Representative Matters
Entertainment Experience
- Representing financier of a five-film slate in dispute with production company about misappropriation of production funds and manipulation of tax credit.
- Regularly represents the Estate of Bob Marley in a variety of matters involving intellectual property rights and music rights.
- Represented a film company and related parties in connection with a dispute with major studios regarding sequel and remake rights to certain theatrical motion pictures. The studios asserted exclusive rights that would have limited the value of the franchise. Through a detailed chain-of-title analysis, we demonstrated significant weaknesses in those claims, enabling our clients to pursue a transaction with a third party on favorable terms without resorting to litigation.
- Obtained summary judgment for a business management firm in a first-of-its-kind “idea theft” claim filed by a talent manager concerning the eligibility of touring musicians and bands to receive Shuttered Venue Operator Grants (“SVOG”), a COVID-19 relief program established during the pandemic.
- Advised on a complex chain-of-title analysis for a popular television series, focusing on First Negotiation/Last Refusal rights and their implications for rights ownership and future exploitation.
- Represented Marvel Entertainment, owner of the copyrights in Spider-Man, Iron Man and numerous other iconic characters in various matters involving intellectual property disputes, profit participation rights and general litigation.
- Represented the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien in a landmark profit participation case against New Line Cinema for the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy.
- Represented the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien and Harper Collins in an action against Warner Bros. and The Saul Zaentz Company involving merchandising exploitation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novels, The Hobbit, and the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings.
- Represented best-selling author Clive Cussler in his dispute regarding the motion picture version of the novel, “Sahara.”
- Represented Academy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer in a multi-faceted dispute with his long-time business partner.
- Represented the owners of merchandising and other rights in the Winnie the Pooh characters, in their breach of contract and fraud dispute against a major entertainment company for failure to pay royalties.
- Member of the team that successfully represented Jeffrey Katzenberg in his landmark action to recover his profit participation against The Walt Disney Company.
- Represented Roland Corporation, a leading manufacturer of electronic musical instruments and accessories, in various litigation to protect its copyright, trademark and trade dress rights in various products, and in a case of first impression involving copyright and trademark infringement.
High Net Worth Divorce Experience
- Represented a wife in her divorce proceeding against her husband, a Silicon Valley billionaire, who is best known as the unofficial third founder of Google and originator of the code that powers the search giant.
- Represented high-net-worth hedge fund founder in divorce proceeding against his wife.
- Represented high-profile restauranteur in divorce proceeding against his wife.
