The entertainment industry’s top attorneys fight for their clients and win in the courtroom and at the negotiating table
Sean Michael Hardy , Jesse A. Kaplan , Benjamin A. Marsh , Theresa Troupson
Litigation
Partners
Freedman + Taitelman
Hardy repped “21 Jump Street” screenwriter Michael Bacall recouping professional fees from an unlicensed attorney, talent agent Richard Lawrence defeating a $22 million lawsuit and musical artist FKA Twigs pressing a boyfriend abuse matter. Kaplan de- fended Quentin Tarantino selling NFTs based on “Pulp Fiction” and advises sports agent Ben Dogra over his CAA separation. Marsh repped Nicole Young in her civil action against her ex-husband, Dr. Dre, reportedly receiving a $100 million settlement, and also talent manager Eric Podwall seeking unpaid commissions from Smokey Robinson. Troupson advised Chris Harrison in settlement for departing as host of ABC Television’s “The Bachelor” and various Hollywood executives for financial settlements from job exits. The litigation foursome are in Los Angeles. While “industry consolidation” is often cited for job cuts, Marsh says that justification doesn’t always hold up under scrutiny. “The universe of jobs may be shrinking, but that doesn’t excuse employers from complying with labor and employment laws,” he says.
Exposing abuse:
Hardy adds that job- protection laws and regulations are being strengthened in part because Hollywood’s #MeToo movement ex- posed abuses. “[Events in] the entertainment and media industry actually resulted in a change of public policy,” he says.
