Greenberg Glusker LLP

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Benjamin Alexander

Ben Alexander is a corporate and securities attorney representing start-up enterprises, venture-backed companies, family-owned businesses and publicly-traded companies in areas including corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, licensing, e-commerce, securities compliance and corporate governance. Ben's experience includes public offerings and private placements of securities, mergers, acquisitions, reverse mergers, IPOs, PIPEs, '33 Act registration statements, going private transaction, equity compensation plans, contested proxy solicitations, asset based lines of credit, industrial development and revenue bonds, sales of public companies, and '34 Act and blue sky compliance. His experience also includes counseling, medical technology, software, Internet and new media organizations on licensing, joint ventures and strategic alliances, as well as general corporate matters. He is admitted to practice law in California and Rhode Island. Ben also advises clients on the corporate and securities issues arising in bankruptcy or other distress situations, including SEC compliance during the pendency of a bankruptcy case and the issuance of shares under a Chapter 11 plan. He handles distressed asset transactions and has represented buyers, sellers, secured creditors and assignees in assignments for the benefit of creditors, 363 sales and foreclosure sales. Previously, as general counsel of a public company trading on the NASDAQ Global Market, Ben advised the company's management team in areas including corporate finance, corporate governance, SEC registrations and reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, employment law, litigation management, intellectual property law, licensing and contracting. Before entering the legal profession, Ben worked as a systems engineer, specializing in digital circuit design, programming and systems integration.

Bruce D. Andelson

When it comes to complex mergers and acquisitions, financing, corporate structuring, executive compensation, succession planning, and more, Bruce Andelson’s clients appreciate his extensive experience as a business attorney. “I have handled virtually all situations a client would be facing in my field,” says Bruce. “Typically, when I am representing a privately held company that is being sold, it is probably the only time the owners have done it, whereas I have done it many times. That means he knows how to avoid pitfalls, work efficiently, and get a deal done that makes everyone happy. That was the case in the recent sale of a leading Southern California waste-disposal company to Republic Services, Inc., one the nation’s top two companies in that industry. “It was a very desirable company and a very complicated transaction. First, we had a number of bidders. We had a lot of written contracts to deal with, some fairly heavy government regulation and potential violations, ongoing litigation, financing issues, and a complicated ownership structure,” he says. Nonetheless, he got the deal done, to everyone’s satisfaction. Helping clients make smart business decisions. Bruce, who typically works with middle market, privately owned companies across a range of industries, helps his clients meet their business objectives by communicating openly and frequently with them, as well as sharing with them the wisdom he has gained over the years to help his clients make smart business decisions. “As I have matured as a lawyer I’ve gained experience that I like to share with a client. I say, ‘You make this decision, but here’s how I think you ought to look at it, here’s how I think you ought to approach it, and, frankly, here’s what I would do if I were in your place.’ I have found that clients like this direct approach and interest in their business.” Delivering on the benefits of long term relationships. While know-how and forthright communication form the foundation of Bruce’s client relations, he also says it takes “chemistry” to make it work. “Your lawyer doesn’t have to be your best friend, but there definitely has to be a chemistry. When you pick the lawyer, you have to figure who is the person that you really feel comfortable with, the person you can trust,” says Bruce, “the person you can call at 10:00 at night and get an honest viewpoint. A lot of clients have been with me a long time. I think they all would speak very favorably of me, not just for the results I get, but also that I am good to work with and easy to deal with.” Over the years Bruce has represented companies in major debt restructurings, auction sales, long-term lease arrangements, joint ventures, licensing agreements, significant acquisitions, and more. “One of my more interesting projects was representing the first person to pay to go into space,” says Bruce, who negotiated a multimillion dollar contract with the Russian government on behalf of his client, Dennis Tito, to fly to the International Space Station. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of contract.”

Andrew Apfelberg

Andrew Apfelberg, a Partner at Greenberg Glusker LLP, is a corporate and finance attorney for middle-market companies throughout the United States. Andrew often acts as outside general counsel to his clients, providing advice on a business’ significant transactions whether it’s a merger or acquisition, private equity or other financing, joint venture or licensing deal. He has a considerable depth of experience in the branded consumer products and manufacturing & distribution industries as well as representing high-net-worth individuals and their family offices. His strong business and finance background comes from his USC’s Marshall School of Business education and working in investment banking prior to going to law school. This experience enables Andrew to more effectively structure transactions and negotiate agreements to maximize the value to the client and increase the likelihood of getting the deal closed. Andrew is a recognized leader having served on the management committee of Greenberg Glusker and at his prior firm. At Greenberg Glusker, Andrew served as Chair of the Marketing Committee for five years, before taking a leadership role as a Co-Chair of the Lateral Partner Recruiting Committee. He is the former President of the Association of Corporate Growth (ACG) Los Angeles chapter and held a variety of leadership positions in the global ACG organization including serving as a member of its board of directors, executive committee, and strategic planning committee. He also co-chairs ACG Los Angeles’ annual business conference (one of the largest conferences in the United States for the M&A community). He has been working with the organization to drive corporate growth and advance the role and impact of private capital investment in the middle market since 2006. Andrew has also served on both the Supply Chain and Insurance & Marketplace Committees of VSP Global. Andrew is a Guest Lecturer at Loyola Law School, a member of the USC Business Network, and the National Association of Corporate Directors. Andrew is active in the community and sits on numerous philanthropic and private company boards of directors. He co-founded a 501(c)(3) organization called the Change 4 Children’s Foundation to raise money for child life services initiatives at children’s hospitals across the United States. He is the President of the Dorothy W. Gach Charitable Foundation, on the Board of the Wyoming Soccer Association, and a founding member of the At-Large Development Council for US Soccer.

Keith Patrick Banner

Keith Patrick Banner focuses his practice on business insolvency and distressed transactions with relevant experience in a variety of industries, including retail, entertainment, technology and real estate. Providing a calm and understanding approach to what often amounts to a rather tumultuous time for a business, Keith helps guide companies through a myriad of insolvency solutions that are appropriate for the particular circumstance, including out-of-court transactions, such as the refinance of complex loan facilities or an assignment for the benefit of creditors (“ABC”); or through the bankruptcy court in a chapter 11 reorganization or chapter 7 liquidation. In addition to representing distressed businesses, Keith also represents bankruptcy trustees in chapter 11 and chapter 7 cases, navigating through complex investigations, asset sales, contentious litigation and the variety of other aspects of such bankruptcies. Keith is further skilled in bankruptcy-related litigation, including fraudulent transfer and preference recovery actions. Beyond his bankruptcy practice, Keith also has significant experience in a variety of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and private equity investments. Prior to joining the firm, Keith served as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Peter H. Carroll, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California. Prior to clerking, Keith practiced at an AM Law 100 firm and a boutique insolvency firm, both located in Los Angeles. This diversity of experience provides Keith with a broad perspective and the tools for a company’s successful rehabilitation.

Bob Baradaran

Bob Baradaran is Greenberg Glusker’s Managing Partner and is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group. Bob has over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry acting as outside counsel to developers and investors across the U.S. in virtually every commercial real estate product type (i.e. multi-family, mixed-use, hospitality, office, retail and industrial), executing on equity and debt investments totaling in excess of $20B. In addition to his real estate transactional work, Bob serves as outside general counsel to numerous companies, funds, family offices, and high-net-worth entrepreneurs in the real estate, hospitality, technology and entertainment industries, including being actively involved in managing high stakes complex litigation, restructuring, and corporate matters for his clients.

