Archive for the ‘Attorneys’ Category

Holly T. Browde

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022

Holly Browde is a transactional lawyer specializing in all facets of the music business.  Holly was V.P., Music Business and Legal Affairs at the Walt Disney Company and has a broad and varied experience of the industry, having worked at Polygram Records, the Left Bank Organization (artist management), Polygram Music Publishing, Tonos Entertainment, Inc. (digital startup) and in private practice.  She has a keen awareness of operational realities and practical issues and is exceptionally skilled at prioritizing her clients’ needs.  Holly has been admitted to practice in New York since 1981 and is also admitted in California. She is a partner in the firm.

Practice Areas:

Music Publishing, including foreign sub-publishing, exclusive writer term contracts, purchase and sale of publishing catalogs, copyright transfers, work-for-hire issues, licensing for film and television, derivative works, interpolations, samples, co-writer agreements and administration agreements.

Recording artist agreements, including exclusive and non-exclusive term agreements, royalty structures, agreements among band members, leaving member issues and loanout agreements.

Management agreements, from both the artist side and the management side, including negotiation and drafting of termination agreements

Production agreements, including third-party production company agreements, individual producer agreements, demo agreements, contingent royalty agreements, guest artist clearances and remix agreements

Independent label agreements, including agreements between artist and label and between label and distributor.

Composer agreements for film, television, interactive games, production music libraries and advertising.

Merchandising agreements in connection with retail, tour and online merchandising, photographer agreements, logo, cover art and endorsement agreements.

Touring agreements for featured artists, band members and side artists, agency agreements, insurance matters, equipment rental, agreements with promoters, publicists, tour managers, roadies, drivers and other support staff. 

Education:
Wellesley College
Columbia University School of Law

Speaking Engagements:

June 2022 – Holly interviews Yakub Hazzard for the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s War Stories series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dds_WVSwZA

 

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Jason Zelin

Monday, October 11th, 2021

Jason has extensive experience in many facets of the entertainment industry, from both legal and business perspectives. In addition to working at private law firms, Jason has worked inside the entertainment industry in several capacities for Warner Bros. Television, Lorimar Entertainment, The Completion Bond Company, Village Roadshow Pictures, Miramax Films and others.

Practice Areas
Jason has negotiated talent deals, network licensing agreements, literary acquisitions as well as scripted and unscripted television development and production. Working outside film studios, he bonded more than $100 million in budgeted new films, and served as a primary liaison with studios. When working as part of film studios, Jason also gained experience supervising all legal and business aspects of multi-national productions, and as COO of a production company he developed film projects at Paramount and Dreamworks with such notables as Ridley and Tony Scott, Will Smith, and Janet Yang.

Jason has particular experience with the financing of film production. He has regularly negotiated the terms of “negative pickup” deals and distribution agreements; arranged film guarantees; and handled negotiations for the bank financing and bonding of films, as well as the creation of insurance-backed film funds. As a result of his extensive experience, Jason is able to provide valuable insight into many aspects of the entertainment industry garnered from his many decades “in the trenches.”

Education
B.A., Tufts University, 1972 cum laude
J.D., UCLA Law School, 1976

Professional Legal Career
Warner Bros. Television – Director of Business and Legal Affairs,
Lorimar Entertainment – Vice President of Acquisitions,
The Completion Bond Co. – Vice President,
Village Roadshow Pictures – Executive Vice President of Business Affairs,
Miramax Films – Executive Vice President of Film Acquisitions
Miracle Entertainment – President and Chief Operating Officer
Hook.TV – Chief Operating Officer
Discovery Network – Executive Producer, “The Aquanauts”
Producer for the film “Killing Pablo
Executive Producer for the film “Walk on the Moon”
Steptoe & Johnson, Head of Entertainment, Of Counsel
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, Special Counsel
ADR Services, Mediation and Arbitration Panel
IFTA (International Film and Television Association), Arbitrator

Organizations
AFI Film Festival – Board of Trustees
Beijing Film Festival – featured speaker 2016
Los Angeles Copyright Society – Board of Trustees
The Fountain Theatre – Board of Directors
Hollywood Heart Foundation – Board of Directors
Artists For Change – Board of Advisors

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Bill Grantham

Saturday, September 19th, 2020

Bill’s practice focuses on the representation of a wide range of clients in connection with the development, financing, production and exploitation of motion pictures, television programs and other forms of content. He has also worked as a management consultant advising major media interests, as a media executive, and as a journalist specializing in the international entertainment industry.

