Loeb & Loeb LLP > Chicago, United States > Firm Profile

Loeb & Loeb LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 1

The intellectual property group at Loeb & Loeb LLP remains a force in the marketplace, leveraging the deep bench strength of locations in the US and Asia, to represent household names such as Sony, Netflix and Paramount Pictures in high-stakes copyright litigation. The team is headed in Los Angeles by fashion, luxury and retail sector expert Melanie Howard,who brings experience to matters involving cryptocurrency, blockchain and NFTs, and in New York by Barry Slotnick, a music and entertainment specialist whose past clients have included the Beastie Boys, David Guetta, and the J.R.R. Tolkien Estate. David Grossman in Los Angeles is a go-to for major clients in film and television and is currently defending Netflix and the Duffer Brothers in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed over the series “Stranger Things.” Jonathan Zavin handles matters for major recording and publishing clients in New York, where seasoned litigator Wook Hwang also handles industry claims. Senior counsel Sarah Schacter departed in October 2022. Partner Tim Warnock in Nashville joined from Riley Warnock & Jacobson PLC in April 2022, and Los Angeles partners John Gatti and Lauren Fried arrived from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP in February and March 2022.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 1

With a strong following of start-ups, emerging growth companies, large corporations, private equity and venture capital funds, Loeb & Loeb LLP has established a good reputation in the middle-market M&A space in the US. The firm’s deep roots in the media and entertainment sectors, and longstanding experience in the tech and digital content space make it a go-to destination for business transactions in these spheres. The practice’s cross-border capabilities are also noteworthy, as are its credentials in distressed deals and SPAC acquisitions. Mitchell Nussbaum in New York, who regularly advises public companies on their SEC and NYSE or Nasdaq listing compliance, co-chairs the capital markets and corporate department with Los Angeles-based Arash Khalili, an active dealmaker in the TMT, sports, and healthcare sectors. Based in the New York office, assistant deputy chairs Lloyd Rothenberg and Ronelle Porter handle a mix of corporate, M&A and capital markets work. Giovanni Caruso is another key practitioner in New York; he is a member ‘one of the very best teams in SPAC-related work’.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory Tier 1

Loeb & Loeb LLP is well-regarded in the advertising and marketing sphere, with the team acting for a number of household name clients on a wide spectrum of matters. The advanced media and technology group is chaired by New York-based James Taylor, who has extensive experience advising on a full spectrum of advertising, marketing, and promotions-related transactions, including in adtech and privacy and data protection matters. Chicago-based Amir Azaran and Los Angeles-based Melanie Howard sit as co-deputy chairs of the group, with Howard additionally leading the intellectual property protection and luxury brands departments at the firm, with her practice focusing on the fashion, luxury and retail sectors. Rounding off the leadership team, Brian Heidelberger, also based in Chicago, chairs the advertising, marketing, and promotions group, and has significant experience advising on advertising and promotions matters, including on sweepstakes and contests. Other notable practitioners include Seth Rose, who has substantial experience handling brand and marketing campaigns, and Nerissa Coyle McGinn, who specializes in advertising matters relating to media, technology, privacy, and IP law; both of whom are based in Chicago. In New York, Kenneth Florin is noted for his expertise in new technologies, digital media, and emerging content production-related matters.

Tax > Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) Tier 1

The ‘nimble and responsive’ team at Loeb & Loeb LLP is a dedicated practice formed of specialist practitioners, many of whom formerly worked for the Internal Revenue Service. Leah Bishop, Jason Lilien, and Diara Holmes lead the team out of Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC respectively. Marcus Owens in DC is a leading practitioner in the nonprofit field, and regularly advises private foundations, charities, lobbying/political organizations and trade associations. Bishop and Stuart Tobisman in Los Angeles specialize in tax and real estate planning, whereas Lilien and Holmes are particularly active on the transactional and regulatory side.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) Tier 2