Ricardo P. Cestero

Ricardo Cestero is best known for developing creative strategies and winning arguments for his clients—celebrities, athletes, and sports and entertainment companies—in a wide range of entertainment-related disputes and lawsuits. Ricardo’s practice also extends beyond the entertainment industry to complex commercial litigation involving partnership, contract, and real estate disputes. Ricardo has particular expertise in First Amendment issues, such as defamation and restraint of speech, as well as extensive experience handling motion picture and television production and distribution disputes and profit participation cases. Over the years handling these types of disputes, Ricardo has built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal work. Ricardo has built a successful appellate law practice, handling appeals before the California Courts of Appeal, the Ninth Circuit, Second Circuit and the Supreme Court of Nevada. He has handled dozens of appeals for various types of rulings from anti-slapp motions and other motion rulings to jury verdicts and summary judgment rulings, with a particular emphasis on First Amendment issues.

Darryl W. Cluster

Darryl W. Cluster’s practice focuses on a broad spectrum of estate planning services including succession planning and tax savings. In addition, Darryl counsels nonprofit organizations of all types including family foundations, operating foundations, and public charities. Representative estate planning experience includes: Continuing representation of several private foundations with assets ranging from $500,000 to over $100 million Continuing representation of operating charities in the fields of education, general philanthropy, research, athletics, science, the arts and many other forms of charitable endeavor Prepared complex estate plans for high net worth clients in the fields of entertainment, real estate, and general business Counseled families regarding post-death trust administration

Daniel Cousineau

Daniel Cousineau is a Partner in the Corporate Group. He brings over a decade of experience and a reputation for providing strategic counsel to both corporate and private equity clients on transaction structuring, purchase agreement considerations, and executive compensation matters. Daniel specializes in tax services related to domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, including reorganizations, joint ventures, divestitures, and debt restructurings. He also has extensive experience with drafting partnership and limited liability operating agreements for funds, real estate ventures, and artists in the entertainment industry, as well as the structuring and taxation of executive compensation and profit-sharing agreements. Before joining Greenberg Glusker, Daniel was a partner at a mid-size firm in Los Angeles and, prior to that, was a member of KPMG's Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Group. Daniel earned his J.D. from the George Washington University School of Law and his LL.M. in taxation from the New York University School of Law.

Brian Davidoff

Brian Davidoff tackles his clients’ problems with experience, drive, and focus. He helps middle-market companies and their principals navigate difficult financial waters. Brian also guides lenders, creditors, and vendors seeking to maximize their recoveries, and represents buyers and sellers of distressed assets. His early experience as a corporate attorney allows him to address both insolvency and business needs of his clients. Frequently, he acts as general counsel to both distressed and thriving businesses, advising them on their business growth, financings, and M&A activity. Accomplishing your objective. “If you’re having difficulty figuring out how to deal with your company’s financial distress, seeking to recover funds from a financially troubled company, or looking to buy assets of a financially distressed seller, I work with you to devise the right strategy to accomplish your objective,” he says. “I often get involved in high-stress situations. Clients’ livelihoods and their companies are at stake and they put a lot of trust in you. The process can be complex and uncertain. Helping my clients understand the component pieces of the process along the way is very important. It is also difficult at the outset to predict the final outcome of a restructuring, however, by working closely with my clients I build a partnership that dramatically increases the chances of a successful result.” For example, Brian knew what was at stake for a downtown Los Angeles furniture manufacturer and retailer that ran into financial distress. The company founder and owner knew that the livelihoods of over 200 workers depended on the ongoing success of the business. “We were able in the course of a chapter 11 reorganization to restructure the balance sheet and re-negotiate the senior credit facility with the lender. The company survived, the owner again has a successful business, and the jobs of the hundreds of workers were saved.” Restoring a level of confidence. Brian has succeeded for his varied clients—cutting across industries and objectives—by bringing a high level of skill, integrity, and commitment to the process. “When representing a company going through a restructuring, you quickly learn that the client is often taking fire from different quarters because creditors have lost money and typically no one is happy. A critical aspect of a restructuring is to restore a level of confidence and integrity in the business operations,” he says. “This usually goes far in gaining the confidence of judges and other key stakeholders, including creditors, lenders, vendors and employees.” With over thirty years’ experience in counseling his clients on their varied business issues, specifically in restructuring and bankruptcy, Brian has built a wealth of collegial relationships. “In Southern California we repeatedly appear before the same bankruptcy judges and having credibility with the court is important, as is having credibility with other professionals in the restructuring and bankruptcy community with whom you may be adverse from time to time in client matters. In such a high-stress situation credible relationships can be vitally important and often enables you to work through difficult issues.” Collaborating with other professionals. Also important in reaching the best results for his clients is the breadth and depth of Brian’s Greenberg Glusker colleagues in other practice groups. “It is common in a bankruptcy or restructuring case that I collaborate with my corporate, real estate, employment, litigation, or entertainment partners. In this way I can bring the various legal skills needed to properly guide the client. Outside of my law firm, I often work with financial and operational restructuring professionals to bring a complete approach to addressing the client’s issues.” Brian’s passion outside of the practice of law is competing in triathlons. He says, “This takes a significant level of dedication and commitment. I bring this same commitment to resolution of my client’s issues.” Brian has been married over 30 years and has two adult daughters, who enjoy competing with Brian in his athletic endeavors.

Matthew Dysart

Matthew Dysart builds the legal infrastructure that lets media businesses grow. Whether he is advising a creator on their first major platform deal, structuring a cross-border joint venture for a global entertainment company, or negotiating content licensing terms with an AI platform, his focus is always the same: getting to know the business behind the deal and helping his business operator, financier, and talent clients make smart, informed decisions. Matthew represents clients across the creator economy, global entertainment, and AI/technology sectors. Matthew has handled $3B+ in entertainment deals and is recognized by both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety for his work at the forefront of entertainment's most consequential shifts, from the rise of personality-backed media businesses to the emergence of artificial intelligence. He is known for translating complex deals into real-world workable legal frameworks, and for his strong network of relationships across platforms, studios, and technology companies. Matthew's practice is built around three areas where complexity and opportunity intersect. In the creator economy, he serves as outside general counsel to some of the most ambitious digital media companies and creator-led brands, including MeatEater, Mad Realities, Jomboy Media, Teton Ridge, StagePilot, UnderCurrent Media, and Front Office Sports. For global media companies like HYBE, MGA Entertainment, and Kinetic Content, he structures complex joint ventures, cross-border co-productions, and multi-party deals that define the next era of international entertainment. And at the intersection of technology and entertainment, he advises AI companies and studios, including Zencastr and Troveo, on content licensing, data rights, and platform partnership deals that are reshaping how intellectual property is valued and monetized. Before joining Greenberg Glusker, Matthew served as Head of Podcast Business Affairs at Spotify, Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Entertainment One, and Head of Legal and Business Affairs at AwesomenessTV. His experience operating in high-growth environments gives him firsthand fluency in building, scaling, and selling media businesses, shaping how he approaches every deal he supports.

