Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP

Managing Partner: Lawrence Iser
Number of partners: 17
Number of lawyers: 19
Languages: English

Firm Overview:
KHIKS is a litigation boutique whose esteemed and experienced lawyers fight tenaciously for their clients in a broad and sophisticated litigation practice, handling disputes from complex contract, entertainment, IP and business matters to the defense of criminal proceedings. Based in Los Angeles, the firm is widely regarded as Hollywood’s go-to entertainment litigation firm, routinely handling high-profile film, television and music industry disputes on behalf of creators, companies, performers, producers and agents. KHIKS's lawyers also represent individuals and corporate clients in a wide range of commercial disputes, including the defense of nationwide class action lawsuits and in trade secret actions.

Main Areas of Practice:
-Entertainment
-Intellectual Property
-Entertainment IP
-Business
-Criminal Defense

Entertainment Litigation:  

12 partners

■ Represented Frank Darabont, the creator and executive producer of ‘The Walking Dead,’ and leading talent agency CAA, in their long-running, highly publicized profit participation suit against AMC. The nine-figure settlement, one of the largest ever in Hollywood, successfully resolves all litigation and provides for future revenue sharing related to certain streaming exhibition of 'The Walking Dead' and 'Fear the Walking Dead'
■ Represented MRC (Media Rights Capital) in an arbitration against Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey in connection with MRC’s hit series 'House of Cards.' An arbitrator ruled that Spacey and his production companies must pay the studio nearly $31 million in damages and attorneys’ fees for breach of contract in connection with certain conduct involving several crew members on the set of the Netflix series
■ Represented Justin Raisen, Jeremiah Raisen, and Justin “Yves” Rothman in a highly-publicized lawsuit with recording artist Lizzo over the authorship of her breakout song 'Truth Hurts'
■ Successfully represented legendary boxer and Republic of the Philippines presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao in litigation brought by his former boxing manager Paradigm Sports Management
■ Represented executive producer, Wark Entertainment Inc. f/s/o Barry Josephson, in a lawsuit against various Fox entities regarding profits from the hit series ‘Bones’, resulting in an arbitration award of $179 million
■ Represented business management firm The Management Group (TMG) in defense of a lawsuit brought by former client Johnny Depp over the handling of his finances, which included TMG’s cross-complaint for damages against Depp
■ Represented actress, singer, and fashion designer Jessica Simpson, along with her parents and her corporation, who were sued for breach of an alleged finder’s fee agreement in connection with the nine-figure sale of her company
■ Successfully and privately represented a number of film, television and music figures against unsubstantiated #MeToo claims

Key Clients: Frank Darabont, MRC (Media Rights Capital), Wark Entertainment, CAA, ICM, Skydance Media and Whalerock Industries

Intellectual Property Litigation:  

10 partners

■ Represents the Estate of Michael Jackson in numerous matters, including its litigation against HBO, and its copyright infringement suit based on Disney and ABC’s use of dozens of copyrighted works in a television program without permission
■ Represents Mattel, Inc. in multiple IP matters, including product clearances, a lawsuit against writer claiming copyright ownership of Masters of the Universe toy brand, defense of trademark opposition proceeding brought by Universal Music Group concerning ‘Motown Metal’ line of Hot Wheels cars, and defense of claims for violation of publicity rights and idea submission
■ Represented a Live Nation Entertainment subsidiary in defense of a trademark lawsuit
■ Represented Roland Corporation in numerous matters involving protection of Roland’s copyrights and trademarks, including case of first impression establishing copyright protection for sound recordings contained in Roland’s keyboards, and prosecuting and defending claims of patent infringement in courts around the country

Key Clients: Estate of Michael Jackson, Live Nation Entertainment, Roland Corporation

Entertainment IP:  

9 partners

■ Represents Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian in numerous matters, including in related state and federal actions and in an arbitration against a hedge fund and its subsidiary over the operation of a cosmetics company, resulting in an $11 million arbitration award for the sisters; in connection with various matters involving the Federal Trade Commission in Washington D.C. and social media use; and in a right of publicity and trademark action against a fast-fashion company that resulted in a $2.7 million judgment
■ Represents Mattel, Inc. against claims by television financier that the ABC television series 'The Toy Box' was based on ideas submitted by the financier

Key Clients: The Kardashians, Mattel

Business:  

12 partners

■ Represents SeaWorld in four nationwide consumer class actions alleging misleading sales practices regarding the well-being of SeaWorld’s killer whales
■ Successfully enforced USI Holdings Corporation’s contracts containing covenants not to compete and non-solicitation clauses and obtained injunctive relief against defendants
■ Represents numerous officers and executives in substantial, confidential employment litigation and consulting matters, including negotiating severances and handling discrimination and employment claims
■ Represented Kainoa Henry in his lawsuit against BIG3 Basketball, LLC and Cube Vision Film Production, LLC for breach of contract and wrongful constructive discharge, among other claims
■ Represented Saban Brands prosecuting claims for breach of various licensing agreements
■ Represented Heisman Trophy Winner and NFL superstar Reggie Bush in a lawsuit against the city of St. Louis for negligence when he slipped and suffered a major injury, resulting in a $12.5 million jury verdict

Key Clients: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, USI Holdings

Criminal Defense: 

1 partner

■ Representing actor Shia LaBeouf in an ongoing civil case filed by FKA Twigs
■ Represented Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, successfully obtaining dissolution of a temporary restraining order
■ Defense of clients against claims of felony assault
■ Representation of celebrity clients in DUI cases, obtaining dismissals and short-term jail sentences

Key Clients: Confidential