Practice Areas:

Film Financing Bill has represented producers, major and mini-major studios, distributors, sales agents, banks insurance companies and private equity funds and high net-worth individuals, as well as above-the-line talent (directors, writers and actors) in a wide range of deals for film and television projects with budgets ranging from “microbudget” to more than $200 million.

General Entertainment Bill has represented producers, directors, writers and actors in the full range of film and television work from development through exploitation, including the acquisition of literary properties, production legal work and distribution agreements.

Copyright Bill advises clients on all aspects of copyright protection, including complex chain of title analysis, acquisition and transfer of copyrights, registrations and recordations at the United States Copyright Office, and the international law of copyright.

Secured Transactions/Uniform Commercial Code Bill advises clients on all aspects of obtaining, perfecting and enforcing security in intellectual property collateral, including  under the United States Copyright Act and the Uniform Commercial Code. He has conducted multiple foreclosures of motion picture and other collateral.

International Transactions In addition to working with many clients from the USA on international deals, Bill has represented companies and individuals from Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Ireland, Morocco and the UK.

Arbitration Bill has represented entertainment industry parties in concluded International Film and Television Alliance (IFTA, formerly AFMA) and American Arbitration Association (AAA) arbitrations of motion-picture related disputes.

Representative Transactions

• Representation of producers in Ireland in connection with the production and financing of motion pictures, including Zone 414, The Prizefighter and The Limit Of, and One Way.
• Representation of producers and financiers in the USA in connection with the financing of many motion pictures, including Terminator Salvation, Dark Tide, Machine Gun Preacher, The Grey, Escape Plan, Broken City, Killing Them Softly, Silent Night, Devil’s Knot, Hotel Mumbai, Damascus Cover, Yoga Hosers, Cell, The Man Who Knew Infinity, Jane Got A Gun, The Woman In Black 2, Murder of a Cat and A Walk Among the Tombstones.
• Representation of international investor syndicate for the motion pictures Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider 2.
• Representation of private equity funds on multi-picture film financings.
• Numerous private placement offerings for motion picture companies.
• Representation of leading German investment funds in multiple Hollywood deals.
• Securitization of distribution rights to raise operating capital for international film distributor.
• Negotiation and acquisition of motion picture rights in several best-selling literary properties.
• Organizing Committee, Winter Olympic Games, Salt Lake City 2002: negotiation of all artist contracts for opening, closing and medal ceremonies and Special Olympics opening ceremony.

 

Education

University of Sunderland, UK, Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies: PhD

University of California, Berkeley, 1996: JD. Prosser Prize in the History of American Law. Moot Court Award. Moot Court Board. Member, Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law. Member, High Technology Law Journal.

Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II): Visiting student, law faculty.

National Council for the Training of Journalists, UK: Certificate in Newspaper Journalism.

University of Oxford, UK: M.Phil in English Studies.

University of Liverpool, UK: B.A. in English Language and Literature (First Class Honors).

Professional Legal Career:

University of East Anglia, UK: visiting lecturer on film distribution

Southern Cross University Law School, Australia: visiting lecturer on entertainment law

Institute for Media and Creative Industries, Loughborough University, London: visiting professor of media law and policy

Greenberg Traurig, Santa Monica, California

Business Affairs Inc., Los Angeles, California

Griffith Law School, Griffith University, Brisbane Australia: visiting lecturer and affiliate of the Socio-Legal Research Centre

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Century City, California

Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman, Beverly Hills, California

World Intellectual Property Organisation, Arbitration Center, Switzerland: consultant

Court of International Arbitration, International Chamber of Commerce; intern

Professional Non-Legal Career

Informed Sources, New York: management consultant

Midem Organisation, Paris France: editorial director

European Media Business and Finance: editorial director

Television Business International, London: founding editor

Variety, London correspondent and Paris Bureau chief

Admissions:

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States District Court for the Central District of California

United States District Court for the District of Arizona

United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

California, 1996

Professional and Civil Associations

Irish Film and Television Academy

British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Los Angeles

Published Decisions, Speaking Engagements and Selected Publications

November 2022 “An Industry Practitioners Event on Intellectual Property (IP) and
U.S. Movie Finance”, speaker on the use of security interests in intellectual property in connection with film financing, World Intellectual Property Organization, Geneva

April 2022 “International Film Production: A Global Prospective for 2022”, panel organized by the Beverly Hills Bar Association

February 2021 “International Film Production: A Global Prospective for 2021”, panel organized by the Beverly Hills Bar Association

Comedy III Prods., Inc. v. New Line Cinema, 200 F3d 593 (9th Cir. 2000) [upholding dismissal of unfair competition claim based on use of public domain material in motion picture].

