News - Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP ~ Full service entertainment law firm

Steven Krone Discusses Internet Neutrality Rules on Bloomberg TV December 22, 2010
Steven Krone, Of Counsel at MS&K and a professor at Southwestern Law School, was interviewed by Mark Crumpton on Bloomberg Television's "Bottom Line," regarding the impact of the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) recent approval of internet neutrality rules.
Steven Krone Joins Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as Of Counsel December 8, 2010
Former President and Chief Operating Officer of Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment (VRP), Krone joined the Entertainment & New Media and Intellectual Property & Technology practice groups at MS&K.
Jeffrey Davine Selected for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) for 2011-2013 November 23, 2010
MS&K Partner Jeffrey Davine, who heads the firm's Tax Controversy Practice, was selected from hundreds of candidates to join 100 demographically and geographically diverse volunteers on TAP, a Federal Advisory Committee to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) overseen by the IRS' Taxpayer Advocate Service and the Department of the Treasury.
Michaels Airs Analysis of Souza Decision re Online Protected Speech November 15, 2010
MS&K Labor and Employment partner Lawrence Michaels was interviewed on November 15's "Air Talk" (89.3 KPCC Public Radio) concerning the extent to which online postings critical of an employer are protected speech or grounds for termination.
Glucoft Part of Pacific Council Delegation to France November 4, 2010
MS&K Immigration Chair Frida Glucoft was among 29 Pacific Council on International Policy members invited by U.S. Ambassador to France Charles H. Rivkin to join in a series of high level discussions concerning foreign policy matters, including cultural, historical and political relations between the U.S. and France.
Frackman Examines Trademark Use and Litigation in Video Games October 22, 2010
MS&K Intellectual Property Litigator Russ Frackman co-authored the article "Trademarks, Video Games and the First Amendment: An Evolving Story" in the October/November issue of World Trademark Review.
Lion Flags Potential Gift Tax Liability for Contributions to 501(c)(4)s October 21, 2010
MS&K tax attorney, Ofer Lion, who specializes in nonprofit organizations, was interviewed by Forbes regarding the federal law requiring 501(c)(4) entities to identify to the IRS all donors of $5,000 and up, raising the possibility that the IRS might subsequently assess gift taxes, plus interest and penalties. Read the MS&K Alert.
Cole and Frackman Among "Who's Who in Entertainment Law" October 12, 2010
MS&K Labor & Employment Co-Chair William Cole and Intellectual Property/Entertainment Litigator Russell Frackman are among the top 40 "legal stars who work in L.A.'s entertainment industry," according to the Los Angeles Business Journal's Who's Who in L.A. Law. Selected attorneys were recognized for their outstanding reputations and noteworthy recent accomplishments in the entertainment industry.
MS&K Attorneys Named to New York Super Lawyers October 1, 2010
Six MS&K attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2010 New York Super Lawyers, which recognizes the top 5% of lawyers in New York: Christine Lepera, Entertainment & Sports; Paul LiCalsi, Jane Stevens and Howard Weller, Intellectual Property Litigation; Paul Montclare and Lauren Wachtler, General Litigation. In addition, Jane Stevens was selected as one of the "Top 50 Women Lawyers."
Metalitz Favors New Legislation that Seeks to Curb Copyright Infringement September 29, 2010
Intellectual Property Partner Steven Metalitz was quoted in "CDT Protests Bill Requiring Registrars to Enforce Copyright" in support of The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, which requires domain name registrars to shut down websites suspected of hosting infringing materials.
Frackman One of Ten Lawyers Who Helped Shape a Decade September 23, 2010
The Daily Journal named MS&K entertainment and intellectual property litigator Russell Frackman among the ten CA lawyers who helped shape the past decade. (September 2010)
Same Sky and Lauren Wachtler featured in ABA Journal September 23, 2010
MS&K Partner Lauren Wachtler and Same Sky, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping impoverished women in Rwanda help themselves out of financial hardship by giving them skills and a job, were featured in the October, 2010 issue of the ABA Journal.
MS&K Recognized in U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" Rankings September 15, 2010
MS&K honored in "Tier 1" - National rankings for Employment Law and Entertainment Law, Tier 2 - National rankings for Labor Law (management), as well as Tier 1 - Los Angeles rankings for Employee Benefits (ERISA), Employment Law (management), Entertainment Law, Immigration Law, Labor Law (management) and Nonprofit/Charities Law, and Tier 2 for Trusts & Estates Law. MS&K ranked in Tier 1 - Washington, D.C. for Intellectual Property Law. Rankings were determined by responses to national surveys of major companies and leading lawyers.
MS&K's Russell Frackman Featured in Lawdragon's "Lawyer Limelight" August 24, 2010
Russell Frackman, litigation Partner in MS&K's Intellectual Property & Technology and Entertainment & New Media practice groups, was interviewed by Lawdragon.com concerning his landmark online infringement cases, and his take on recent and upcoming matters. Earlier this year, Mr. Frackman was named by the National Law Journal as one of "The Most Influential Lawyers of the Decade."
