Cassel Entertainment & Sports Lawyers

With four decades of legal experience, I provide counsel for Business, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Tax, Intellectual Property, Entertainment & Sports, and Hospitality Law matters. Based in Southern California, I represent clients as outside general counsel throughout the world. I am dedicated to delivering legal expertise and experience focused on the best possible outcomes.

Highly accomplished and respected by peers, I have been honored as the 2018 Southern California Lawyer of the Year for Closely-Held Companies & Family Businesses Law, and the 2019 Southern California Lawyer of the Year for Trusts and Estates.

Outside of work, I am committed to giving...

Expertise, Experience and Affordability are factors that set The Stephen Stern Law Firm apart. * 30 PLUS 5 STAR GOOGLE RATINGS * AV-PREEMINENT by Martingale Hubbell -- Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Experience * 5,000 plus cases and 24 years experience * Highest Quality Client Communications * Adjunct University Professor - Business Law Practice Areas: * Bankruptcy * Estate Planning * Trademarks * Business Law

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.

Sindee Levin, ESQ is a veteran entertainment a1orney whose creden7als include business affairs at major film
studios, music publishing, mechanical collec7on and extensive private prac7ce with invaluable contacts with
music publishers and record labels.
• As former owner and past president of American Mechanical Rights Agency, Inc. she handled licensing of
copyrights with record companies: issuing licenses, monitoring accoun7ng and payments; issues
synchroniza7on licenses to film, television, radio, and adver7sing agencies specifying the scope of permission
granted. She offered expert guidance through all emerging technologies and new media formats: website
exploita7ons, digital downloading, ring tones and ring backs before selling AMRA to Kobalt Music Publishing.
• She is...

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....

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,...

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....

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...

Adam T. Carralejo is a trial attorney with broad expertise and a strong, ethical reputation. Adam started his career handling estate and trust work in Santa Barbara – his first client matter was the infamous case of Butler v. LeBouef, involving an unethical estate planning attorney and successful trust contest in Santa Barbara Superior Court. Adam would go on to spend several years with a Los Angeles firm advising HOA boards and representing HOA homeowners. During this time, he gained invaluable experience understanding the needs of community managers, boards of directors, and, most importantly, individual homeowners. He’s drafted CC&Rs, provided education...

My goal is always to achieve the best possible outcome for the client. My current practice focuses on live musical and theatrical entertainment, and general civil litigation in federal and state courts. Other practice areas include alternative dispute resolution, copyright and trademark consultation, licensing and protection of intellectual property rights, employment issues, internet law, and appellate work. I also have substantial prior business experience in internet, alcoholic beverage distribution and entertainment industries. I am fluent in Hebrew.

Mark A. Pearson is a founding partner at ARC Law Group (www.arclg.com), a law firm focused on counseling Creative, Talented and Entrepreneurial clients. His primary practice areas involve forming business entities, counseling on trademark & copyright issues, and drafting contracts for music, film & new media clients. His list of interesting and eclectic clients include entertainment industry tech firms, social media outlets, online content providers, film, radio & television producers, live entertainment companies, publishers and video game developers. Mark and his partner, Anne Yarovoy, have also been known to associate with various theater producers, musicians, industry execs,...

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...

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...

After spending years at well-known firms in both New York and California, Mr. Dorros decided it was time for something different. He founded Dorros Law with the goal of providing the more personalized services. A substantial portion of Mr. Dorros’ practice focuses on the protection of individuals’ privacy rights with a particular emphasis on protected health information, HIPAA law and medical record privacy issues. Mr. Dorros has successfully represented clients both on an individual and class action basis in State and Federal Court nationwide in significant and groundbreaking cases related to protected health information and medical record privacy and confidentiality...

Suzanne Natbony is a third generation lawyer, with a focus on business transactional and regulatory/compliance law, and dispute resolution. She is licensed to practice in California, with her own law practice, Solve & Win, in West Los Angeles, in addition to being a Partner at the international law firm, Aliant LLP (AliantLaw.com) and Of Counsel to Merino Yebri LLP (MYlawLLP.com) in Century City. Ms. Natbony also serves as outside General Counsel to Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, a multi-state medical spa franchise (BHRCenter.com), Rejuva Medical Aesthetics, a westside medical spa, For Us By Us Network, a streaming video platform, and...