American Dairy Queen Corp. v. New Line Prods., Inc., 35 F. Supp. 2d 727 (D. Minn. 1998) [granting injunction restraining use of registered trademark as title of motion picture].

November 2018    “The Business of Development: creative, business and legal steps needed to take an idea from pre-script to screen”, co-presenter at seminar organized by Screen Skills Ireland, Dublin.

June 2017    “The Tax Break Trap: Hollywood, Britain and the EU”, at Film Policies in Transition: Globalization, Digitization, Protectionism, symposium organized by Doshishu University, King’s College London and Royal Holloway University, London.

May 2017     Invited discussant at “Convergence or differentiation in IP protection strategies and business models? – The case of China”, Edinburgh Business School.

May 2017     Participant at “Insights into Cultural Industries: New Approaches through Business and Economic Perspectives”, 4th ECIPE-Korea Project International Workshop, Brussels.

June 2014:  “Filmonomics Talks,” panellist, Slated, West Hollywood.

December 2013     “Film Finance,” panellist, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills.

June 2013    “Recent Developments in US Entertainment Law,” panellist, British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Los Angeles.

August 2012           “Updates in Entertainment Law in The UK and USA,” panellist, Producers’ Guild of America, Los Angeles.

August 2012:          Speaker at Producers Guild of America seminar “European Productions – Business Trends and Legal Best Practices”.

June 2012: Speaker at Beverly Hills Bar Association panel on European entertainment law, “The Other Side of the Pond”.

July 2011: Speaker at Beverly Hills Bar Association, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Entertainment Law But Were Afraid To Ask”.

July 2007: Speaker: “European identity, cultural hegemony and the Television Without Frontiers directive,” International Association for Communication and Media Research conference, UNESCO, Paris

2004  University of California, Los Angeles Extension: co-devised and co-taught “The Business of the Film Industry”, a full-quarter for-credit class on all aspects of motion picture development, financing, production and exploitation.

July 2004: Speaker, “Saint Thurgood”, Law and Literature Society of Australia conference, Brisbane and the University of Waikato Law School, New Zealand,

July 2004: Speaker, “Mandarins and self-appointed elites: the inevitability of republican delegation in democratic public service broadcasting services” University of Waikato, New Zealand.

2003: University of California, Los Angeles Extension: devised and taught “Law in the Movies”, a full-quarter for-credit class on the representation of lawyers and legal issues in motion pictures.

2002: University of California, Los Angeles Extension: devised and taught “Protecting and Defending Content: Legal Issues for the Entertainment Professional” 12-hour for credit class covering copyright, trademark, privacy and publicity and defamation issues in the motion picture and television industries.

April 2002: Panellist, “New Approaches to Film: fit enough to survive?” Future of Content conference, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, California.

1999:  Panellist, “International Television Co-Production”, Sedona Conference, Sedona, Arizona

1993: Guest lecturer on the international home video industry, Fémis (French national film school), Paris.

1988: Panel member of private seminar on plans for UK’s fifth TV channel, Consumers Association, London

“Sociology and the Political Economy of the Media” [provisional title] (with Toby Miller). In Media Sociology [provisional title], edited by Silvio Waisbord (forthcoming Polity Press 2013).

“American Trade Policy and the Maintenance of Hollywood’s Global Hegemony.” In Hollywood and the Law, edited by Paul McDonald, Emily Carmen, Philip Drake and Eric Hoyt (forthcoming BFI/Palgrave 2013).

“Escalating Risk and Legal Protections in Contemporary Film Production,” In Film and Risk, edited by Mette Hjort, Wayne State UP (forthcoming 2012)

“Europe’s highest court delivers blow to rights holders,” Daily Journal (Los Angeles), October 19, 2011.

“Cultural ‘patronage’ versus cultural ‘defence’: alternatives to national film policies.” In Law’s Moving Image, edited by Leslie J Moran, Emma Sandon, Elena Loizidou, and Ian Christie. London: Glasshouse Press, 2004: 187-92

“International law and TV Formats: perspective and synthesis.” In Audiovisual Works, TV Formats and Multiple Markets, edited by Michael Keane, Albert Moran, and Mark Ryan. Australian UNESCO Orbicom Working Papers in Communications. Brisbane: Griffith University, 2003:  42-51.

“Legislative Changes to the Copyright Laws of the United States,” International Media Law, 17, No. 1 (January 1999): 1.

“The Arbitrability of International Intellectual Property Disputes,” Berkeley Journal of International Law 14 (1996): 173-221, reprinted in Intellectual Property Law Review, edited by Karen B. Tripp. New York: Clark Boardman Callaghan/Thomson Legal Publishing, 1997 [as William Grantham].