Bonnie E. Eskenazi

Bonnie Eskenazi is consistently recognized as one of the most prominent entertainment attorneys in Hollywood. She regularly handles some of Hollywood’s most high profile and landmark entertainment disputes for some of the industry’s leading performers, directors, writers, producers, rights holders, and talent agents. Bonnie’s practice is international in scope and she has extensive experience in all aspects of the entertainment industry, media and intellectual property matters, including royalties and profit participations, idea theft, contracts, defamation and reputation protection, invasion of privacy, trademarks, copyright, merchandise and licensing, music distribution, music publishing, motion picture production and distribution and new technology. Bonnie’s clients have included Marvel Entertainment, Jeffrey Katzenberg, the Estate of JRR Tolkien, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, MGM, STX Entertainment, EndemolShine North America, Bron Studios, Marlon Brando, Hans Zimmer, HarperCollins Publishing, Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, DIC Entertainment, Lagardere Entertainment, Elle Macpherson, Geffen Records, Horror Inc. (owners of the rights to Friday the 13th), Bagdasarian Productions (owners of the Chipmunks), Stephen Slesinger Inc. (owners of rights in Winnie the Pooh). Bonnie is also outside general counsel for the Bob Marley Estate. Her passion for advancing the careers of women led her to join the board of Women In Film and to create and launch its sexual harassment Help Line which includes a pro bono legal aid panel in addition to therapeutic assistance for survivors of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Bonnie has been profiled in numerous magazines and newspapers over her 30 years in practice such as the Los Angeles Times, Southern California Super Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, National Law Journal and has been honored by nearly every legal and entertainment publication covering litigation or entertainment/media practices. Bonnie has served on Greenberg Glusker's management committee for the past 15 years. She teaches a course in Entertainment Law at Stanford Law School and is an annual guest lecturer at Harvard Law School.

Kenneth S. Fields

Ken Fields' practice involves all aspects of real estate transactions, including buying and selling individual properties and multi-property portfolios, construction and development and leasing of industrial, retail, and office properties, and permanent, construction, mezzanine, and other real estate secured loans. Ken's clients include industrial, retail, and office building owners and tenants, commercial brokerage firms and real estate investors and syndicators. He has assisted clients in buying or selling billions of dollars worth of real estate assets, has negotiated leases affecting billions of square feet of space, and has helped clients raise hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate syndications. Ken frequently represents owners and tenants in single-tenant "big-box" leases. Ken understands his clients' business objectives and strives to help achieve those objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner. He maintains a business-like and deal-oriented approach, focusing on what is important to his clients.

Robin Finch

Robin Finch is a partner in our real estate group where she has broad experience advising owners, developers, tenants, and borrowers in all areas of real estate. Her experience includes purchase and sale transactions, tax-deferred exchanges, leasing agreements, borrower side financing, entity structuring, and succession-planning asset management. Robin has particular expertise in commercial and residential construction projects. She has represented numerous developers and construction industry professionals in negotiating and drafting fixed price, cost plus and guaranteed maximum price construction contracts, as well as related design-build, architectural, subcontractor, design and engineering agreements. Robin is currently a board member of The APS Type 1 Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), that supports education, awareness and fundraising for critical research into rare autoimmune condition.

Chad R. Fitzgerald

Named both a “Power Lawyer” by The Hollywood Reporter and to Variety’s “Legal Impact Report,” Chad Fitzgerald is a Partner in the firm's Litigation Department and specializes in complex entertainment matters as well as business and intellectual property litigation. He represents showrunners, producers, writers, directors, actors, musicians, professional athletes, production and distribution companies, clients in the fitness, apparel, toy, and gaming industries, the entertainment guilds, talent and business managers, and the major talent agencies. Chad focuses on entertainment industry disputes regarding profit participation audits, vertical integration, and distribution (including streaming), litigation involving copyright, trademark and trade secrets, fraud, rights of privacy, and defamation, and transactions for entertainment industry clients. His profit participation audit matters have resulted in $500 million in settlements, judgments, and awards for his clients. Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” Guide describes Chad as representing “the glitterati of Los Angeles – as well as the power players behind the scenes” and “the man to call for television profit participation audits.” Chad has written numerous articles on legal issues in the entertainment industry, regularly appears on panels and seminars discussing entertainment law, is frequently quoted in media outlets such as Puck, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, and the Daily Journal, teaches entertainment law classes at the UCLA School of Law, and sits on the Advisory Board for UCLA School of Law’s Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law. Chad began his legal career as an entertainment litigation associate at a prominent Los Angeles firm, worked in legal affairs at Universal Pictures, and practiced for almost 20 years at an entertainment litigation boutique before joining Greenberg Glusker. During law school, Chad externed for the Honorable J. Spencer Letts of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and volunteered with the HIV/AIDS Legal Services Alliance (HALSA).

Aaron Gafni

Aaron Gafni represents clients in a wide variety of corporate and transactional matters, ranging from entity formation and structuring to equity financings, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions. Aaron advises entrepreneurs, start-ups, and middle-market companies across a broad range of business sectors, including technology and digital media, food and beverage, health and wellness, apparel, and branded consumer products. He has particular experience representing venture-backed growth companies, often working with such clients from initial formation to successful exits. Founders rely on Aaron’s experience with convertible note and SAFE financings, preferred stock financings, corporate governance, day-to-day transactional matters, and mergers and acquisitions. Aaron is the head of partner and associate recruiting at Greenberg Glusker.

Thomas Giordano-Lascari

Thomas Giordano-Lascari is a Partner in the Private Client Services Group with nearly two decades of experience in advising high-net-worth individuals and closely-held businesses with international income tax and estate planning issues. Highly regarded for his expertise in representing global families with footprints in multiple jurisdictions, Thomas assists clients in structuring their worldwide assets to maximize family objectives and minimize income and transfer taxes. Thomas frequently aids clients with pre-immigration planning, foreign investments in the United States, U.S. residency planning and management, and expatriation planning. He frequently provides sought-after guidance on foreign trusts to foreign fiduciaries, U.S. beneficiaries, and grantors, addressing compliance obligations and tax consequences. Thomas is Chair of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (IAETL). He is recognized in Chambers High Net Worth Guide as a leading lawyer in Private Wealth Law and listed in the ALM/Law.com Private Client Global Elite Directory. He also frequently speaks on international tax legislation and tax strategies relating to foreign trusts, outbound planning, and global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) inclusions, among other international income tax and estate planning topics.

Julia R. Haye

With more than 25 years of experience in entertainment litigation and high-net-worth disputes, Julia Haye is highly regarded as one of the top attorneys in her field. Entertainment Litigation Her entertainment practice includes successfully resolving, at trial and in arbitration, complex business disputes involving profit participation, motion picture production and distribution, rights ownership, copyright and trademark infringement, idea submission, and other entertainment-related conflicts and contractual disputes. Her counsel extends to every genre of entertainment and media, including independent motion pictures, television, music, dance, and digital media. She has represented Marvel Entertainment in various matters involving intellectual property disputes and profit participation rights, the holder of the rights to The Beatles against Apple Computer, the owner of the Friday the 13th movie franchise in a dispute with a former producer, and has resolved a complex business partnership dispute involving the remake of Last House on the Left. Through her extensive work in major profit participation cases on behalf of talent, artists and rights holders, including Marvel and the rights holders to Winnie the Pooh, Julia has become fluent in the unique language of Hollywood accounting. She enjoys productive relationships with the industry’s preeminent accounting firms and regularly advocates advantageous positions for her clients as she guides them in untangling the convoluted web of deductions and income streams, including home video royalties, foreign television sales, digital distribution revenues, and other contractual clauses and complex accounting practices. Julia additionally regularly advises on copyright and trademark infringement disputes and matters involving idea submissions. Her background also includes working with music rights, such as identifying future royalty streams and advising clients with respect to royalties from digital distribution, and advising musical artists and choreographers on protection of their intellectual property assets. High-Net-Worth Disputes In addition to her highly-regarded entertainment practice, Julia’s litigation experience has evolved to include high-net-worth disputes, high-asset divorce proceedings, and probate litigation. While Greenberg Glusker does not have a traditional family law practice, Julia has significant litigation experience with complex cases involving marital property characterization, agreements, and property issues. Julia draws on her extensive litigation expertise in other areas such as entertainment, her dynamic approach, and the trust she builds with her clients to successfully navigate and resolve the contentious, sensitive, and difficult financial disputes that often arise in high-stakes, high-net-worth divorce litigation. Trial Experience Through her practice, Julia also has obtained significant, first-hand trial experience. Among Julia’s successful trial and litigation achievements are serving on the high-profile trial team that won a $104 million jury verdict against Exxon Mobile for polluting New York City water, and serving as second chair in a 4-week jury trial concerning a complex business dispute. Beyond the Practice As a former dancer, Julia brings her passion for dance and all forms of the arts into her law practice. She takes a special interest in the intersection between dance and the law, including copyright protection for choreography, and has written several articles on this topic. Julia has been recognized in Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing's Guide for Business of Law Visionaries for Litigation and in Best Lawyers in America under “Litigation - Intellectual Property” and "Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television." In 2019, Century City Bar Association honored her as Entertainment Litigator of the Year.