MS&K Attorneys Recognized Among "The Best Lawyers in America" for 2011 August 19, 2010
MS&K attorneys from nine different practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2011, a highly regarded peer-review guide to America's leading attorneys.
Ross Discusses Supply Chain Risk August 10, 2010
International Trade Chair Susan Kohn Ross was quoted in "The Supply Chain is a Scary Place" (WorldTradeMag.com) on supply chain risks and other cargo security issues facing global companies and how they are being handled.
Grant Examines Corporate Dispute Resolution Systems at ABA Annual Meeting August 10, 2010
MS&K Labor & Employment Partner Samantha Grant was featured on the panel "The Effectiveness of Corporate ADR Programs" at the American Bar Association's (ABA) Annual Meeting August 5-10, as reported in a recent Daily Labor Report article.
Eminent Music Industry Executive Joel Schoenfeld Joins MS&K as Partner August 4, 2010
MS&K is proud to announce the addition of Joel Schoenfeld as partner in the Intellectual Property & Technology department.
MS&K "Power Lawyers" Among Hollywood's 100 Fiercest Advocates July 16, 2010
The Hollywood Reporter has named Russell Frackman, John Schulman and William Cole to its 2010 "Power Lawyer" list of attorneys "most influencing the entertainment business."
Wachtler Helps Nonprofit Provide Support for Rwandan Rape Victims July 14, 2010
Same Sky, a nonprofit artisan collective established by filmmaker Francine A. LeFrak with legal assistance from MS&K partner Lauren J. Wachtler, was featured in a recent New York Law Journal article. Established in 2008, Same Sky "provides secure income from jewelry-making jobs for Rwandan rape victims." Says Wachtler, "I'm a lawyer trying to build a dream."
MS&K Named to National Law Journal's "Midsize Hot List" July 12, 2010
MS&K is among 20 firms from across the U.S. to have been named to the National Law Journal's recently released 2010 "Midsize Hot List" of firms that "demonstrated what it takes to get ahead" and "the ability to snag big clients by delivering specialized services."
Metalitz Examines Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) Provisions July 7, 2010
MS&K Intellectual Property Partner Steven Metalitz was quoted extensively in a July 1st Broadband.com article regarding recent changes suggested to the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) by a coalition of 10 tech companies and rights groups.
Legal 500 Ranks MS&K Tax Practice and Attorneys Among the Very Best July 6, 2010
MS&K's Tax Practice, and three of the group's Partners, have been recognized by Legal 500 within its Domestic Tax section for West Coast lawyers and law firms.
MS&K Attorneys Recognized Among Nation's Best in Chambers USA 2010 July 1, 2010
Five MS&K Partners have been recognized among the top attorneys in the U.S., within each of their practice areas, in Chambers USA 2010, America's Leading Lawyers for Business.
Gross Discusses the Impact of US Supreme Court Ruling June 18, 2010
MS&K Labor & Employment Partner Allen Gross was quoted in Metal Business News Service regarding the recent US Supreme Court decision to overturn a NLRB ruling that compelled New Process Steel LP to honor a 2007 labor agreement with the International Association of Machinists. Although the Court's ruling opens the door for other cases to challenge the Board's decisions from January 2008 to March 2010 when it lacked the legislatively mandated quorum, Gross suggests not all will be overturned and cautions employers to consider the Board's current pro-labor leanings before pursuing challenges.
Glucoft Discusses HR Challenges Presented by Reverse Outsourcing June 17, 2010
MS&K's Immigration Group Chair, Frida Glucoft, was quoted in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Newsletter regarding immigration issues involving reverse outsourcing.
Eric Schwartz Elected Treasurer of Copyright Society of the U.S.A. June 16, 2010
MS&K Intellectual Property & Technology partner Eric Schwartz was elected Treasurer of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. at its annual meeting in June.
Su Ross on KFWB-Los Angeles Discussing Seafood Safety in the Wake of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill June 11, 2010
MS&K International Trade Partner Susan Kohn Ross was interviewed by Maggie McKay and Ken Jeffries of KFWB-AM regarding the safety of seafood in the Gulf Coast and the regulatory agencies that monitor it.
Schwartz Discussed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) as D.C. Policy Day Panelist May 27, 2010
Intellectual Property partner Eric Schwartz joined a blue ribbon panel in debating ACTA, the proposed multilateral trade agreement for establishing international standards on intellectual property rights enforcement among participating countries, at the May 25th Future of Music Coalition event in Washington, D.C. View the panel and transcript published by Digital Music News.
MS&K Attorneys and Staff Participate in "Food From the Bar" Campaign May 19, 2010
Over 80 people from MS&K participated in the 2nd annual "Food From the Bar" Campaign, a friendly competition among law firms, governmental agencies, and other legal offices around Los Angeles, with the goal of raising money and food to benefit the Los Angeles Regional and Westside food banks.
