Chester Entertainment & Sports Lawyers

Full service entertainment law practice handling corporate, financing, production, marketing and distribution matters worldwide across all media for studios, networks, cable companies and independent producers.

With over 20 years of experience in media, tech, and law, I am passionate about empowering and representing artists and brands in the digital age. Having founded tech companies, digital agencies and a bank - I have a unique view of how business works and thrives. Originally a techie (early hacker, Cisco CCNA and Microsoft MCSE), I have a unique understanding of the cyber world, AI and emerging technologies. As an attorney at Sterling Media Law, I focus on media law, cyber law, business law, and real estate law - negotiating complex and creative deals. My mission is to help...

David L. Axelrod began work as a teenager, selling scorecards in Dodger Stadium. After attending college, David L. Axelrod entered a career as Park Ranger and Fire Fighter, at the East Bay Regional Park District of Northern California. In 1988, David L. Axelrod graduated law school at the University of California, Berkeley, California, passed the bar, and commenced the practice of law. David L. Axelrod worked as Deputy Attorney for CALTRANS Legal Division in Los Angeles, California, and then as Deputy Tuolumne County Counsel in Sonora, California. Mr....

A veteran entertainment lawyer, arbitrator and author, Mark Litwak also teaches entertainment law at USC school of law. He recently won a multi million dollar award against a distributor who failed to pay a filmmaker his share of movie revenue. Litwak also functions as an expert witness on entertainment disputes and as a Producer's Rep, assisting filmmakers in the marketing and distribution of their films. Litwak is the author of six books: Reel Power, The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood (William Morrow, 1986), Courtroom Crusaders (William Morrow, 1989), Dealmaking in the Film & Television Industry (Silman-James Press,...

Joseph A. Yanny was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and attended college and law school at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Yanny obtained a B.E. in Engineering in 1975 and his J.D. in 1978. Mr. Yanny began practicing as a patent attorney in Chicago, Illinois where he obtained his first million dollar judgment before moving to California in 1980. Prior to founding his own law firm in 1983, Mr. Yanny worked in the aerospace industry in California.

Mr. Yanny is a member of the Chicago, Beverly Hills, South Bay, Los Angeles County, Illinois State and American Bar Associations;...

Sean S. Varner, Managing Partner of Varner & Brandt, is a corporate and transactional attorney focusing his practice on corporate and business law, real estate, transactional law, contracts and mergers & acquisitions. With over 20 years of legal and business experience Sean takes time to know his clients and their goals and objectives. He handles numerous critical issues, including complicated transactions, facing many different industries and clients including the technology sector, retail/food & beverage industry, real estate developers, restaurants, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, officers and directors of corporations, and a variety of family-owned businesses.

Brandon Anand is a seasoned business and real estate attorney and Court-appointed Referee. Brandon has advised as to countless matters at each stage of the business life cycle—from formation—to operations (partnerships/joint ventures, IP protection, licensing/sales, and litigation/conflict resolution)—to reorganization, sales, and mergers, with a focus on two primary areas: real estate and entertainment/sports. Brandon's real estate practice centers around the sale, financing, and lease of real property. In addition to private representation, he serves as a Court-appointed Partition Referee throughout California, where he is called upon to streamline sales, accounting, and distribution of proceeds from real property (e.g....

Daniel J. Morse represents creative artists from his offices in the Los Angeles area. Mr. Morse excelled in his studies of contracts, intellectual property, and entertainment law at the Pepperdine University School of Law. After graduating in 2001, Mr. Morse worked as a civil litigator while assisting various visual artist clients. Upon moving to Tennessee, Mr. Morse worked with the firm of Wise & Reeves, representing a variety of individuals and business with transactional and litigation matters. Mr. Morse also represented musicians and literary authors. With licenses to practice in two of America's...

BIG FIRM EXPERIENCE…SMALL FIRM SERVICE® Melvin N.A. Avanzado is the principal of The Avanzado Law Firm, APLC. Mel is a trial lawyer and outside general counsel, representing clients in complex matters in entertainment, media, intellectual property, sports and employment. Mel has extensive experience practicing with big law firms but now practices in his own small firm so he has the ability to provide personalized service to his clients. Mel is extensively involved in his community. Mel is active with numerous non-profit organizations, serving as general counsel to the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles and the UCLA Alumni Association...