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...

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,...

Gordon Firemark practices entertainment (Theatre, Film, Television, Digital Media), media and business law in Los Angeles. He helps creative industry professionals make deals that make sense, and that get their productions developed, financed, produced and distributed. His practice also covers intellectual property, cyberspace, new media, business transactions, and corporate matters for clients in the fields of media, entertainment, content and digital business. Mr. Firemark is frequently referred to as “The Podcast Lawyer™”, and is the author of The Podcast, Blog, & New Media Producers’ Legal Survival Guide. (Https://podcastlawbook.com) He is also a podcaster himself. ...

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...

Mr. Alves's practice focuses on advising startups, emerging growth and middle market companies across a spectrum of industries in corporate, finance and business transactions with emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, contracts and project finance. Licensed in Brazil and the U.S., he practiced for several years at major law firms in Brazil and the U.S. advising domestic and international clients on, among other things, corporate, mergers and acquisitions and investments matters.

Marlon Monroe brings a background of court battles and life experiences rarely found in employment law & civil rights attorneys. Prior to practicing law, Marlon taught middle school in Los Angeles for five years and worked in the music industry. After graduating from law school in South Florida, he began his legal career and moved back to Oakland, CA, where he practiced criminal defense for 15 years and became known as “The People’s Champion” due to his zealous advocacy, successful outcomes and representation of prominent members of the local community. While cultivating his skills in the courtroom, Marlon also worked with...

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.

Attorney since 1998

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...

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;...

Michael Molfetta is former prosecutor and a renowned litigation attorney who has been practicing for almost 30 years.
1. Mr. Molfetta has been lead counsel in hundreds of criminal jury trials.
2. Mr. Molfetta has been lead counsel in several civil jury trials, and has conducted hundreds of depositions.
2. He has represented individuals and multinational corporations in both State and Federal Court.
3. Mr. Molfetta has handled cases in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Canada, Mexico, and Italy.
3. Mr. Molfetta also has extensive experience representing professional athletes and “high profile” clients. He...

Ms. Slaughter has over 20 years of trial and litigation experience in Employment and Labor Law, Civil/Business Law, Trademark Infringement, and Personal Injury. Ms. Slaughter is also a mediator and has successfully bridged the gap to resolution of hundreds of cases. Ms. Slaughter is an adjunct Professor, teaching English, English to Foreign Learners, and Paralegal instruction.

Our operation is focused on providing cost effective solutions and expert customer service to all our clients. In addition to real estate, the firm represents clients in business litigation, construction defect problems, estate planning, arbitrations and mediations. We want our clients to fully understand the legal process and what will be involved in finding a constructive result to their legal issue. I am very active in the legal and real estate community. I continue to educate myself on the most up to date information within my field. I maintain active memberships with both local and national groups in the industry....

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....

OLIVER GREENWOOD is the principal of the Law Offices of Oliver Greenwood in Pleasant Hill. He is the author of chapters 1, 4, 12, 16, and 17 in the CEB Guardianship Handbook. Mr. Greenwood received his B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. A frequent speaker regarding probate matters and a member of the Judicial Council's Probate & Mental Health Advisory Committee. Mr. Greenwood is also a contributing author to CEB's conservatorship and powers of attorney and health care directives books. Mr. Greenwood's areas of practice include conservatorships, guardianships,...

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.

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....

Russell Sommers is a seasoned transactional attorney who helps individuals and businesses maximize the value of their Intellectual Property (IP) through the strategic application of copyright, trademark, trade secret, patent, and other IP laws. The Law Office of Russell Sommers offers quality legal services tailored to meet the specific IP needs of businesses and individuals in the spheres of business, technology & entertainment. The Law Office of Russell Sommers: Creative Legal Practices for Creative Legal Minds. TM

Jeannine Stepanian is a versatile transactional attorney. Her diverse practice includes entertainment law, intellectual property law, and business transactions. She has represented clients in the entertainment industry, including actors, writers, producers, and directors. She has also represented a wide variety of corporate clients, from small businesses and tech start-ups to non-profit organizations, production companies, and film studios. Prior to forming SLF in 2019, Ms. Stepanian practiced litigation. She has experience in family law, appellate law, and insurance defense. As a former litigator, she is uniquely suited to drafting and negotiating contracts with an aim to protect her clients from future...