Taft Entertainment & Sports Lawyers

Entertainment lawyer Joshua R. Lastine protects the artistry and livelihood of actors, production companies, writers, producers, directors, animators, social media influencers, and podcasters. A strategic negotiator, a fierce advocate for talent, and a practical problem solver, Lastine strengthens his counsel with an indelible passion for show business, its players, and creators. Lastine understands how to structure and close the deals shaping the future of the entertainment industry. Recent examples include critically acclaimed streaming series, musicians’ NFTs, and mixed-reality productions in the Metaverse. Lastine’s experience in Studio business and legal affairs includes positions with ViacomCBS, Lions Gate, Marvel Studios, Starz, Discovery...

Ethan D. Kirschner is an experienced litigator with clients in California, throughout the United States, and overseas. Originally from Wisconsin, Mr. Kirschner was a champion high school and college debater. He has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan, graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, and received an LL.M. in intellectual property law from the University of California, Berkeley.


Mr. Kirschner has been practicing law since 2005. He is licensed to practice law in California.

Justin has over 20 years of law firm experience in litigation and intellectual property prosecution matters. His experience includes trial and appellate work in breach of contract, business torts, copyright, trademark, defamation, environmental, real estate, public interest, and cannabis matters. He maintains a robust reputation management practice. Justin’s clients include large entities, small businesses, and individuals. He is attuned to the need to tailor advice regarding current and potential legal issues to the client’s familiarity with legal issues and means of accomplishing legal compliance. Justin practiced at big firms for the first 10 years of his legal...

We are dedicated to providing quality legal services at reasonable rates. Our attorneys are experienced, business-oriented and responsive to client needs. We have experience in licensing and other technology transactions, intellectual property counseling, product distribution and marketing, contracts, corporate organization and governance, mergers and acquisitions, financings, employment, real estate, entertainment law and general business and corporate matters.

Michael Machat is one of the few private attorneys that has taken a case to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. His practice covers all aspects of trademark law from the selection and filing of trademarks to fighting all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect his clients' rights.

Mr. Machat represents various types of clients, including start ups, artists, entrepreneurs, wealthy businessmen and even other lawyers. In addition to working on transactional matters, he has tried numerous jury trial cases to verdict, most recently winning over $700,000 representing a client suing for trademark infringement. ...

I'm not your typical lawyer. Having been a creative - and having managed creative businesses for over 20 years - I help people build businesses, especially creative businesses. In this era of digital disruption and media convergence, it's particularly helpful to work with someone who's familiar with emerging business and legal challenges associated with that. In addition to my legal background, my business career includes... Content development: I've spent 20+ years creating content, including developing nationally-syndicated radio shows and comedy bits. I'm still creating content – lots of it – today. ...

John A. Case, Jr. is a Los Angeles business lawyer and an active member of the State Bar of California since 1986. He is a graduate of Columbia University, Stanford Law School, and the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. After practicing with major law firms such as O'Melveny & Myers and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, he opened his own law office in 1996. He has guided clients through all kinds of business problems and disputes for more than 30 years.

Attorney Farshad Dehbozorgi earned a B.A. from UCLA & a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law, in combination with a Certificate in Alternate Dispute Resolution from the internationally recognized Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Years ago, Mr. Dehbozorgi was involved in a tragic car accident that left him with two torn discs & a herniated disc in his spinal cord. The traumatizing experience ignited a profound interest to advocate for plaintiffs dealing with the trauma of personal injury incidents. Mr. Dehbozorgi’s educational background, coupled with his personal experience in the lengthy treatment & pre-litigation process, gave him the insight...