For over 20 years, James D. Pacitti, the founder and managing attorney, has aggressively represented and assisted thousands of clients in entertainment, intellectual property and business matters and in state and federal litigation. James D. Pacitti has been practicing law since graduating from Fordham University School of Law in New York City in 1995 and is licensed to practice in California, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. Born and raised in Philadelphia, James went to college at Northeastern University in Boston, graduating cum laude. After graduating law school, James practiced in his hometown for three years prior to relocating to Florida where...

Randy M. Grossman obtained his California state par certification in 1994 and has been providing trusted legal counsel to clients throughout the state ever since. The Law Offices of Randy M. Grossman is a criminal defense firm in San Diego that provides aggressive legal defense counsel for felony and misdemeanor charges. Mr. Grossman personally handles all of the firm’s cases, providing clients with one-on-one attention and sound legal advice. Mr. Grossman has thousands of cases under his belt, and is well-respected in the California court system. He works relentlessly to ensure his clients receive a fair trial and to...

For four decades, I have successfully represented clients in the Media & Entertainment industries with Antitrust, Business and Appellate law needs. Licensed in New York and California, I have extensive experience in both domestic and international matters.

As a former Executive Vice President at Paramount Pictures, I am often called as an expert witness for media and entertainment industry disputes. I bring a unique set of skills and understanding to each and every case. I am dedicated to helping clients create strategies and solutions in a quick and efficient manner.

I hold a LL.M. in Trade Regulation, a J.D., and a M.S....

I focus on the area of family law, including divorce and related matters such as child custody, child support, paternity, spousal support and property division. I also represent clients in matters involving guardianship and dissolution of domestic partnerships. I will take time to learn about you, your family, and your goals. When taking your case, I want to learn what you hope to accomplish and what your family needs in order to get back on track. I will then develop a detailed case management plan designed to achieve realistic goals for you and your family. Throughout the legal process, I will keep...

Represents and advises performers, writers, directors, creative talent, producers and entertainment professionals in motion pictures, film, television, animation, HD, CGI and 3D productions, graphic arts and design, the Internet, marketing/advertising and new media of all kinds.

Advising international and domestic motion picture studios, production companies, software/technology companies and Web-based businesses in all aspects of rights acquisition, development, financing, production, licensing and distribution in traditional and all available E-commerce, digital, telephony and wireless media delivery platforms worldwide.

Assists and counsels entertainment content and IP/technology owners in the formulation and execution of strategic global rights exploitation programs to maximize the financial performance...

Chaz Rainey advises clients in the film and television industry on matters related to: copyright litigation, financing, production, new media technologies, rights of publicity, defamation, trade secrets, trademarks, unfair competition and other transactional issues. An internationally recognized lawyer, licensed in the practice of law in California, Nevada, New York, Texas and the District of Columbia, Chaz Rainey is an accomplished litigator, negotiator, and advocate. Chaz has served as lead counsel on over 200 cases in both state and federal court. He has first-chaired more than a dozen jury and bench trials, argued before federal and state appellate courts,...

Ashley is founder of Talbot Law Firm. As an attorney in the firm’s emerging business practice, Ashley counsels startups with incorporation, early stage financing, employment issues, intellectual property protection, technology licensing, commercial partnerships and various other corporate transactions. Ashley believes that understanding a company’s vision and priorities is important to devising strategies to solve legal problems so companies can focus on their goals. Ashley has nearly 3 years in-house experience representing entrepreneurs in a wide range of corporate, commercial and intellectual property matters. Ashley received a J.D. from University of San Francisco School of Law and a B.A. in...

Jay has represented and advised investors of public companies in shareholder derivative actions and complex class action litigation for over a decade. He helped secure millions of dollars in financial recovery and corporate governance reforms. He investigated and litigated claims involving such issues as accounting fraud, executive compensation, board entrenchment, board elections, corporate takeovers, inadequate internal controls, and violations of the False Claim Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-money laundering laws, and vehicular and aeronautical safety regulations.

Since 2017, Jay has focused his legal practice on helping entrepreneurs successfully form and operate their businesses, representing clients in contract or business...

Katrina Anne Foley
The Foley Group, PLC

PRACTICE AREAS
Employment law & Contracts; Government Affairs; Elections Law & Campaign Consulting; Non-profit & Foundation formations & Compliance; Artist & Athlete management, visas, and promotion.