James W. Hill

James is a dedicated commercial litigator who helps clients—from emerging companies to established enterprises—resolve critical business disputes and protect their interests in and out of the courtroom. He regularly handles high-stakes matters for his clients involving real estate, entertainment, cannabis, and corporate litigation matters. James regularly represents owners of properties and businesses in the SoCal market, including business partners, landlords, tenants, and entrepreneurs. Clients value his responsiveness, creative problem-solving, and strategic mindset, whether through negotiated resolutions or vigorous litigation. James has successfully advised and advocated for: Real estate owners and developers in partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty cases, litigation between property owners, and other controversies arising from real property transactions. Entertainment professionals and companies in contractual disputes, partnership dissolutions, and related litigation. Cannabis businesses navigating commercial and regulatory challenges in a rapidly-evolving legal environment. Employers in wage and hour matters, including wage and hour class actions. James manages cases from initial investigations through trial, appeals, and judgment enforcement. His experience spans state, federal, and appellate courts in California, Arizona, Washington, and Florida. Prior to becoming a partner at Greenberg Glusker, he practiced at an AmLaw 100 firm, where he honed his skills litigating diverse matters such as trade secret actions, real property disputes, probate controversies, consumer class actions, and corporate fiduciary disputes. Beyond his practice, James is active in the Los Angeles legal and nonprofit communities. He serves on the Steering Committee for Food From The Bar in support of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and maintains an active pro bono docket.

Sally C. James

Sally James works with Hollywood’s top talent. She represents actors, writers, and producers, as well as production companies, talent managers, business managers, and investors in all business and legal aspects of the entertainment industry. She handles large film finance and M&A transactions for established Hollywood brands and also negotiates deals for entertainment start-ups. She received her J.D. from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, Order of the Coif, and her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Richmond with a major in Theatre Arts.

Brian Kang

Brian Kang, Chair of Greenberg Glusker’s Real Estate Group, has experience in a wide range of real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, financing, and leasing of commercial, retail, multifamily, and industrial properties. Brian’s clients include real estate investors, developers, financial institutions, national universities, and REITS. Brian is also active within the Los Angeles community. He currently represents the Korean American National Museum on a pro bono basis as the museum’s real estate counsel. Brian has also been on the Board of Governors for the Korean American Bar Association of Southern California since 2013 and served as President of KABA-SoCal in 2018. Recognized for his work in Real Estate Law, Brian has been recognized in the Best Lawyers in America list since 2018 and in Southern California Super Lawyers since 2013.

$Warren J. \"Skip\" Kessler$

Warren J. \"Skip\" Kessler

Warren J. “Skip” Kessler is a seasoned tax and real estate attorney whose career has been defined by his ability to structure complex transactions with precision, creativity, and a deep understanding of both the legal and practical business issues. Whether working with partnerships, limited liability companies, or corporations, Skip’s focus remains on achieving tax-efficient solutions tailored to his clients’ strategic goals. Skip is widely acknowledged for his expertise with Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 like-kind exchanges. Over decades of practice, he has structured thousands of forward, reverse, and other sophisticated 1031 exchange transactions involving substantial property values, helping owners and investors navigate complex tax-deferral strategies and achieve tax efficient outcomes. Skip regularly speaks on cutting-edge 1031 topics at high-level national seminars and is first on the experienced real estate professionals’ short lists as a go-to resource for both routine and highly complex exchange situations. His capabilities extend to structuring dispositions where exchange objectives vary among partners or members, crafting solutions that allow some parties to exchange while others liquidate, and addressing challenging California property tax issues. Outside of the Section 1031 exchange area Skip has devised and implemented numerous structures to separate family members or partners who own their common interests in partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. In his words, “I spend some part of every day separating family members or partners with tax efficient structures.” Skip also advises on Qualified Opportunity Zone investments, represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service, United States Tax Court, and state tax authorities, and provides counsel across a full range of tax, real estate, partnership, and corporate matters. Clients include owners of large real estate portfolios, family offices, private businesses, and high-net-worth individuals who own their real estate in partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. Skip’s ability to translate complex Internal Revenue Code provisions into clear, practical guidance and successful outcomes is a hallmark of his client service approach. He has been recognized on the Southern California Super Lawyers list almost from the list’s inception and he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® each year since 2013, reflecting his longstanding professional reputation. Skip received his A.B. degree in Government from Cornell University, where he served as an officer of his class, and earned his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School. He is actively involved in numerous charitable and pro bono activities. Skip is a former chair and director of the California Housing Partnership Corporation. He previously served as General Counsel to Wilshire Boulevard Temple and as a trustee of the Temple. Skip is a member of an ad hoc committee of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles dealing with real estate issues. He is a member of Hillcrest Country Club and serves on the finance, audit, and legal committees. He is also a founding Director of Genesis Bank with offices in Newport Beach and Beverly Hills, California. Genesis Bank is one of approximately 140 FDIC-chartered banks designated as a Minority Depository Institution and one of only two that are minority-controlled. The Bank’s mission includes providing loans and other banking services to underserved businesses in Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, as well as offering financial literacy training to its constituents. Skip serves as Vice Chair of the Bank and is a member of the Bank’s Audit and Risk, Directors Loan Committee, and Compensation and Governance Committees and chairs the Compensation and Governance Committee. When Skip is not advising clients, or working on his charitable and pro bono matters, or attending to bank responsibilities, he enjoys national and international travel with his wife Joan and spending time with his six grandchildren, his sons and daughters-in-laws. He collects Bordeaux wine, is an amateur photographer, and maintains a classic car, which he supports and occasionally drives.

David Kramer

David Kramer represents clients in a diverse array of commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity financings, formation-related matters, joint ventures, supply chain agreements, and licensing agreements. David’s clientele includes founders, high-net-worth individuals, emerging companies, and middle-market companies across a wide range of sectors, including branded consumer products, digital media, technology, manufacturing, entertainment, and food and beverage. Regardless of the industry, David devotes time to understanding his clients’ goals so that he can offer practical, business-centric advice to accomplish their specific objectives. David has been quoted in Law360, Law.com, and Spectrum 1 News, and has had speaking engagements across the country. David graduated from the UCLA School of Law, Order of the Coif, and earned his master’s degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies from New York University.

Ann S. Lee

Ann Lee is an experienced trial attorney focused on real estate litigation. She represents owners, investors and landlords in a broad range of commercial property, lease and business disputes. Her practice includes litigating matters involving breaches of lease agreements and purchase and sale agreements, shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and other claims arising from the ownership, management or operation of real property. Ann has significant trial experience, including multiple jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations. She believes that preparing every case to prevail at trial is the most effective way to achieve favorable settlements and outcomes before trial. Clients value Ann for her responsiveness, collaborative approach and sound judgment in navigating complex and sensitive matters.