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Paul D. Supnik

Monday, August 12th, 2013

Paul Supnik practices trademark, copyright, and entertainment law. He advises businesses in the selection and use of brand identities, protects trademarks through registration strategies, enhances value through licensing, and litigates trademark and copyright disputes. Paul has spoken on these subjects in the U.S. and internationally. Industries represented include: Internet, apparel, cosmetic, restaurant, advertising, sporting goods, software, financial, arts, and media. As a bar association leader, Paul has served as president of the Los Angeles Copyright Society, chair of both the Entertainment/IP Law and International Law Sections of the Los Angeles County Bar, and chair of the Los Angeles Lawyer magazine editorial board. Paul has a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of “AV” and has been selected by SuperLawyers® in the field of Intellectual Property for the years 2010 through 2022. He served as an adjunct associate professor at Southwestern Law School from 2008-2011.

Practice Areas:

Trademark Law
Preliminary injunction and seizure proceedings
Anti-counterfeit enforcement/defense
Litigation and trials of trademark infringement and unfair competition matters
Trademark/service mark selection and development
Trademark searches and interpretation
Federal registration
Foreign registration
Customs recordation
Opposition and cancellation proceedings
Counseling on appropriate trademark usage in advertising and packaging
Internet domain name disputes
Assignments and recordation
Licensing of trademarks and service marks

Copyright Law
Registration of copyright
Assignments and recordation
Copyright searches
Interpretation of domestic and foreign rights
Termination of transfers
Licensing and contract negotiation
Preliminary injunction and seizure proceedings
Anti-piracy enforcement/defense
Litigation and trials of infringement and license disputes

Internet Law
Internet domain name disputes
Website development agreements
Linking and sponsorship agreements
Content and trademark licensing

Entertainment/Media Law
Counseling and representing producers, writers, actors and directors in the motion picture and television industries
Negotiating and interpreting contracts
Production and distribution agreements
Option agreements
Life story rights agreements
Rights clearance
Title searches and interpretation
Privacy, publicity and defamation issues
Reviewing material for E&O requirements
Union and guild matters
Litigation and trials of entertainment cases in federal and state courts and arbitration tribunals

Merchandising and Licensing
Merchandising licenses, protection of rights in merchandising properties, litigation of merchandising rights.

Education:

B.S. UCLA: 1968

J.D. University of California Hastings College of the Law: 1971

Professional Affiliations:

State Bar of California (admitted 1972)

Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Chair, Editorial Board (1997-98)

Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Section , Los Angeles County Bar Association, Chair (1979-80)

International Law Section , Los Angeles County Bar Association, Chair (2002-03)

International Law Section, State Bar of California, Executive Committee (2005-08)

Los Angeles Copyright Society, President (2001-02)

Hastings Alumni Association , Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter, President (1984-85)

Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats , National Vice President, United States (1990-92), Honorary Vice President (1993-)

Union Internationale des Avocats , Vice President, Entertainment Law Commission (1997-2001)

International Visitors Council of Los Angeles , Vice President (2001-06)

United States District Courts, Central , Southern and Northern Districts of California; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ; Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Beverly Hills Bar Association (President’s Award, 2006; Beverly Hills Bar Foundation Board of Governors, 2006-12)

American Bar Association

Arbitrator, IFTA International Arbitration Tribunal

British American Business Council Los Angeles, Member, Board of Directors (2001-06)

International Trademark Association

Adjunct Associate Professor, Southwestern Law School, (2008-11)

Publications:

Co-Edited worldwide survey of reports presented at the meeting of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers at MIDEM 1993 in Cannes, Co-Editor, Enforcement of Copyright and Related Rights Affecting the Music Industry, IAEL, 1993

Authored chapter in Proof in Competitive Business Litigation, Author, “Copyright Infringement”, CEB, 1993

Law Journal article on interplay between trademarks and the entertainment industry, Author, “Designations of Source: Are they Necessary to Support Entertainment Industry Merchandising Rights?,” Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, 1986

Article in The Trademark Reporter, Author, “The Bell and Howell: Mamiya Case — Where Now Parallel Imports,” International Trademark Association, 1984

Article in The Visual Artist’s Business and Legal Guide, Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers Committee for the Arts, reprinted by Jerome Headlands Press, Prentice-Hall, Author, Works Made for Hire, Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers Committee for the Arts, 1981

“Protecting Trademarks Under the Madrid Protocol” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine (April 2004).

“Check Marks–A trademark audit is a useful tool for determining the cost-effectiveness of maintaining a client’s trademark portfolio” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine (May 2000).

