Somis Entertainment & Sports Lawyers

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.

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...

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;...

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.

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...

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,...

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. ...

Music and entertainment law was a natural progression given my background. Having had jobs / positions in production, publishing, artist and label management, I have unique perspective. I love helping artists with their business issues so they can focus on developing their craft.

Attorney Bryan Freedman has a practice dedicated to entertainment, business, copyright, employment, Internet, real estate, and sports law. Bryan represents clients locally in Southern California, as well as throughout the United States and around the world.

Recognized as a renowned entertainment litigator, the Hollywood Reporter named Mr. Freedman one of the “most influential entertainment litigators in the country” for over 10 years in a row. He has also been featured on the publication’s “Top 100 Power Lawyers” list and has been listed in Variety magazine’s 2015 Legal Impact Report, a selective list comprised of only 22 chosen individuals.

Recognized as a renowned...

Daniel R. Freytag is Of Counsel with Meyer Wilson, LPA. He was born in Napoleon Ohio and earned his B.A. at Wittenberg University where he graduated magna cum laude. He went on to attend the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University and earned his J.D. summa cum laude. Mr. Freytag has been a trial lawyer for more than thirty-four years and has represented hundreds of large corporations, small businesses, professionals, and individuals in a variety of complex tort, insurance, and business cases. He has personally examined or cross-examined more than 1000 lay witnesses and more than 150 expert...

Dallas Verhagen is an attorney at Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray, LLP with a practice focused on transactional business matters. Dallas represents startups and small and large businesses in various industries, including tech, retail, manufacturing, transportation, professional services, marketing and media management, cosmetics, cannabis, food and beverage, and consulting. Dallas advises entrepreneurs, startups, and small and large businesses in all areas of business law, including the formation of business entities, negotiating and drafting employment agreements, implementing employee equity incentive agreements and plans, fundraising transactions, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, and more. Dallas also serves as outside general counsel for many...

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...

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.

Tommy helps entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses of all kinds build great companies. His goal is to be a team member of your company to provide business and legal strategy in an effective and efficient manner. He serves as outside general counsel and advises clients in many different sectors, including technology, media, entertainment, retail, food and beverage, and outdoor recreation industries, among others. He prides himself on personalized services and building lasting relationships with his clients. He likes to work with teams bold enough to build epic brands, solve big problems, and make a dent in the universe.

Tommy graduated cum laude...

Robert J. Allan is a barrister and solicitor and an AV rated attorney with over 30 years of international legal experience. Mr. Allan has earned a global reputation for excellence in both the legal and business community, and has been honored with an AV Rating; Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards. He has extensive experience representing the interests of existing and emerging domestic and international businesses and provides insightful legal counsel on matters such as corporate law, corporate governance, global finance and transactional representation. Mr. Allan has considerable expertise in corporate compliance and global corporate...

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...

Neil Juneja is an intellectual property and cannabis lawyer. He is the founder and managing partner of Gleam Law, a cannabis law firm headquartered in Seattle, WA. His impeccable track record and years of cannabis business law experience – including navigating the complexities of patents, trademarks, and copyrights – helps Gleam Law stand out from the competition. Neil founded Gleam Law because he realized other cannabis law firms provided legal advice to businesses in a vacuum. He wanted to provide legal decisions in the context of the business world and counsel long-term success. Other cannabis business attorneys are not just risk-adverse...

5 years experience with a personal injury firm. Solo practice so I will have plenty of time to provide individualized focus to each of my clients. Entertainment contract review and drafting experience. Cannabis brand business formation experience and trademark filings.

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.

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...

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....

With more than 20 years of experience, Tre Lovell has been noted among the elite trial lawyers in the nation, having been named "Lawyer of the Year" Finalist, 2016, by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and further honored by The National Law Journal as one of the Top 50 Litigation Trailblazers in the United States. Mr. Lovell has been recognized among the top 1% of attorneys in the country as a litigator through such esteemed organizations as America's Top 100 Attorneys, Distinguished Justice Advocates, National Academy of Jurisprudence, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Rue's Best Attorneys of America. In addition,...

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....

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...

Jason provides transactional business and legal affairs services to content creators across a wide spectrum of the creative community. Specializing in the new media, entertainment and business space, Jason frequently works with scripted/unscripted TV producers, social media influencers, and business entities to review, draft and negotiate deal terms on a wide range of production-related projects. Jason also provides business development strategy and corporate counsel to a variety of emerging players in the digital space. If you’re an influencer looking to monetize your content, a new business looking to establish your legal entity or register a trademark, or a digital...

A Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney, Howard Kornberg is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating an attorney can receive from his or her peers. He has extensive experience assisting clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from accidents involving motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, Segways, and other motorized vehicles.

With degrees from both UCLA and Loyola Law School, and a specialty from UCLA in Entertainment Studies with an emphasis in Film and Film Finance, Mitra has worked in legal affairs at MTV, has worked on the merger of 2 major record labels, and has been of-counsel to several high-profile copyright infringement cases involving artists and major studios. Her entertainment practice specializes in film and entertainment financing, negotiating and structuring artist and production deals, and all Intellectual Property matters, including rights clearance, licensing, copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Mitra’s film practice specializes in intellectual property, film finance, corporate law, and production...