Loeb & Loeb LLP leverages the deep bench strength of locations in the US and Asia, to safeguard and manage the trademarks of such major entertainers as Tenacious D, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, in addition to household name multinationals including Universal, Netflix, BET, Lionsgate, and Paramount Pictures. The team is headed in Los Angeles by intangible asset acquisition and protection expert Melanie Howard, who specializes in the fashion, luxury, and retail sectors. In Chicago, Douglas Masters counsels brand owners, sports leagues, athletes, and advertisers, on brand strategy. David Grace in Los Angeles has a strong record in assisting start-ups, celebrities, and established corporates. Other key figures include seasoned litigator David Grossman and internet commerce and right of publicity advisor Jorge Arciniega in Los Angeles, Sara Crisafulli, who handles oppositions and cancellations in New York, and Tiffany Dunn, who represents recording artists and songwriters, and Bess Morgan, who manages sponsorship and influencer agreements in Nashville.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: litigation Tier 2

The advertising disputes practice at Loeb & Loeb LLP forms part of the firm’s wider advanced media and technology department, which covers matters ranging from the development, substantiation, approval, and defense of advertising and marketing content. It has particular expertise representing clients before the NAD, including on matters involving comparative, environmental, pricing and performance, and product packaging-related claims, among others. It also has experience initiating and defending challenges at other self-regulatory forums, as well as with consumer class action litigation and settlements. The team is co-chaired by David Mallen in New York, who was a former deputy director at the NAD and has significant experience in both defending and challenging claims before the NAD and other self-regulatory bodies, and Thomas Jirgal in Chicago, who has substantial experience representing clients from a variety of industries in state and federal court, as well as before the NAD.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 2

The team at Loeb & Loeb LLP frequently works on high-value BPO and ITO transactions in the healthcare and life sciences spaces, including application maintenance and IT infrastructure outsourcing with leading international IT service providers. The sizeable team advises clients from a range of industries, not limited to food and beverages, real estate, retail and automobile, on global outsourcing agreements. New York-based Kenneth Adler, chair of the practice, is experienced in handling the creation of and implementation of cloud computing, multi-sourced environments as well as the renegotiation and termination of existing outsourcing and IT-related agreements. Described by one client as a ‘standout’, Akiba Stern focuses on assisting financial services companies with asset management middle and back-office outsourcings. Chicago-basedAlison Pollock Schwartz develops RFP strategies, competitive supplier down-select processes, post-execution risk management and contract renewals for buyers and IT service vendors alike. Also in Chicago, Liz Allen is a key contact in intersecting media and tech matters, while Amir Azaran is a key contact for advice on SaaS, co-location and low-latency telecoms services outsourcing. Promoted to partner in February 2023, Benjamin Kabak is a key name to note.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 3

Loeb & Loeb LLP‘s ‘biggest strength is the experience of its partners’, with practice heads Arash Khalili in Los Angeles and Brian Socolow in Washington, DC/New York providing clients with extensive experience across litigation and transactional work. Socolow is especially well versed in the expanding sports technology and data industry, and Khalili has particular experience in unique corporate transactions, with the firm increasingly active on behalf of esports clients. A standout recent mandate for the team was representing the Chicago Bulls in its multiyear partnership with Chicago-based technology company Motorola Mobility, an example of the firm’s work for household-name sports teams, associations, and individuals. Chicago-based Douglas Masters is a key name when it comes to IP issues in the sports arena and has a strong relationship with National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 3

Loeb & Loeb LLP has significant expertise in assisting clients from music, television and film with matters such as copyright infringement, profit participation and film distribution arbitration. Intellectual property expert Barry Slotnick co-heads the practice from the firm’s New York office; in a standout matter for the litigator, he is currently representing Sony Music Publishing and Sony Music Entertainment in a copyright infringement case brought by a duo signed to Rafael Pina’s reggaetón label. David Grossman and Christian Carbone  co-chair the practice in Los Angeles. Grossman’s broad practice encompasses copyright infringement, idea submission and rights of publicity; he recently represented NBCUniversal in a copyright-related case over a song used at the Olympics.  John Gatti, a Los Angeles-based litigator, is particularly proficient in dealing with reputationally sensitive cases such as those related to the ‘me too’ movement.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 3

