William M. Walker
Partner

General Business Litigation

D: 310.201.7482
F: 310.201.2382

Profile

Bill Walker’s practice focuses on representing entertainment companies and domestic and overseas corporations in all aspects of business and commercial litigation, including in California state and federal courts, domestic and international arbitrations, and assisting representation with respect to overseas litigations and transactions, especially in Germany and Greater China.

Complex Business Experience

  • Successfully arbitrated a large case involving breach of a licensing agreement for a large international pharmaceuticals corporation against another large pharmaceuticals corporation. A substantial eight figure verdict resulted and the damages were paid in full, with interest
  • Successfully defended a major social networking website against a lawsuit alleging copying of "look & feel" and assisted in related litigation overseas
  • Successfully pursued breach of contract and tort lawsuits on behalf of a French entertainment company against a large domestic motion picture distributor for irregularities in royalty payments, resulting in an eight figure recovery and favorably re-negotiated business deals for the client
  • Successfully defended a $20 million lawsuit brought by a celebrity against a French entertainment company alleging misuse of the celebrity's image, breach of contract and violation of the celebrity's privacy rights
  • Successfully prosecuted and defended lawsuits in trial and appellate courts for the International Commercial Bank of China involving breaches of loan agreements, resulting in a substantial eight figure judgment in favor of the client and a substantial recovery
  • Successfully arbitrated a breach of contract case on behalf of a European motion picture distributor against a Southern California motion picture production company for rescission of distribution contracts and for damages
  • Successfully pursued a copyright infringement litigation for StudioCanal against a large international entertainment company over the unauthorized use of the name of the client’s motion picture for the defendant’s television show
  • Successfully defended the Bakrie Group of companies from Indonesia in a $20 million action alleging breach of contracts to establish joint ventures in China, achieving prompt dismissal by motions, with prejudice, of the lawsuit
  • Successfully directed efforts against motion picture pirates in Taiwan both civilly and criminally on behalf of StudioCanal
  • Successfully defended a French entertainment company against a lawsuit alleging that it had stolen the plaintiff's script and used it to make a hit movie based on the script
  • Successfully defended Teledyne Industries, Inc. in trial and appellate courts against breach of contract suits, achieving summary judgment on all causes of action and successfully defending the summary judgment on appeal

Speaking Engagements

  • Adjunct Professor of Public International law, International Business Transactions, and International Human Rights, Whittier College School of Law, Los Angeles, California, 1991-1997

Professional/Community Affiliations

  • Member, Pacific Council on International Policy
  • Past Executive Secretary, Los Angeles Committee on Foreign Relations (an affiliate of the Council on Foreign Relations)

Media Commentary