Stefanie J. Lipson

Stefanie J. Lipson is Co-Chair of the Private Client Services Group at Greenberg Glusker and leads their Family Office Advisory practice. Stefanie provides comprehensive counsel to domestic and international families, family offices, real estate and tech entrepreneurs, high-profile entertainment figures, private investors, and closely held business owners and founders in all aspects of personal wealth, tax, estate, and succession planning. Stefanie is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), is a full member (TEP) of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and is recognized in Chambers' High Net Worth Guide in the area of Private Wealth Law and featured in The Best Lawyers in America.®

Steven J. Lurie

Greenberg Glusker partner Steven Lurie is one of the nation’s preeminent real estate attorneys. He advises and represents primarily developers, investors, borrowers, landlords and tenants in a variety of transactions. Over the past two years, he was the lead lawyer on over $5.5B in transactions involving real estate in 25 states and the District of Columbia. He maintains a diverse practice that includes development projects, acquisitions and sales, financing transactions, leasing and joint venture transactions. Read more about Steve’s real estate experience >> Steve is also a nationally renowned golf course attorney, having created a niche market in the golf industry for his firm. He has handled sale, purchase, lease, finance, management agreement and other transactions for golf industry clients involving 274 golf courses in 31 states. Read more about Steve’s golf course experience >> Clients engage Steve for counsel on structuring complex transactions and developing creative strategies to get deals done, believing he will find a way to help them achieve their objectives in virtually any situation. Clients turn to him to provide not just legal advice, but also business advice and judgment, especially during economic downturns. One client noted Steve’s “phenomenal business sense,” while another recognized Steve’s “extensive knowledge of the commercial real estate industry.” In addition to working diligently to ensure the success of his clients, Steve is equally dedicated to helping members of his community through a variety of endeavors. Highlighting those efforts was Steve’s pro bono work for The Maple Counseling Center, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that provides mental health services to those in need. His work led to Lurie receiving The State Bar of California’s “Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award,” which is given to a select number of attorneys who make a significant contribution to California by volunteering their time and legal expertise on behalf of non-profits and low-income clients. Steve also serves on the Advisory Board for the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, which secures and supports high-profile sports and entertainment events in Los Angeles, with a mission of creating lasting and positive economic, cultural and social impact for the Los Angeles region. Steve is also a longstanding member of the Board of Directors for the City of Hope Los Angeles Real Estate Council, which has raised more than $26 million to benefit groundbreaking cancer and diabetes research. Highly respected by those in the real estate industry, Steve has received many accolades, including from Chambers, Daily Journal, Connect CRE, Los Angeles Business Journal, Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers. Steve’s career is a homegrown success story, having started at Greenberg Glusker as a summer clerk and through perseverance and dedication becoming a mainstay of the firm’s success. He has also served on the firm’s management committee for ten years.

Gregg A. Martin

A trusted advisor for his clients, Gregg Martin has a long history of delivering favorable outcomes in and out of court that help his clients achieve their business, financial and personal goals. He has tried scores of cases during his career, managed contentious litigation and won numerous jury/judge trials, arbitrations and appellate arguments. He also frequently represents clients in other forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and informal settlement discussions. Having built a reputation as an effective trial attorney and litigation strategist, Gregg represents clients engaged in a wide variety of business activities and he frequently represents owners, developers, property managers, brokers, contractors and others with respect to commercial retail, office and industrial real property assets (as well as residential income property owners and individual homeowners). Such representation frequently involves the buying and selling of real estate, contracts and leasing disputes, property disputes with adjacent owners and brokerage disputes. In addition to such real estate disputes, Gregg frequently represents parties in other business related disputes, including disputes among ownership of a business (whether as members of an LLC, shareholders or partners) and corporate governance issues. Many of these matters involve fiduciary duty, management, trade secrets, contracts and purchase and sale disputes. Outside of the office, Gregg is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where he has also chaired various committees, including the Museum’s Board Affairs committee and Advancement committee. He has also been a member of the Museum's Executive Committee. He has also sat on other subcommittees related to education, research and collections, advancement, and public affairs. Gregg and his family also proudly support UCLA’s Operation Mend which provides medical and psychological services to service members, veterans and their families.

James Molen

James R. Molen is an entertainment litigator who represents some of the most prominent names in Hollywood. His clients include leading actors, directors, writers, producers, and rights holders, as well as production companies and digital media platforms. James regularly provides counsel for high-profile talent and institutions, including Tom Cruise, James Cameron, J.K. Rowling, Chris Hemsworth, Vin Diesel, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Riot Games. James handles high-stakes disputes at the center of the entertainment industry, including copyright, right of publicity, profit participation, and contract matters. He is deeply involved in emerging issues at the intersection of technology and media, including artificial intelligence, digital likeness, and the unauthorized exploitation of identity. Over the years, James has secured significant victories for his clients. He obtained a $33 million arbitration award against T-Mobile under the Federal Communications Act arising from a SIM swap attack—the largest known award of its kind. He has also represented major talent and rights holders in disputes involving ownership and control of iconic media properties, including the successful defense of the producers of Below Deck, and a summary judgment victory for Warren Beatty securing his exclusive rights to Dick Tracy. Early in his career, James helped lead the team that represented Shelly Sterling in the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers. In addition to his entertainment practice, James represents clients in complex commercial disputes, including false advertising, corporate governance, and business torts, and advises companies on intellectual property strategy and advertising compliance. James has been recognized by Legal 500, LA Times Studios, and the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the leading entertainment lawyers in Los Angeles.

William D.D. Moodie

William Moodie represents clients in a wide variety of general corporate and transactional matters, including entity formation and structuring, equity financings, joint ventures, endorsement and licensing agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and day-to-day corporate matters. William's experience includes representing a mobile game company in negotiating talent service agreements for commercial appearances with multiple A-list celebrities, advising a real estate developer on private offerings ranging from $2.5 million to $6 million to fund commercial and residential property acquisitions, and handling day-to-day corporate matters for a prominent women’s denim company, including negotiating multiple complex endorsement agreements with A-list celebrities. He also represents clients in merger and acquisition transactions across various industries. William is a member of Greenberg Glusker’s Pro Bono Committee. He has handled matters including special education advocacy, guardianship petitions, and adoption finalizations for foster children.

Schuyler (Sky) M. Moore

Schuyler (Sky) M. Moore is a partner practicing entertainment, corporate, and tax law. Sky holds his undergraduate degree from UCLA (Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude) and his law degree also from UCLA (first in class). He has been practicing in the entertainment industry since 1981, and represents a broad spectrum of clients throughout the entertainment industry, including producers, sales agents, foreign distributors, and financiers. Sky has handled some of the largest financing transactions in Hollywood, including Reliance’s investment in DreamWorks, the Ratpac-Dune slate financing for Warner Brothers, the Hemisphere slate financing for Sony and Paramount, and the Hunan Group slate financing for Lionsgate. He is the author of several books, including The Biz: The Basic Business, Legal, and Financial Aspects of the Film Industry, a popular book in its 5th edition, Taxation of the Entertainment Industry, the leading treatise on that topic, and What They Don’t Teach You in Law School. He was an adjunct professor at the UCLA School of Law and Business School and an adjunct professor at the USC School of Law, and he is a frequent speaker and writer on a wide variety of entertainment topics. Sky has been named a "Power Lawyer" by the Hollywood Reporter, included in Variety's "Dealmakers Impact Report" and "Legal Impact Report," named a leading lawyer in the area of Entertainment and Media: Transactional, recognized as one of the top 100 lawyers in California by the Daily Journal, and named one of the top 3 "Most Influential Lawyers" in media by the National Law Journal. In 2019, he was named a lifetime “Legal Legend” by The Hollywood Reporter.