Government Affairs & Campaign Consulting as well as Election & Campaign Law Compliance including Treasurer Services & Financial Disclosure Filing.

Employment litigation, including representation in unpaid wage, overtime, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation and breach of contract claims.

Employment litigation lawyer, that was elected to the Costa Mesa City Council for the third time in 2014, serving as mayor from 2016-2017. Foley also served as a Newport Mesa Unified School Board Trustee. Katrina Anne...

I am an attorney who provides legal services to emerging and established artists. I also cater to the legal needs of entrepreneurs and to businesses which are just starting up or have already been established. In representing these clients, I strive to protect the intellectual property of businesses and creative and technical artists across a wide spectrum of media.

Paul’s practice focuses primarily on complex business litigation. He was recently named one of the “Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California” by Los Angeles Magazine, has the highest AV rating in Martindale Hubbell, and is regularly listed in various publications as one of the top attorneys in his field.

His practice areas include business and commercial litigation, False Claims Act cases, corporation and partnership disputes, professional liability litigation, entertainment and intellectual property litigation, defense of non-profit and other charity-based organizations, products liability litigation and all related appellate work.

Attorney since 1998

David A. Sergenian is the founder of Sergenian Law, a Professional Corporation. His practice concentrates in the areas of copyright, trademarks, trade secrets, partnership and startup disputes, appellate practice, and general commercial litigation. In addition, he has extensive experience in patent law, securities litigation, entertainment litigation, and employment actions. He has represented clients on “both sides of the v.,” including numerous Fortune 500 companies, in litigations, trials, arbitrations, and alternative dispute resolutions.

Douglas K. Schreiber (Member) born Los Angeles, California, September 16, 1953; admitted to bar, 1978, California; 1979, U.S. District Court, Central and Southern Districts of California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of Southern California (B.S., cum laude, 1975); Loyola University of Los Angeles (J.D., cum laude, 1978). Recipient: American Jurisprudence Award for Remedies. Member: State Bar of California. Reported Cases: Waisbren v. Peppercorn Productions Inc., (1995) 41 Cal.App.4th 246 48 Cal. Rptr. 2d 437; Lenane vs. Franchise Tax Board (1994) 9 Cal.4th 263, 36 Cal. Rptr.2d 563 Amicus Curiae.

Barry Melton is a Lake County, California, attorney admitted to practice law before all the courts of the State of California since 1982; and he is admitted to practice before California's Central, Eastern and Southern U.S. District Courts. He is also qualified to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Barry has been admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court for more than 20 years. In addition to a broad range of general legal practice experience, Barry Melton is an attorney certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Board of Legal...

Accomplished entertainment attorney with over 35 years of experience representing clients in the music, film, television, and performing arts industries.

Beverly Hills Law Corp., PC was founded on a simple idea: provide a select group of clients with the highest caliber legal representation possible. We are a boutique law firm, located in Beverly Hills, California, catering to the transactional and litigation needs of entrepreneurs, new and growing businesses, and select individuals. Our firm is committed to providing both exceptional legal service as well as exceptional client service. Our efficient approach to the practice of law enables us to streamline operations and reduce overhead. We pass these savings along to our clients in the form of reasonable hourly billing rates....

Mark Litwak is a veteran entertainment attorney and founder of the Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates based in Los Angeles, California. His practice includes work in the areas of copyright, trademark, contract, multimedia law, intellectual property and book publishing. As a Producer’s Representative, he assists filmmakers in arranging financing, marketing and distribution of their films. He also testifies as an expert witness in motion picture industry cases.

Litwak has packaged movie projects and served as executive producer on such feature films as “The Proposal,” “Out Of Line,” “Pressure,” and “Diamond Dog.” He has provided legal...

We are a boutique law firm with attorneys that specialize in personal injury, criminal defense and business law services, as well as entertainment law. We provide aggressive and efficient legal representation for each of our clients and work hard until we get you the results you need and want. Our attorneys will also travel to you if needed.

Legal Expertise Brian Fu works closely with major production studios, talent and management agencies, and multinational corporations to devise creative immigration strategies for executives, on-screen talent in film and television, production teams, musicians, athletes, and artists to work on multi-million dollar projects in the United States. As a trusted advisor on global mobility matters for leading companies in such sectors as entertainment, fashion, design, cosmetics, and videogames, Brian counsels on complex labor and employment issues for foreign nationals. Brian has studied law at top schools in the United States, Australia, and Japan – on the prestigious Monbukagakusho Scholarship awarded by the...

I practice transactional entertainment and technology law and was a also a journalist at The Hollywood Reporter from 2010-20, where I covered entertainment labor, law and business. A former computer scientist, I was also active in local politics for over a decade. A preeminent expert on Hollywood unions and guilds, I'm the author of several books on the subject. I'm also an adjunct professor at USC and Southwestern law schools, and previously at UCLA Law School, and a non-resident research fellow at Rutgers University. I've worked as a talent lawyer; guild attorney; and as a litigator. I've been a member of the...

Ted Parker is a business trial lawyer with extensive experience in a broad range of industries: securities, IP and e-commerce, construction, products liability, agriculture and food products, film and publishing. After graduation from Cornell Law School, he began practice in business law at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in San Francisco. He was the first corporate counsel at ITEL Corporation. More recently, he has practiced as a large-firm partner (K&L Gates) and a small-firm partner (Berg & Parker), and now operates a "virtual" law firm, collaborating with colleagues electronically. He has handled major litigation nationally and internationally,...

Ms. Johns is a civil trial lawyer who has tried more than one hundred cases to verdict. She is the managing partner for Hillary Johns, Trial Lawyer which maintains offices in Beverly Hills, the Bay Area and New York City. She graduated from Occidental College in 1990 and Golden Gate University School of Law in 1993 where she graduated with Dean’s List and class honors. She is licensed to practice law in California, the California Southern, Central and Northern U.S. Federal District Courts, the District of Columbia, Montana, New York, and the New York Eastern and Southern U.S....

Washington Law Firm is a full-service law firm headquartered in Los Angeles County, representing individuals and companies of every size. The firm is recognized for its premier practice, providing business advice to a broad range of persons and companies. Desiree T. Washington is the owner of Washington Law Firm. She obtained a B.A. from the University of Chicago, where she majored in Medieval and Early Modern History. Thereafter, Desiree Washington attended the University of Iowa, College of Law, where she obtained a J.D. emphasizing jurisprudence and civil rights law. Desiree Washington is licensed to practice before the highest courts in the...

Mike Arias is the senior and managing partner of the firm. He handles matters throughout the United States. Mr. Arias has litigated and tried matters from New York to Texas to California, in both state and federal court. He has resolved hundreds of matters, either by trial, arbitration, mediation or negotiated settlement, resulting in millions of dollars in recovery for the firm's clients. His most recent trial victory resulted in a judgment and subsequent settlement in excess of $19 million. His most recent settlements total well in excess of $50 million. Mr. Arias has also successfully defended and counseled many...

Ori Blumenfeld is a senior associate with Margulies Faith LLP. Mr. Blumenfeld focuses his practice in all areas of complex bankruptcy and insolvency, corporate restructuring, distressed assets, acquisition and disposition, and related litigation matters. In terms of his corporate bankruptcy expertise, Mr. Blumenfeld has represented debtors, trustees, and both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy courts. In addition, a substantial portion of his work consists of serving as general or special counsel to federal and state receivers appointed to general equity, Family Code, rents and profits, Health and Safety Code, and regulatory receiverships, as well as bankruptcy trustees, and...

Ginam Lee has been a California licensed attorney since 1999. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Central District of California as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. His areas of practice are litigation, real estate, entertainment, intellectual property, alcoholic beverages, franchises, and business affairs. Mr. Lee began his legal career as a legal assistant at a boutique criminal defense firm of Beck & DeCorso in downtown Los Angeles. Since then, he has worked in various legal capacities at major firms such as O'Melveny & Myers in...

Navid handles business litigation and employment litigation for individual and corporate clients in a wide range of industries, from small businesses to large publicly-traded corporations. As a seasoned Los Angeles entertainment lawyer, Navid has extensive experience in the media and entertainment industries, representing clients such as recording artists, managers and agents, production companies and content providers. Navid has litigated numerous intellectual property claims involving, among other things, copyright and trademark infringement, cyber-squatting, defamation, right of publicity, and trade secret misappropriation. Navid handles sexual harassment, wrongful termination, disability discrimination and pregnancy discrimination. Since 2002, Navid Soleymani has been litigating complex business, entertainment,...