June 2025 – Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP (KBK) has once again been recognized by Chambers & Partners USA as one of California’s premier litigation boutiques, earning rankings for the firm’s Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 1) and Media & Entertainment: Litigation (Band 2) practices in the 2025 edition of the annual Chambers USA guide.
This year’s guide also named seven KBK attorneys as leading practitioners in their respective practices: Laura W. Brill, Bert H. Deixler, Robert E. Dugdale, Philip M. Kelly, Richard B. Kendall, Janet I. Levine, and Jeffrey H. Rutherford.
In its guide, Chambers stated that KBK is “a highly rated litigation firm with considerable strength in white-collar trials and investigations” and similarly proficient in “representing sizeable media and entertainment companies, including major motion picture studios and top broadcasters.” Chambers further quoted clients and legal professionals who praised KBK as “the preeminent white-collar boutique” and its attorneys as “experts in all areas” with “breadth, experience, and smarts.”
The 2025 guide’s individual attorney profiles noted that KBK Partner Richard Kendall (Band 1: Media & Entertainment: Litigation) is “admired for his command of high-stakes litigation” and serves as a “go-to lawyer for top-echelon clients in the entertainment sector.” Clients praised him as “an excellent lawyer who is smart and effective.”
Chambers honored Partner Phil Kelly (Band 2: Media & Entertainment: Litigation) for his representation of major film studios, television networks, and other sizeable clients in the entertainment sector. Respondents praised him as “extremely hard-working, dedicated, and smart,” and “a vigorous advocate” who is “great to work with and a great strategist.”
KBK Counsel Bert Deixler (Band 2: Media & Entertainment: Litigation) was recognized for his over four decades of experience in entertainment law and for being “especially active in litigation” on behalf of notable music industry talent. Respondents described Mr. Deixler as having “a clear sense of how things are going to land and an unbelievable way of speaking the truth to the clients” and possessing “a lot of institutional knowledge that clients can tap into.”
Janet Levine, who earned National honors as a trial lawyer (Band 2: Litigation: Trial Lawyers) in addition to her recognition as a top white-collar practitioner (Band 1: Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations), was honored as an “impressive performer in a wide range of white-collar criminal matters” who is “regularly sought after to represent clients in high-stakes trials.” Clients and legal professionals labeled her an “industry icon,” “trailblazer,” and “dean of the Bar” who serves as both “an outstanding trial lawyer, one of the top in California” and “an aggressive and relentless advocate who you always want by your side.”
Bob Dugdale (Band 2: Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations) won “particular praise for his advocacy skills” and was described by respondents as “really intellectually brilliant,” “a terrific trial lawyer,” and “one of the go-to white-collar lawyers in Southern California.”
Jeff Rutherford (Band 1: Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations) was honored for his extensive experience in criminal investigations and numerous trial victories, with clients describing him as “tenacious, yet charming” and “a very strong trial lawyer” who “can expertly handle both state and federal cases.”
Chambers also recognized Laura Brill (Band 3: Litigation: Appellate) as one of the state’s leading appellate lawyers, who “maintains a broad appellate practice with notable expertise in intellectual property matters, as well as constitutional and regulatory issues.”
In providing its annual rankings, Chambers relies on in-depth research and interviews with thousands of in-house counsel, law firm partners, and industry experts across the U.S. Read more about Chambers’ methodology and KBK’s and its attorneys’ recognitions here.