“Mark of Distinction–A New Federal Law Protects Distinctive Trademarks Against Dilution Through Unauthorized Use” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine (May 1997).

“Copyright Infringement” in Proof in Competitive Business Litigation, California Continuing Education of the Bar (1993).

“How to Stop Counterfeiting–A Practical Approach to the Industry’s Biggest Problem” Licensing Today International (June/July/August 1993); “Exploiting Entertainment Marks Internationally in a Downturned Economy” Licensing Today International (June/July 1992).

“Arbitration of Entertainment Industry Contingent Compensation Claims” in The Back End: A Look at Gross and Net Participations in the Wake of Buchwald v. Paramount, sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Section (1990).

Merchandising and Licensing, syllabus co-editor, sponsored by the Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar Association (1985).

“Diluting the Counterfeiters: New Trademark Rights and Remedies in Dealing with Entertainment and Merchandising Properties,” The Entertainment and Sports Lawyer, ABA (Fall, 1985).

Copyright: Selected Practical Aspects of Enforcement and Protection, Editor, sponsored by the Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar Association (1984).

“Unions and Guilds” (coauthor) in Producing for Motion Pictures and Television, sponsored by the Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar Association (1983).

The Actors Manual: A Practical Guide to Your Career, Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers Committee for the Arts, co-editor (1978), reprinted by Elsevier-Dutton (1980).

“First Amendment and Freedom of the Press”, Los Angeles County Bar Journal, Los Angeles County Bar Association , Co-Editor, symposium issue (May 1976).

Presentations:

“Cross Border Due Diligence,” panelist on Intellectual Property Issues, State Bar of California sponsored by the International Law Section, Monterey, California (2006).

“The Legal Business of the Film Industry,” California Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (2006).

“Fair Use as a Cherished Copyright Defense,” Ventura County Bar Association Intellectual Property Section (2006).

“International Copyright Basics,” HalfMoon Seminars, (2006).

“Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy,” Program Chair, State Bar of California International Law Section (2005).

“Intellectual Property Rights Abroad — How to Obtain, Maintain and Defend Them,” State Bar of California sponsored by the International Law Section and the Intellectual Property Section, moderator and speaker on international trademark and copyright, Monterey, California (2004).

“Damages in Copyright Infringement Litigation,” Association of Independent Music Publishers (2004).

“Protecting Your Client’s Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets 101,” State Bar of California Solo and Small Firm Section (2002).

“Music on the Internet–The United States Perspective” Union Internationale des Avocats, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2000).

“What the Business Lawyer Should Know About Intellectual Property, Assignments and Licenses”, American Bar Association Section of Taxation, Small Law Firms Committee, Fall Meeting (2000).

“Fundamentals of Business Practices Litigation,” panelist on copyright law, California Continuing Education of the Bar (2000).

“Anatomy of an AFMA Arbitration,” panelist, IFTA formerly (AFMA) and Los Angeles County Bar Association Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition Section (2000).

“Enforcement of Trademarks Abroad”, panelist, Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats , Brussels, Belgium (1999).

“Entertainment Industry Arbitration: Domestic and International,” The Media District Intellectual Property Bar Association (1997).

“Multimedia Production Agreements and Rights Clearances,” Union Internationale des Avocats , Marrakech, Morocco (1994).

“Discovery Issues and Trial Proof in Competitive Business Litigation: Handling Intellectual Property Issues”, panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar (1994).

“Enforcement of Copyright and Related Rights Affecting the Music Industry”, editor and moderator, Cannes, France, International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (1993).

“Production and Distribution of Motion Pictures”, chair and moderator, London, England, Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (1991).

“Resolving Contractual Disputes in the Entertainment Industry”, UCLA Extension , program coordinator and moderator (1983).

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David Lewis

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

David Lewis is an English barrister and “AV” rated California attorney.  David spent many years working in large law firms before establishing his own practice and becoming “of counsel” to Rufus-Isaacs, Acland & Grantham, LLP. He has over thirty years of experience, specializing in real estate and business law, with expertise in a wide variety of real estate transactions.  David’s trademarks are a highly pragmatic approach, first-rate negotiating and drafting skills, an ability to close deals using sound business judgment, and a sense of humor.