Elisabeth Moriarty

Elisabeth Moriarty is Chair of Greenberg Glusker’s Litigation Department. She is an experienced litigator who handles complex, high-profile disputes. Media, Entertainment, and Intellectual Property Litigation Liz has represented plaintiffs and defendants in some of the entertainment industry’s most significant, high-stakes disputes involving copyright, trademark and trade dress infringement, motion picture production and distribution, defamation, unfair competition, the licensing of intellectual property rights, and contractual disputes. She is skilled at working on large, high-profile entertainment matters where a confluence of issues come together to span a wide variety of disciplines. She has extensive experience litigating major profit participation matters on behalf of talent, artists and rights holders, including the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien, Marvel Entertainment and the rights holders to the Winnie the Pooh property. Liz has close, long-standing relationships with the top entertainment auditors/accountants in the field, and has unique experience interpreting complex contractual royalty provisions and convoluted participation statements. Liz has also handled matters involving online and digital media, television and music rights and idea submission disputes. High-Net-Worth Divorce Proceedings While Greenberg Glusker does not have a traditional family law practice, Liz has significant experience litigating business issues in complex, high asset divorce proceedings, including cases involving marital property characterization, valuation and division, apportionment, marital agreements and complex marital property issues. Liz draws on her sophisticated litigation expertise, her creative, problem-solving approach and her discretion to help her clients successfully navigate and resolve, by way of settlement or trial, the contentious, sensitive, and challenging financial disputes that often arise in high-stakes divorce litigation. Trial Experience Among Liz’s successful trial and litigation achievements are serving on the trial team in Jeffrey Katzenberg’s landmark action to recover his profit participation against the Walt Disney Company, and serving as second chair in a 14 week jury trial on behalf of best-selling novelist Clive Cussler in his contentious legal battle with Crusader Entertainment over the film rights to Cussler’s novel Sahara.

Eric Perlmutter-Gumbiner

Eric Perlmutter-Gumbiner is an experienced corporate and M&A advisor for founders, investors, and global brands operating at the intersection of consumer products, entertainment, technology, and sports. Eric represents some of the most recognizable names in these industries, guiding clients through the full business lifecycle—from formation and venture capital rounds to mergers and acquisitions and high-profile brand collaborations. The Hollywood Reporter has recognized Eric as a top sports and content creator lawyer. Eric has also been recognized in Legal 500 US Elite Los Angeles – Corporate M&A (2026), the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Top 100 Lawyers” (2026), and the Los Angeles Times as a “Legal Visionary” (2024). He was named a recipient of the Association for Corporate Growth Middle Market Growth “Young Professionals” Award (2021) and has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2023–2025) and Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2015–2025).

Uzzi O. Raanan

For more than 30 years, Uzzi Raanan has served as a lawyer and advisor in bankruptcy and business reorganization matters. Trustees and creditor committees frequently turn to him with their most challenging matters. Clients seek counsel from Uzzi for tough business challenges and when looking for proactive strategies to resolve business problems. Uzzi has extensive experience representing creditors and debtors and Chapter 11 creditor committees as well as court-appointed receivers and bankruptcy trustees with regard to insolvencies, business bankruptcy preplanning and litigation, state and federal court receiverships, and commercial law disputes, including loan guaranties and assignments of ownership interests. His litigation practice includes prosecuting and defending fraudulent transfer and preferential transfer avoidance actions, nondischargeability, discharge, asset sales, and claims disputes. He also specializes in handling appeals and a myriad of other issues arising in bankruptcy. Uzzi has held leadership positions with various bar groups, including serving as a member of the California Lawyers Association’s Board of Representatives (including Board Secretary), Chair of the Business Law Section and Co-Chair of the Insolvency Law Committee of the State Bar of California, member of the Board of the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum (LABF), President of the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation, and member of the Board of Governors of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. In 2019, Uzzi was honored as Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year by the Century City Bar Association. Uzzi has spoken on the topic of insolvency on multiple panels and is a regular contributor to Westlaw's Commercial Finance Newsletter (CFN).

Jesse Saivar

Jesse Saivar, Chair of Greenberg Glusker's Intellectual Property, Digital Media & Content Publishing, and Technology Groups, is a tech transactional attorney with deep experience in entertainment and intellectual property law. While his clients operate within a wide range of fields, including e-commerce, SaaS and development/design, he has particular expertise in guiding tech companies whose products are built to entertain, with a stable of digital media clients offering products focused on mobile-based content (including blogs, podcasts and short form series), AR/VR, NFTs, gaming, and the metaverse. Jesse frequently plays the role of outside general counsel to his technology and digital media clients and assists with their day-to-day operational needs, such as drafting and negotiating software licenses (including MSAs, EULAs, and SOWs) for both inbound and outbound technology, crafting his client’s deals involving talent and creators as well as content and merchandise license agreements, assisting with the creation of terms of use and privacy policies, negotiating advertising and sponsorship deals, and providing strategy with respect to intellectual property disputes. In addition to providing tech transactional strategy and support, Jesse frequently uses his traditional intellectual property background to assist his clients across a variety of industries with their general IP needs, such as overseeing their trademark portfolios, assisting with complex trademark and IP licensing, and providing strategic input on their IP enforcement efforts. As a trusted advisor on the latest developments in intellectual property and digital media, Jesse has been quoted in The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Business Journal, Bloomberg BNA and Law.com. He was recently recognized in National Law Journal’s Intellectual Property Trailblazers list.

Alla Savranskaia

Recognized by Variety as one of Hollywood's top dealmakers, Alla Savranskaia handles deals on behalf of some of the entertainment industry’s biggest players as well as up-and-coming talent. She has experience with various aspects of the entertainment business, including film, television, commercial production and literary works. Alla represents producers, writers, showrunners, book authors, and directors as well as production companies in scripted and unscripted space. Representative clients include: A major Hollywood director and producer in his documentary and publishing deals A best-selling science-fiction author whose first book became a worldwide blockbuster motion picture A prominent literary estate in film and television rights deals Four times Oscar winner costume designer in her various film and television engagements Oscar and Emmy-award-nominated documentary directors and producers Top commercial production companies A media and commerce company founded by four of the world's greatest athletes Before attending law school, Alla spent many years producing documentary films and non-fiction programming for various broadcasters, including PBS, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Her prior production experience enables her to naturally combine a legal and business perspective in advising her clients.

Elizabeth M. Sbardellati

Elizabeth (Liz) Sbardellati works closely with branded consumer products companies on a wide array of issues ranging from trademark prosecution and enforcement, growth strategy, and manufacturing and distribution agreements, to licensing and collaboration deals. She is head of Greenberg Glusker’s Trademark Protection & Enforcement Group. Liz's practice includes performing clearance and due diligence in connection with trademarks and copyrights. She is also adept at developing and executing strategies for brand enforcement, and negotiating deals in connection with the monetization of her clients' brands through the acquisition, sale, and licensing of intellectual property. Liz partners with her clients to enforce their intellectual property rights and defend disputes related to intellectual property infringement before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in Federal Court. Her practice also includes preparing and negotiating celebrity and influencer endorsement deals, brand collaboration agreements, and creator agreements. She advises companies across a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, video games, beauty and personal care, apparel, and home goods. Her passion lies in advising and supporting women-owned, led, and founded brands. Liz has proven to be a prominent leader both within and beyond her firm. In addition to leading the Trademark Protection & Enforcement Group, Liz chairs associate recruiting, including running the firm’s summer associate program and serves on the firm’s diversity committee. She values training and mentorship and recently overhauled the firm’s mentorship program to ensure active engagement with and opportunity for associates as they progress in their careers. Outside of the firm, Liz serves on the board of directors of Beauty Bus Foundation and supports Women Founders Network.

