- Trial counsel for pharmaceutical defendant in California opioid trial, involving claims by municipalities seeking more than US$50 billion and resulting in complete defense victory. Courtroom View Network named the win #1 on its “Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts of 2021” and AmLaw reported “Defense wins just don't get much bigger”
- Trial counsel for pharmaceutical company in Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings alleging product liability claims, resulting in full defense jury verdict in first California trial
- Trial counsel for major studio resulting in victory in confidential arbitration alleging vertical integration claims
- Trial counsel for insurance company in litigation alleging bad faith with cross-claims for insurance fraud, resulting in defense victory settlement and release of all claims shortly before closing
- Trial counsel for social media company in state coordinated proceedings and federal MDL asserting personal injury and public nuisance theories
- Counsel for television studio, distributor, and show creator in trademark infringement action alleging television show’s fictitious sports team violated trademark rights, defeated temporary restraining order and secured dismissal with prejudice on First Amendment grounds
- Counsel for high net-worth individuals in class action and individual cases alleging employment, defamation, and harassment claims
- Counsel for tech company in bringing defamation and intentional interference claims arising from defamatory ghost article circulated to investors
- Counsel for studio in copyright termination matter involving high-profile entertainment franchise
- Counsel for leading online retailer in trademark and intellectual property dispute with athletic-apparel manufacturer
- Counsel for insurance company in litigation brought by contract restoration alleging novel business torts seeking to extend legal theories available to similar plaintiffs
- Counsel for pharmaceutical company in federal multi-district litigation and nationwide state actions asserting claims for, inter alia, public nuisance and RICO violations
- Counsel for bank and investment brokerage in lawsuit brought by NFL player alleging fraud, RICO violations, conspiracy, and other torts arising out of third party’s embezzlement from brokerage and bank accounts
- Counsel for electric car manufacturer in various forums across the country in actions challenging constitutionality of state prohibitions on direct-to-consumer sales
- Counsel for satellite radio broadcasting company in series of copyright litigations and class actions asserting unprecedented public-performance rights in pre-1972 sound recordings
- Counsel for creators of multibillion-dollar video game franchises Call of Duty and Modern Warfare in complex litigation for breach of contract, wrongful termination, and fraud (West & Zampella v. Activision)
- Counsel for Hollywood Foreign Press Association in litigation, trial, and appeal concerning rights to the Golden Globe Awards show (HFPA v. Dick Clark Productions)
- Counsel for media company in consolidated putative class action cases involving the Video Privacy Protection Act and other privacy rights, obtained summary judgment on all claims
- Counsel for intellectual property library management firm in trial and appeal concerning copyright co-owner's contract claims and alter-ego liability, obtained reversal on appeal
- Counsel for major studio in complex intellectual property and contract putative class action
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, Central and Northern Districts of California
Education
- University of California at Los Angeles, J.D., Order of the Coif
- Northwestern University, B.S., Communications, magna cum laude
Honors & Awards
- Named to the “500 Leading Litigators in America” list for Mass Tort, Product Liability, and IP Litigation by Lawdragon (2025-2027)
- Named a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation (2023-2025)
- Named to Variety’s Legal Impact Report (2020)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 US for work in Media and Entertainment: Litigation (2019-2022)
- Named to the 40 & Under Hot List in General Commercial, and Media & Entertainment by Benchmark Litigation (2018-2022)
- Featured in Variety’s Legal Impact Report (Up Next) (2017)
- Symposium Editor, UCLA Law Review
Professional Activities
Clerkships and Externships
- Honorable Sandra S. Ikuta, US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- Extern, United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California, Criminal Division
Leadership, Publications, and Speaking Engagements
- President and Board of Governors, Former Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Co-Chair Civility Committee, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (Los Angeles Chapter)
- UCLA Entertainment Symposium Advisory Board
- “Trademark Yourself: The Lanham Act and Likeness Protection in the Entertainment Industry,” Panelist, Beverly Hills Bar Association (June 2026)
- “Ethics in AI,” Panelist, UCLA’s 46th Annual Entertainment Symposium (June 2022)
- “Private Investigators: Legal & Ethical Considerations,” Panelist, Chief Litigation Counsel Association (September 2020)
- “Likelihood of Confusion?—Three Areas of Uncertainty in Trademark Law,” IP Litigator (September/October 2010)
- “Specialty License Plates: The First Amendment and the Intersection of Government Speech and Public Forum Doctrines,” 55 UCLA L. Rev. 1976 (2008)
Related Practices
Related Industries