Practice Areas:

Lending David represents both lenders and borrowers in secured lending transactions such as construction loans and permanent loans, workouts with problem loan situations, deed in lieu transactions and foreclosures

Financing David handles seller financing transactions and earnout agreements, ground leases, and sale and leasebacks

Acquisitions and Dispositions Including like kind exchanges

Leasing David works with both landlords and tenants in all types of leasing, including commercial, industrial, retail and residential leases

Development David works with developers and is familiar with joint ventures, development agreements, AIA construction and consulting agreements

Corporate David advises clients on forms of business entity and structures their businesses as general or limited partnerships, LLC’s or corporations, as circumstances require

Education:

College of Law, England: 1976 (Barrister)

Bristol University, England: 1975 (LLB – Honors)

Admissions:

1998, AV Rated

1978, State Bar of California

1976, England & Wales

Bar Associations:

State Bar of California – Real Estate Section

Los Angeles County Bar Association

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Alexander Rufus-Isaacs

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Alexander is an Oxford University graduate who began his career as a barrister in England in 1982. He moved to Los Angeles and was admitted to the California bar in 1988. He is a litigator with an emphasis on media, entertainment and business disputes. Many of his cases have international dimensions. He co-founded Rufus-Isaacs Acland & Grantham in 2010. He is immediate Past President of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, president of the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation, has been selected as a Super Lawyer for 2018-2025 by Southern California Super Lawyer Magazine, and was voted Lawyer of the Year for Copyright in 2023 in LA by Best Lawyers.

In August 2024, Alexander was appointed a member of the Bench-Bar Coalition, a statewide organization formed in 1993 under the leadership of the California Association of Local Bars, the State Bar of California, and the Judicial Council to enhance communication and coordinate activities with the state, local, and specialty bar associations on issues of common interest to the judicial branch.

Practice Areas:

Media and High Profile Litigation: Alexander has significant experience with defamation and privacy torts, and other matters involving high profile clients. Representative cases include:

• He has represented Roman Polanski in a lawsuit arising out of an alleged sexual assault in 1973: https://variety.com/2024/film/news/roman-polanski-jane-doe-trial-date-lawsuit-trial-2025-1235939499/
• He has represented six-time Oscar nominee writer/director Jim Sheridan in a dispute with Netflix
  
• He currently represents former world champion free diver Pipin Ferreras in a defamation lawsuit against Netflix and others filed in March 2023: https://variety.com/2023/film/news/netflix-sued-no-limit-free-dive-murder-1235567149/
• He currently represents Rachel Williams in a defamation lawsuit against Netflix filed in August 2022, in which the District Court recently denied Netflix’s motion to dismiss: https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/netflix-dismiss-inventing-anna-defamation-lawsuit-rachel-williams-1235952993/
• Though he primarily acts for plaintiffs, Alexander was California counsel for News Group, publishers of The Sun, in its successful defense of a libel action brought in the High Court in London by Johnny Depp, obtaining several orders under 28 USC 1782. See https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/amber-heards-makeup-artist-fighting-live-testimony-johnny-depps-uk-libel-trial-1296661
• He is co-counsel for journalist Ruth Barrett in a case against The Atlantic for defamation and other torts: https://reason.com/volokh/2024/09/09/ruth-shalit-barretts-defamation-lawsuit-against-the-atlantic-survives-in-part/
• He has represented legendary chess player Nona Gaprindashvili in a defamation lawsuit filed against Netflix over a statement in The Queen’s Gambit. See https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/arts/television/netflix-queens-gambit-nona-gaprindashvili.html?searchResultPosition=1 and https://deadline.com/2022/09/netflix-loses-queens-gambit-dismissal-effort-nona-gaprindashvili-1234921578/
• He has represented plaintiff Nicole Basile in Basile v Prometheus Global Media, a defamation lawsuit filed in Chicago against the publisher of the The Hollywood Reporter arising out of an article which falsely accused Ms. Basile of being responsible for the Sony Studios cyber attack which settled in 2022: http://deadline.com/2015/11/hollywood-reporter-lawsuit-sony-attack-defamation-prometheus-global-media-1201614685
• Other representative media lawsuits include a defamation suit against Starz Entertainment and others arising out of their unauthorized use of plaintiff’s photograph in a documentary film about sexual abuse:  https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/what-haunts-us-sparks-lawsuit-starz-yearbook-photo-1143293; and claims on behalf of several different clients against ABC for libel, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract, including Williams v ABC et al.: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/judge-abcs-20-20-chris-426554

 

Entertainment Litigation: Alexander represents producers, financiers, distributors, managers, agents and talent in music, film, television, and digital distribution. His cases have involved disputes over film finance, international distribution/licensing, credits, accounting issues, unpaid royalties, artist/manager, and copyright issues in state and federal court and in arbitrations under AAA, IFTA and other rules. Representative cases include:

• Mokhtarian et al. v Saperstein et al., Los Angeles Superior Court (ongoing dispute between producers and investors, in which Alexander won 13 motions for summary adjudication or judgment and prevailed on appeal);
• Weinberger v UMG Recordings, Inc., Los Angeles Superior Court (settled suit by A&R executive client for unpaid royalties);
• Sandoval v Yeter and Warner Music Group, U.S. District Court (C.D. Cal.) (settled suit by singer against producer and record companies for royalties);
• ARP v Good Films et al., Los Angeles Superior Court (settled dispute between producer and investor/distributor);
• Future Films USA, LLC v. Sriram Das, Los Angeles Superior Court (settled dispute between producers);
• Initiate Productions, LLC v. American Cinema International, Inc. (wonIFTA arbitration by producer against foreign sales agent);
• He has represented legendary television production company Carsey Werner in numerous lawsuits, e.g., Carsey Werner Distribution, LLC v Telewizja Polsat S.A., U.S. District Court (C.D. Cal.) (recovered over $2 million on summary judgment against a foreign broadcaster).
• Other representative clients include Bitmax LLC, Relativity Media Distribution LLC, Sound Point Capital Management, LC, Ingenious, Affirmative Entertainment, and BAFTA Los Angeles.

 

General Business Litigation: Alexander has appeared in arbitrations and state and federal court litigation involving issues such as fraud, breach of contract, business interference torts, trade secrets, privacy (including HIPAA), non-profit corporations, and employee mobility/restrictive covenant issues.

Appellate Cases: Alexander has successfully conducted a number of appeals before the California and Illinois Court of Appeals.

International Alexander has retained his professional license in England, and has close contacts in the UK’s legal, financial, insurance and government sectors. He has litigated and/or taken depositions in many countries, including Singapore and Lebanon.

Education:

Inns of Court School of Law, London: 1981-82 (English Bar Finals)

City University, London: 1979-80 (Diploma in Law)

Oriel College, Oxford University: 1976-79 (Modern History – B.A. 1979, M.A. 1987)

St. Paul’s School, London: 1970-75

Previous Professional Career:

Glassman, Browning & Saltsman, Beverly Hills, California: 2000-2009

Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman, Beverly Hills, California: 1998-2000

Arter & Hadden, Los Angeles, California: 1992-1998

Parkinson, Wolf & Leo, Century City, California: 1989-1992

Barrister in private practice in London: 1982-87

Admissions:

2016, U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois/Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

1989, U.S. District Court for Central District of California/Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

1988, California

1982, England and Wales

Bar Associations:

Beverly Hills Bar Association: Entertainment Law Section (Senior Chair, 2016-2017; London Chapter Chair, 2013-); Litigation Section (Executive Committee member 2020-); Board of Governors (2017-2019); Secretary/Treasurer (2019-2020); 2nd Vice President (2020-2021); 1st Vice President (2021-2022); President Elect (2022-2023); President (2023-2024)

Lord Reading Law Society, Montreal, Canada (honorary life member)

Los Angeles Copyright Society (2015-present)

California Society of Entertainment Lawyers (Treasurer 2013-2016)

British American Bar Association of Southern California (Co-Founder, 1998; President, 2002-2022)

Middle Temple, London (1982-present)

Professional and Civil Associations:

Constitutional Rights Foundation, Los Angeles (volunteer attorney scorer for mock trials by high school students, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023)

British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Los Angeles (Legal Advisor, 2002-2007; Director, 2003-2008; Secretary, 2005-2007)

British American Business Council, Los Angeles (President, 1998; Chairman, 1999)

Public Counsel/FEMA, Los Angeles (volunteer attorney)

Toynbee Hall, London (low income family support institute): 1985-87 (volunteer attorney)

Press Articles:

California like England? – LA Times, August 3, 1997  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-03-op-18959-story.html

English Common Law Still Reigns Supreme – The Daily Journal, September 14, 2022 https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/369082-english-common-law-still-reigns-supreme?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Foreign+spies+abound+at+Twitter%2C+whistleblower+says%2C+plus+other+legal+news&utm_campaign=Legal+News+Daily_09%2F14&vgo_ee=0WnJ2J3YC%2F9i9HOjT3Ohc3wFoqDlMHNmyq65fGLdufk%3D

Honors:

 Lawyer of the Year for Copyright in LA by Best Lawyers for 2023

       “Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyer Magazine, 2017-2021

Beverly Hills Bar Association’s annual President’s Award for 2017

Published Decisions:

Ghazarian et al. v. Saperstein et al., 2023 WL 165276, (California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 1) (successful defense of appeal against order granting 3 motions for summary judgment).