The broad entertainment offering at Loeb & Loeb LLP incorporates episodic content for major streaming platforms, live music, immersive entertainment and a subgroup focused on podcasts and their crossover possibilities. Roger Arar co-heads the practice from New York; he has extensive experience of leading on network licensing agreements and represents the Kubrick estate on deals including the development of unproduced Kubrick film projects. In Los Angeles, co-head of practice Scott Edel ‘s practice includes production, financing and distribution transactions such as those he recently handled in support of the computer-animated film ‘Garfield’. Also in Los Angeles, John Frankenheimer  is a music specialist who represents companies and artists; he recently secured new songwriting agreements for Blake Bollinger, Lee Brice and Rachel Wammack. In New York, fellow music expert Debbie White focuses on artists’ work with streaming platforms and is representing media company Hello Sunshine in connection with the production of a music show named ‘My Kind of Country’. Another name to note is New York-based Mark Chamlin who represents Oprah Winfrey in a number of high-profile deals.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

The white-collar criminal defense and investigations practice at Loeb & Loeb LLP is active in representing both corporates and individuals in cases ranging from securities fraud to money laundering and public or commercial corruption. The team is calibrated to handle domestic and international investigations and government enforcement matters under the leadership of Andrew DeVooght and Jeremy Margolis in Chicago, as well as New York-based Jay Musoff. In Washington DC, former federal prosecutor Tiff Moseley is reputed for her experience in the life sciences sector, where she advises clients on cross-border litigation, compliance, and internal investigations.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 4

Loeb & Loeb LLP assists well-known brands in the media and entertainment space on uses of innovative new technologies through data-driven business models and transactions. New York-based chair of the practice Jessica Lee advises organizations on designing privacy programs in line with GDPR, HIPAA, VPPA, NIST and CPRA regulations. Lee is an expert in the ad-tech, e-commerce, and entertainment space as well as the healthcare and financial services industries. Chair of the media, entertainment and tech department James Taylor, in New Yok, advises clients on issues around data and new information channels in order to reach consumers and market products. Chair of the luxury brands and intellectual property practice Melanie Howard, based in Los Angeles, and advertising and marketing expert Nathan Hole, in Chicago, are key contacts for data-driven transactions. Also in Chicago, Nerissa Coyle McGinn is the key name for handling children’s online privacy issues, while Susan Israel, based in Los Angels, works closely with senior counsel Robyn Mohr, in Washington DC, on federal law matters. Tanya Forsheit departed in May 2022.

Real estate Tier 4

Loeb & Loeb LLP is highly active in commercial leasing and subleasing, acquisitions, sales and joint ventures, environmental issues, land use, zoning, development and entitlement matters. It is also increasingly active on distressed real estate transactions and workouts. The New York office houses global chair, Raymond Sanseverino, head of transactions, Christopher Barbaruolo and head of real estate finance, Steven Kornblau. Nichole Cortese and Kenneth Sold are instructed by major New York landlords and tenants, while Victoria Stephanova is active on joint ventures and acquisitions.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 5

Loeb & Loeb LLP‘s chiefly New York based practice handles the full scope of life sciences mandates, including adverse event reporting and response, patent enforcement, and the approval of biosimilars and biologics products. Fran Stoller advises both public and private biotech, pharmaceutical, and technology companies on corporate and financing transactions, in addition to research and development collaborations. Mark Waddell handles the patent litigation side of the practice, representing drug companies in biosimilars and Hatch-Waxman related matters concerning exclusivity protection. Mitchell Nussbaum maintains a corporate and capital markets focused practice, routinely advising on private placements, IPOs, and proxy contests.  

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions

Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings)