ATTORNEYS

Media & Entertainment Litigation

• Representing Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in a highly publicized dispute with former ESPN anchor Sage Steele over unpaid commissions. Secured a complete trial victory before the California Labor Commissioner in August 2024.
• Secured full dismissal of a high-profile $142.5 million copyright lawsuit that alleged Paramount and Univision continued to broadcast masked “Lucha Libre” fights on Pluto TV, over a year after ending a licensing deal with a California company that markets the videos in the U.S.
• Successfully defended CAA in breach of contract and fraud claims brought by Mexico-based concert promoters over alleged mismanagement of funds for booking major artists—including Queen, Aerosmith, and Adam Lambert—ultimately securing a favorable settlement.
• Negotiated a favorable settlement in a dispute over post-term commissions and royalty rights between a prominent singer/songwriter and his former manager.
• Defending a now-defunct film studio and its former executives in an arbitration involving breach of contract and fraud claims over unpaid distribution rights for a feature film.
• Secured a settlement on behalf of a former studio in arbitration involving employment claims, including gender discrimination and equal pay act claims brought by former employees.
• Secured summary adjudication for a major entertainment company in arbitration over rights to a popular Broadway musical adapted into a film, which resulted in a favorable settlement of the matter.
• Representing Viacom against Zeus Networks LLC, a startup streaming platform, asserting claims of copyright and trademark infringement arising from Zeus creating, developing, producing, and promoting a show called Bad vs. Wild.
• Achieved a major victory for a high-profile talent agent before the California Labor Commissioner under the Talent Agencies Act in dispute with a superstar performing artist over unpaid commissions on their record tour promotion contract.
• Secured a favorable settlement on behalf of an international media company in breach of contract and fraud litigation related to an award-winning television series against a subsidiary production company.
• Representing and advising a video production company in early-stage claims involving alleged idea theft over a limited series adapted from a high-profile Esquire article.
• Secured a victory in arbitration on behalf of a production company in connection with unpaid royalties owed from its co-production of an award-winning talk show.
• Represented a film financing company in mediation relating to breach of contract and fraud claims against a film production company arising from an agreement between the parties to option a film.
• Represented a media company in profit participation audit relating to an award-winning television show.
• Represented a Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter in litigation brought by the performer’s former manager for commissions arising from the sale of the client’s music composition catalog.
• Advised and negotiated on behalf of top executives of prominent studios and agents and managers at top agencies in connection with their termination or separation from their employment.
• Achieved an anti-SLAPP victory on behalf of a trade organization accused of defaming a prominent author following #MeToo accusations made against the author.
• Advised a major entertainment company on potential claims against a video game developer over a survival game that allegedly copied elements from a major film franchise.
• Provided pre-litigation advice and counsel to social media giant TikTok in connection with copyright infringement issues arising from user-generated content.
• Providing Paramount with copyright advice and counsel in connection with the release of a film that shared certain elements with an old cartoon.
• Advising a major film studio on copyright and AI risks in light of recent fair use rulings involving Meta and Anthropic.

Complex Commercial Litigation

• Represented the San Francisco 49ers in litigation against the architect responsible for designing Levi’s Stadium arising from the architect’s role in designing Levi’s stadium out of compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Represented a commercial real estate investor in litigation concerning its failed acquisition of an office complex in the aftermath of COVID-19 following the bridge lender’s failure to fund as promised.

Banks and Financial Institutions

• Prevailed at trial before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the successful representation of an investment firm against allegations of breach of fiduciary duty arising from the bankruptcy of a portfolio company.

White Collar Defense and Government Investigations

• Represented Fortune 500 companies in connection with regulatory filings, litigation, and government investigations.