Laurie H. Selkowitz

Laurie's practice focuses on the intersection of technology, privacy, and the law, helping clients navigate complex issues, compliance, and the evolving legal landscape of intellectual property law. She provides transactional support to national and international B2B and B2C entities ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies across various industries, including technology, media, telecommunications, consumer products, transportation, manufacturing, and retail. Laurie also has significant experience counseling clients on the development, implementation, and use of emerging technologies and platforms, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), ad-tech, and other innovative marketing technologies. Laurie is a frequent speaker at industry events and panels, sharing her expertise on advancements in technology, data privacy and security, and women’s initiatives.

Jonathan Shenson

Jonathan Shenson is a partner in the firm's Bankruptcy, Reorganization & Capital Recovery and Corporate Groups. Jonathan’s bankruptcy practice includes representation of debtors, secured creditors (including debtor in possession lenders), committees, acquirers and other parties in chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructures and work-outs, acquisitions, foreclosures, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. His practice also includes commercial and bankruptcy-related litigation including extensive experience in fraudulent conveyance and preference actions and litigation in the areas of breach of contract, breach of duty, alter ego, successor liability, and lender liability. Jonathan’s corporate practice is focused on the representation of agents and lenders, borrowers and others in a broad array of credit transactions, including syndicated, single-bank, secured, unsecured, senior and subordinated credits and credit enhancement facilities. He has experience in mergers and acquisitions (both buy-side and sell-side) with particular expertise with purchasing assets through assignments for benefits of creditors and Section 363 sales. Jonathan is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy and commercial law panels at prominent industry conferences, including Turnaround Management Association’s Western Regional Conference and Distressed Investing Conference, American Bankruptcy Institute’s Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, and the California Bankruptcy Forum’s Annual Insolvency Conferences. He has lectured on deepening insolvency, cash collateral, fiduciary duties of officers and directors of distressed companies, real estate leases in bankruptcy, 2005 Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code, single asset real estate cases, intellectual property issues in and out of bankruptcy, and the state of the law with regard to creditors’ entitlement to interest, fees and costs in bankruptcy. Prior to joining Greenberg Glusker, Jonathan was the Managing Principal of his own law firm for nearly a decade. Before that, he was a partner at a nationally recognized bankruptcy boutique and also practiced in the bankruptcy and finance departments at a prominent AmLaw 100 firm.

Kevin Sher

Kevin Sher has experience representing private owners, partnerships, REITs, and public companies in all aspects of real estate matters including residential and commercial purchase and sale transactions, retail and office leasing, and real estate financing. Kevin has developed strong expertise within the industrial real estate space. Kevin has represented e-commerce enterprises, including a Fortune 100 company, negotiating millions of square feet of industrial warehouse space throughout the Western United States. In addition, Kevin works with a leading industrial real estate company in Southern California on dozens of acquisitions of mid-size and large industrial real properties involving millions of square feet of improvements, including multi-property portfolio acquisitions and seller leaseback transactions. In addition to the industrial sector, Kevin has extensive experience in the office and multifamily sectors. Kevin has represented a global financial investment company on its acquisitions and dispositions of large office campuses and towers. He has also worked with multi-family real estate investment groups to assist in the acquisition and financing of thousands of apartments units. In addition to commercial real estate deals in California, Kevin has also handled acquisitions, dispositions, and leases of industrial and office real properties in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

Steven Stein

Steve Stein is a litigator who specializes in media and intellectual property disputes. He also has substantial experience litigating complex entertainment and business disputes. Steve defends media organizations from defamation and copyright and trademark infringement claims, and enforces intellectual property rights for brands and creators. He litigates entertainment disputes for production companies and A-list talent, and complex contract and business disputes for businesses and individuals. Before joining the firm, Steve wrote for the Washington Post and served as a law clerk on the United States Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit. Steve draws on his experience as a journalist and law clerk to advocate for his clients.

Ira M. Steinberg

Ira Steinberg is a Partner in Greenberg Glusker’s Litigation Group focused on complex commercial and business litigation, specifically, entertainment, media, real estate, corporate, and insurance disputes. He assists clients in navigating all stages of litigation, including pre-litigation counseling, trial, alternative dispute resolution, and appeal. He also has significant experience in high-profile matters and managing media scrutiny of litigation. Ira has trial experience in state and federal court, as well as in domestic and international arbitration forums. Ira has extensive experience working with clients, typically senior executives or investors, involved in business relationships that have broken down either near, or past, the point of litigation. His recent matters include: high-stakes corporate and partnership disputes in the real estate and entertainment fields; international and domestic disputes arising from business combinations; trade secret and intellectual property disputes for consumer product brands; and the defense of internet-based retailers from claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act. These disputes are complex, intensely personal, and typically involve executives who are highly compensated, high-net-worth individuals or both. As an advisor, Ira manages both the immediate legal issues and the more critical, long-term strategic questions posed by these contentious high-stakes situations. His goal is to arrive at a resolution that is satisfactory to everyone involved with as little disruption to the business as possible, and if that is not possible, to achieve his client’s goals through litigation or private arbitration. While he is a highly effective advocate for his clients’ interests, his role demands exceptional expertise as a negotiator, communicator, and strategist. Resolving these disputes requires the application of strategic vision and legal acumen, but also emotional intelligence. In emotionally charged situations where the stakes are high, Ira ensures that all the parties to a dispute are heard, that positions and issues are aired and addressed, and that workable compromises are discussed. He uses advanced techniques in persuasion and communication to achieve decisive outcomes in litigation, and, where possible, to reframe disputes in new contexts that allow the parties to move past the original issues and find common ground. The goal is to help clients put disputes behind them and get back to their business. Prior to practicing law, Ira worked for several elected officials in the Los Angeles area. He is a member of the board of Golden Years Senior Apartments, a housing complex for low-income seniors. In addition to his professional pursuits, Ira is a licensed pilot for gliders and single-engine aircraft and is certified for aerobatics. He is a multiple marathoner and earned a Spartan Race Trifecta.

Richard J. Sweet

Richard J. Sweet is a corporate attorney with decades-long expertise in a variety of transactional and regulatory matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, contract negotiations, and debt and equity financing. Rich represents various business entities, including middle-market, automotive, food and beverage, service, real estate, and high-tech companies. He is experienced in advising clients in connection with: general corporate and securities matters; drafting and negotiating complex limited liability company operating agreements and joint venture agreements; drafting and negotiating asset purchase, stock purchase and merger agreements, shareholder agreements, and executive compensation agreements; and advising clients in connection with regulatory issues. Prior to earning his B.A. and J.D., Rich earned an Associate Degree in Automotive Technology from Universal Technical Institute (UTI). Upon graduation from UTI, Rich spent years honing his trade in the automotive field, focusing on cutting-edge supplemental restraint technology and automotive electronics.