Gaprindashvili v. Netflix, Inc., 2022 WL 363537 (C.D. Cal. 2022).

Basile v Prometheus Global Media, LLC, 2020 IL App (1st) 190602-U (June 30, 2020)  https://courts.illinois.gov/R23_Orders/AppellateCourt/2020/1stDistrict/1190602_R23.pdf (defeated appeal against orders in client’s favor denying anti-SLAPP and other motions in defamation case against The Hollywood Reporter)

Danelle Sandoval v. Burak Yeter, Warner Music Group, at al., 2019 WL 7905731 (C.D. Cal.) (successful motion to compel depositions and written discovery, plus award of sanctions)

Goodman v Dohmen, 2017 WL 3319110 (C.D. Cal.) (findings of fact and conclusions of law in bench trial awarding client substantial damages for breach of fiduciary duties in securities fraud case)

Williams v Cahill, 2014 WL 1234218 (Cal. Ct. of Appeal) (defeated appeal against order in client’s favor on anti-SLAPP motion in defamation case against ABC)

Future Films USA, LLC v. Sriram Das 2013 WL 265449 (Cal. Ct. of Appeals) (successful appeal against order granting demurrer)

Bailey v. Brewer, (2011) 197 CA4th 781, 792–793, 128 CR3d 380, 390 (defeated appeal against order in client’s favor denying anti-SLAPP motion)

Price v. Stossel and ABC, (2008) 590 F.Supp.2d 1262 (discussing the good cause standard for discovery under the anti-SLAPP statute)

Rosalie Tapper et al., v. Edward J. Wedelstedt et al., 2008 WL 2477391 (Cal. Ct. of Appeals) (defeated appeal against ruling on motion seeking to enforce arbitration clause)

Bill Medley v. Sandals Resorts Intern., 2001 WL 34349043 (L.A. Superior Court) (defeated motion for summary judgment against client plaintiffs in major voice misappropriation case, leading to substantial settlement)

Speaking Engagements:

May 2023: Program chair of BHBA seminar entitled Lock ‘Em Up! How State Legislatures Are Criminalizing Protests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGmZ2SmgCBE

April 2023: Speaker on BHBA seminar entitled Dominion v Fox: Legal Insights, Defamation, and the Evolving Media Landscape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeHaNzVG4XM&t=280s

January 2023: Interviewer for BHBA War Stories: John Sharer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP27mOq_LB4&t=432s

October 2022: speaker at Brooklyn Law School (Entertainment and Sports Law Society) on defamation

October 2022: program chair and moderator for BHBA program entitled The Extradition of Julian Assange: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpkFGg4HNsc

September 2022: Speaker and program chair on BHBA seminar entitled How English Common Law Remains Relevant to Your Case:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwote8fY7R4&t=6s

September 2022: interviewer for War Stories: Gary Bostwick  on the Masson v New Yorker trial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7VlSloFTrk

April 2022: Moderator and program chair on BHBA seminar entitled That’s Entertainment! Bicoastal Profit Participation Disputes in Films and Other Entertainment Deals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIzHKImrKWs&t=184s

March 2022: moderator and program chair of BHBA seminar entitled ANTI-SLAPP ACROSS THE USA: Developments in State Anti-SLAPP Laws, with Tom Burke, Laura Lee Prather and Lane Shetterley – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOLI0pywCrM   

December 2021: interviewer for War Stories: Neville Johnson on the Sanders v ABC trial – 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnbWyvA4CJQ

June 2021: panelist and program chair of BHBA seminar on the BHBA’s Inner City Pro Bono Legal Clinic program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdnnMOhmYdI&t=16s

May 2021: moderator and program chair of BHBA seminar about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act entitled Section 230 – The Furious Debate Over the Future of Free Speech on The Internet, with Jeff Kosseff, Carrie Goldberg,  Cathy Gellis and Doug Mirell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cvhy5jFcGU&t=343s

Interviewed for BHBA’s Litigator’s Corner, November 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP31YssATqI

June 2020: interviewer for War Stories 2: Patricia Glaser on the Boxing Helena trial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKtAEusCeiM

May 2020: originator of the BHBA series, War Stories, and moderator of the first program featuring Pierce O’Donnell on the Art Buchwald trial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt8xa3WWdNU&t=52s. Each program features one of our most prominent trial lawyers discussing one of their trials in detail. The series will be archived and made available online by the BHBA.

February 2020: program chair and moderator of BHBA seminar entitled The New Wave of Defamation Cases with Charles Harder and Bobby Schwartz – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLir4z2J98U

January 2020: program co-chair of litigation panel for BHBA’s Annual Entertainment Review 2019

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