Ms Susan Grode > Katten > Los Angeles, United States > Lawyer Profile

Ms Susan Grode

+1.310.788.4410 susan.grode@katten.com View profile

Work Department

Entertainment and Media

Position

Susan Grode helps media and entertainment clients across a range of issues, including intellectual property, licensing, merchandising, online productions and mobile games, social networking, and media law. Recognized as one of the nation’s leading legal authorities on domestic and international animation, licensing and merchandising, Susan negotiates business opportunities, drafts and reviews agreements, and advises on all entertainment law matters.

Susan is recognized as one of the leading authorities on domestic and international animation, licensing, and merchandising. She represents major motion picture and animation studios, production toy companies, and the creators of a host of popular animated television series and feature films. She also represents award-winning independent filmmakers, producers and financiers from development and funding of projects through to distribution. Many of her clients are at the cutting edge of production and exploitation of entertainment content and programming, from traditional viewing formats to online, VOD, SVOD, applications and the latest digital innovations.

Before launching her private legal practice, Susan served as vice president at Harry N. Abrams, Inc., one of the world’s largest art book publishers. Susan’s experience in the publishing industry gives her a deep level of insight into the industry. She currently works with publishing and comic book companies, best-selling authors, developers, and publishers and distributors of some of the most popular video games and apps. Susan also serves as legal advisor to Ms. Magazine.

Susan founded and was the first president of the California Women’s Law Center, and she is a current UCLA Entertainment Law Symposium board member. She has been recognized by The Daily Journal and The Best Lawyers in America as one of the top IP lawyers in California.

Susan is also actively involved in the arts and entertainment community. A founding patron of the Kirk Douglas Theater, Susan is also a board member of the Ojai Playwright’s Conference, President of the Board of Craft in America, advisory council member of the International Women’s Media Foundation, advisory board member to Women in Animation, past board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women, past president and board member of Judy Chicago’s Through the Flower arts organization, past trustee of the USC School of Dramatic Arts, and a former trustee of the College of Arts, Architecture, and Planning of Cornell University. She is the recipient of the Vesta Award for contributions to the arts in Southern California, an Outstanding Role Model Award from Girls Incorporated and the Ms. Foundation Gloria Award for women’s activism.

Languages

Italian, Spanish

Education

• University of Southern California Gould School of Law, JD
• Cornell University, BFA