitration against an All-Star pitcher; drafted opposition to pending motion to dismiss grievance.
• Defended a legendary rock band’s personal manager against the band in a contract dispute regarding exploitation of intellectual property and profit participation from a feature-length film; developed all facts and legal arguments for the mediation brief, resulting in a favorable mediation settlement agreement, including the payment of disputed fees.
• Successfully represented a personal manager against a well-known media figure in a contract dispute regarding disputed fees; developed all facts and legal arguments for mediation brief, resulting in a favorable mediation settlement agreement, including payment of disputed fees.
• Successfully defended Sonos against a class of consumers in a product defect lawsuit; drafted a successful motion to compel the lawsuit into confidential arbitration, resulting in a favorable settlement.

Legal Malpractice and Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims

• Representing a Big Law firm in malpractice litigation concerning an appeal of a complex landlord-tenant dispute alleging professional negligence and breach of contract; drafted and argued successful motion for summary judgment, resulting in the dismissal of all claims with prejudice.
• Representing a Big Law firm in a malpractice action arising from the sale of SEO software and disputed IP rights; drafted and argued successful motions to compel and motions for discovery sanctions; responsible for developing facts and legal arguments for anticipated affirmative defense and motion for summary judgment.
• Represented a group of departing partners in a dispute with a national law firm; developed facts and legal arguments for mediation brief, resulting in a favorable resolution.
• Secured a favorable settlement for a high-profile departing partner in arbitration against his former law firm; drafted the motion to dismiss arbitration demand.
• Defended an attorney at a national law firm faced with threat of Rule 11 sanctions and referral to disciplinary committee; developed legal arguments and drafted response brief, resulting in district court declining to impose sanctions or refer to disciplinary committee.
• Successfully represented an attorney at a national law firm in State Bar disciplinary proceeding and obtained dismissal of disciplinary proceeding.
• Represented a law firm in equitable indemnity action in connection with extortion claims; drafted an anticipated demurrer resulting in plaintiff withdrawing claim against law firm.

Constitutional and Regulatory Litigation

• Represented the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in high-profile litigation regarding Measure J, a reform initiative LA voters passed in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests that mandates 10% of the discretionary budget be dedicated to community investment and non-carceral services; developed arguments and drafted successful appellate brief regarding California constitutional and statutory budget authority, resulting in reversal of trial court order and dismissal of writ petition.
• Drafted a petition for writ for certiorari in a death penalty case in the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Represented PG&E following the 2018 Camp Fire in complicated regulatory litigation before the Public Utilities Commission, which resulted in regulatory approval for multibillion-dollar securitization after a full proceeding on the merits.

White Collar and Complex Commercial Litigation

• Served as lead counsel and secured the dismissal of all claims with prejudice in a complex commercial dispute alleging breach of contract and fraud; developed all the facts and legal arguments in drafting and arguing successful summary judgment motion.
• Served as lead counsel in post-judgment litigation, representing third parties served with deposition and document subpoenas seeking sensitive financial information; developed all facts and legal arguments for successful motion to quash subpoenas, resulting in opposing counsel agreeing on the record to withdraw the subpoenas.
• Represented Fortune 500 company in shareholder litigation related to former CEO’s alleged misconduct and internal sexual harassment and discrimination controls, resulting in dismissal of shareholder claims.
• Secured favorable settlement on behalf of a large public university in litigation related to the campus protests alleging state-created danger.
• Represented major financial institutions in lawsuits related to their roles as residential mortgage-backed securities trustees, resulting in dismissal of claims.

Pro Bono

• Drafted a successful petition for review and merits brief in the California Supreme Court regarding first-impression statutory interpretation of Penal Code 1473.7, resulting in the petitioner reuniting with his family in the United States after twenty years in exile in Mexico.
• Secured asylum on behalf of a Salvadoran man fleeing persecution based on his sexual orientation after full proceeding on the merits.
• Secured asylum on behalf of a Chinese man fleeing persecution based on his political opinion and family membership after full proceeding on the merits.