Ryan D. Webb

Recognized by Variety as a top dealmaker, Ryan Webb is a trusted advisor known for structuring highly complex deals that reflect the evolving needs of the entertainment industry. He represents a broad range of clients, including production companies, financiers, established writers, directors, actors, producers, musicians, and emerging talent and influencers. He brings a rare, creative, business-forward lens to entertainment dealmaking, offering clients a unique perspective that bridges talent needs with ever-changing industry dynamics. His wide-ranging experience includes: Film and Television: Facilitates complex film and television production and licensing deals and handle rights acquisitions, talent contracts, and distribution agreements for a variety of entertainment projects, including several Academy Award nominated films. Film Financing and Distribution: Structures single picture and slate financing and distribution arrangements for independent filmmakers, secures financing deals and navigates theatrical, streaming, and downstream distribution channels. Talent Representation: Acts as a trusted advisor and legal representative for a diverse range of talent, including actors, musicians, directors, producers, and content creators, securing favorable terms for talent compensation, creative control, and ancillary rights. Unscripted Programming: Provides comprehensive legal counsel to production companies and individuals involved in unscripted reality television programming, navigating issues related to defamation and privacy. Book Publishing: Extensively advises authors on book publishing agreements across various genres and negotiates favorable terms for authors, ensuring fair advances, royalties, and subsidiary rights, while protecting their creative control and intellectual property. Digital Media and Influencer Partnerships: Plays a pivotal role in negotiating and structuring partnerships between influencers, content creators, and digital media platforms. Crafts influencer marketing agreements that cover a spectrum of industries, from beauty and fashion to tech and lifestyle, ensuring compliance with advertising regulations and disclosure requirements. Executive Agreements: Negotiates and structures executive employment agreements on behalf of top-tier executives within the entertainment industry, securing competitive compensation packages, including base salaries, bonuses, stock options, and performance-based incentives. IP Protection: Advises clients on copyright, trademark, and intellectual property matters, including the registration and enforcement of rights, to safeguard their creative works and brands. Licensing and Merchandising: Assists clients in monetizing their intellectual property through licensing agreements, merchandise deals, and endorsements with major brands. Corporate Structuring: Provides legal counsel to entrepreneurs and startups in the entertainment industry, guiding them through entity formation, funding, and contractual relationships. Guild Compliance: Proficiently navigates the complex landscape of entertainment guilds (SAG, WGA, DGA) and their respective collective bargaining agreements on behalf of both members and signatory companies. As the son of a professional musician, Ryan developed a profound appreciation for the entertainment industry at an early age, setting the stage for his future endeavors. Prior to law school, Ryan freelanced as a musician and currently spends his spare time playing drums in various rock bands and jazz groups around Los Angeles, including the firm’s own band, The Gee Gees. Prior to joining Greenberg Glusker, Ryan practiced at a large national firm focusing on film finance and corporate entertainment.

Joel Weinstein

Joel Weinstein is a member of Greenberg Glusker's Corporate practice and chairs the firm's Restaurant, Food & Beverage industry group. Joel's hands-on experience and legal expertise enable him to handle the increasing complexities of today's transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, asset and stock sales, private debt and equity financings, license and distribution arrangements, and strategic alliances. He advises entrepreneurs and boards on business entity structures, corporate governance, director and manager responsibilities, and investor agreements. Joel frequently applies his broad experience as "outside general counsel" for VC and PE-backed businesses. Joel has wide experience representing restaurants in the quick service, fast casual and white linen sectors, as well as celebrity chefs. He helps clients with all facets of operating their businesses, as well as with succession planning and tax planning for ownership transfers.

Michael Wiener

Michael Wiener is a tax partner who focuses on structuring real estate and corporate transactions. Clients rely on Michael’s ability to analyze complicated tax issues and to implement creative solutions. Michael is an expert in structuring all types of tax-deferred Section 1031 exchange transactions, including forward exchanges, reverse exchanges, and build-to-suit exchanges. He has extensive experience structuring real estate dispositions by partnerships and limited liability companies where either the partners or members want to exchange separately or only some partners or members want to exchange while others want to sell for cash. Michael also has deep expertise structuring real estate acquisitions where multiple purchasers are completing exchanges or where fresh cash is being invested alongside exchange proceeds. His expertise extends to California’s property tax and transfer tax rules. Michael has substantial experience structuring joint ventures and both negotiating and drafting complex distribution and tax allocation provisions in partnership agreements and limited liability company operating agreements. Michael also has experience drafting the non-tax portions of joint venture agreements, such as management provisions and transfer restrictions. He also often provides tax advice in connection with M&A transactions. Since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Michael has become an expert on the qualified opportunity zone statute and related treasury regulations. Michael has structured numerous investments in qualified opportunity zones, has both published and spoken on the topic, and has advised investors, qualified opportunity funds and qualified opportunity zone businesses on compliance issues. Michael’s experience ranges from working with closely held funds to advising on widely syndicated offerings. Michael has successfully represented clients in audits by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and California Franchise Tax Board, and is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Michael’s patience, attention to detail and deep understanding of the business issues involved in transactions allow him to structure transactions in the most tax-efficient manner possible without sacrificing the client’s business objectives. Michael thoroughly explains transaction structures and their tax consequences, and his clear drafting style makes his partnership and operating agreements easy to read and follow. As a trusted advisor and expert in tax matters, Michael has been quoted in Law360, Bloomberg Tax, GlobeSt.com, Los Angeles Business Journal, RE Business Online, Bisnow, Daily Journal, and other prominent business, real estate, and legal publications.

Ben Wiles

Ben Wiles is a partner in the firm's Corporate Department focused on venture and emerging growth companies, venture capital and private equity investors, and private company mergers and acquisitions. Ben advises clients across the full lifecycle of growth—from company and fund formation through venture financings, venture debt, strategic transactions, and exits. His experience includes corporate governance, executive compensation, commercial contracting, cryptocurrency matters, fund formation and governance, and complex M&A transactions. He regularly represents early-stage, high-growth technology companies and the investors that support them, handling transactions ranging from pre-seed SAFE financings to nine-figure late-stage investments. Ben also represents professional sports leagues and franchises in corporate matters, including NIL and influencer relationships, and advises C-level executives, entertainers, public figures, and influencers in corporate and employment transactions. His practice spans a wide variety of industries, including adtech, insurtech, entertainment, therapeutics, medical devices, retail, blockchain, and food and beverage. Active in the Los Angeles venture and startup community, Ben serves as a mentor and sponsor of FoundersBoost Los Angeles, a global tech startup pre-accelerator that prepares early-stage entrepreneurs for accelerator programs, seed investment, and revenue growth.

Laura A. Zwicker

Laura Zwicker is Co-Chair of the Private Client Services Group at Greenberg Glusker and leads its International Private Wealth Law practice. Laura’s practice focuses on advising multinational and domestic families across generations on the tax, trust, and philanthropic issues involved in global and domestic wealth transfer. Laura provides tailored advice on tax residency and pre-immigration and emigration structuring, counsels founders on liquidity event planning, and serves as outside counsel to family offices and fiduciaries on a variety of planning issues, including the implications of family members and beneficiaries becoming, or ceasing to be, U.S. tax residents. Laura partners with leading legal, tax, and family office advisors across Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, to ensure integrated structuring that best achieves clients’ objectives across jurisdictions. Laura has received many accolades, including being ranked in Chambers and Partners Global High Net Worth Guide (2016–2025) for Private Wealth Law and named to The Hollywood Reporter's Troubleshooters, an elite list of power lawyers. She has also been recognized in the Daily Journal, National Law Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, The Best Lawyers in America®, and Legal 500. She frequently provides media commentary and has been featured in The Times of London, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Business Insider, Financial Planning, Wealth Management, Bloomberg Tax, Bloomberg Law Podcast, and Law360.