Ross and Labuda Highlight Growing Problem of Undervaluing Textiles, Apparel and other Imports May 14, 2010
As reported in "Global Sourcing Panel Spotlights Undervaluing of Imports" (CaliforniaApparelNews.net, May 14, 2010), MS&K International Trade Chair Susan Kohn Ross hosted a CA Fashion Association program exploring undervaluing and other supply-chain issues.
Levin on NPR's "The Business" Discussing Hollywood's Work Environment May 3, 2010
MS&K Labor & Employment partner Adam Levin was interviewed by Kim Masters (airing on May 3rd on KCRW) regarding Hollywood's work environment and what does, and doesn't, constitute harassment, abuse and discrimination.
Gold Discusses Surge in Security Company M&As with The Daily Deal April 15, 2010
MS&K Corporate Practice Chair, Les Gold, was quoted in The Daily Deal's "Safety in Numbers" story on April 12, 2010, about the significant M&A activities of the three largest security systems companies thus far in 2010. Gold anticipates dealflow will "increase significantly for a number of reasons," including turnover among long-term business owners and technological advancements.
MS&K's Levin and Steinke Win Unanimous Verdict for Shemarya April 14, 2010
Employment law attorneys Adam Levin and Suzanne Steinke led a team of MS&K lawyers in obtaining a jury verdict after a mere 30 minutes of deliberations for celebrity agent Todd Shemarya in the closely watched lawsuit brought by former employee, Heather Devlin, which raised questions about the lengths to which a plaintiff may go to disrupt a defendant's business relationships and personal life. See the story on THR Esq.
Frackman Named Among the Decade's Most Influential Lawyers March 29, 2010
The National Law Journal has announced that MS&K's intellectual property and entertainment litigator, Russell Frackman, is one of the Decade's Most Influential Lawyers.
Copyright Victory a Top 10 Result from Last Year's IP Litigation Docket March 23, 2010
Calling it a "Real Big Copyright Victory" for Hollywood, Corporate Counsel recognized the importance of a preliminary injunction granted seven motion picture companies.
SXSW: Revenue Streams in the Music Industry March 18, 2010
Eric German's panel, "Promotional Value Vs. Licensing Revenue," was mentioned in Billboard's recap of day two at South by Southwest, stating that "[a]ll on the panel came down pretty squarely on the side of revenue, while admitting that giving away music can sometimes drive sales."
Schulman Named to Entertainment Mediation Institute March 16, 2010
John Schulman, head of MS&K's interdisciplinary Entertainment Department, is a member of the new Entertainment Mediation Institute (EMI), joining a dozen other seasoned entertainment professionals in providing mediation services to the entertainment industry, including motion picture, television, cable, music, sports, stage and literary companies.
Schwartz and IIPA Address Online IP Theft in China March 11, 2010
Copyright specialist Eric Schwartz was quoted in Investors.com regarding the IIPA's recent report which blamed the theft problem on Internet cafes, search services and a rise in illicit websites, and urged the US Trade Representative to continue monitoring China's incidents of copyright infringement.
MS&K Attorneys (Again) Successful in Defending Boing Boing February 24, 2010
Rob Rader, Marc Mayer and Jill Rubin successfully defended Boing Boing in a defamation lawsuit brought by MagicJack, which had sought to prevent the popular blog from bringing attention to its terms of services.
Les Gold Interviewed by Law360 February 5, 2010
A Q&A with Les Gold, Chair of MS&K's Corporate Practice and Co-Chair of the firm's Homeland Security & Regulatory Practice, appeared in the February 5th issue of Corporate Finance LAW360.
Frackman Talks With CNNMoney.com About "Napster Effect" February 2, 2010
Russ Frackman was quoted in "Music's Lost Decade: Sales Cut in Half," concerning the decline in music sales and licensing revenue.
Estate Tax "Repeal" Effective January 1, 2010 February 1, 2010
To learn how significant changes in the federal estate tax, generation-skipping transfer ("GST") tax and related rules may affect your estate plan, click here.
28 Named to 2010 Southern California Super Lawyers' List January 26, 2010
28 MS&K attorneys have been selected for inclusion in Southern California Super Lawyers magazine which recognizes the top 5% of lawyers in Southern California.
Controversy Behind the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) January 11, 2010
Steve Metalitz, a partner in the Intellectual Property & Technology practice, is quoted in Enterprise Networking Planet's "Concerns Raised About Secrecy of IP Agreement."
World Trade Organization (WTO) Rules in Favor of Hollywood January 4, 2010
Intellectual partner Steve Metalitz is quoted in the Daily Journal's January 4 article "WTO Ruling May Increase U.S. Media Exports to China."
Prevention of Estate Taxes Through Business Succession Plans January 1, 2010
Allan Cutrow, Chair of the Trust & Estate practice, is quoted in "Family Matters: Business succession plan crucial to owner and heirs," featured in The Business Press.