Molly M. Lens
Partner
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Molly M. Lens is a highly skilled and accomplished litigator specializing in complex civil litigation, contract disputes, intellectual property, copyright, and trademark matters, business torts, class actions, arbitration, securities matters, and regulatory investigations related to the entertainment, media, and financial services industries.
Molly’s clients include major motion picture studios, leading investment banks, and high-net-worth individuals, among others. She frequently advises clients on how to minimize litigation and exposure to risk related to potential transactions.
Molly uses her technical knowledge and effective communication skills to successfully represent and defend her clients in extremely critical and complex matters. She develops practical strategies to help her clients navigate and overcome legal hurdles while minimizing their impact on business operations.
Prior to joining O’Melveny, Molly worked as a litigation associate in New York at a leading international law firm.
Languages
- French
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by The Legal 500 US for Media & Entertainment: Litigation (2020)
- Recognized as a Law360 Media & Entertainment MVP (2019)
- Named to The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers list (2019)
- Named to Variety’s Legal Impact Report (2019, 2020)
- Named to The Legal 500 US “Next Generation Lawyer” list in the “Media and entertainment” category (2017-2019)
- Named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Women Lawyers in Los Angeles list (2017)
- Named to Legal 500’s “Next Generation Lawyer” list in the “Media and entertainment” category (2017-2019)
- Named a “Rising Star” and one of “the top five media and entertainment attorneys under age 40” by Law360 (2015, 2016)
- Named one of “Hollywood's New Leaders” by Variety (2015)
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
- New York
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central and Southern Districts of California
- US Court of Appeals, Second and Ninth Circuits
Education
- The University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 2003: cum laude; Article Editor, Michigan Journal of International Law
- Macalester College, B.A., 2000: cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Activities
Bar Activities
- Federal Bar Council Inn of Court liaison and member (2009-2011)
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers: Young Lawyers Division Committee (2012-2014)
Board Member
- Constitutional Rights Foundation; Chair, Ad-hoc Young Professionals’ Initiative
Co-Author
- “Selective Waiver and Privilege in the Southern District of New York,” 79 U.S.L.W. 1835, co-authored with Jeffrey A. Rosenthal (Jan. 4, 2011)
- Representing Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema in copyright and contract action over merchandising, service, and theme park rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
- Represented Citibank in litigation arising out of one of the largest foreign currency trading frauds
- Representing Fox in a trademark dispute to the breakout hit Empire
- Representing two individuals in litigation over control to one of Southern California’s largest outdoor advertising companies
- Representing FremantleMedia in tort and breach of contract case concerning the hit reality show The X-Factor
- Obtained dismissal for Fox Broadcasting, FremantleMedia, CORE Media Group, and others of a putative class action complaint brought by former African-American male contestants who had been disqualified from American Idol
- Obtained favorable settlement for Warner Bros. and The CW Network in a “vertical integration claim” relating to Smallville
- Successfully mediated claims that Sundance Institute had tortuously interfered with third party’s contract for the film festival
- Successfully defended a major motion picture company in intellectual property and contract action involving the rights to a crown-jewel property
- Represented a major media entertainment company in profit participation action involving the syndication of a sitcom
- Advised a motion picture company in preproduction disputes with the producers, directors, and writers, allowing successful sequel film to be completed and released
- Represented a leading software provider in trade secret and antitrust action
- Represented a major clothing retailer in class action resulting from company's announcement that it had reached an agreement to be acquired by two private equity companies
- Represented a prominent private equity company in class actions resulting from its planned acquisition of a company in the healthcare industry
- Represented a major investment bank in federal court against allegations that client assisted, through its role as foreign exchange prime broker, a rogue trader who accumulated more than a half billion dollars in unreported losses
- Represented a regional bank against allegations of trademark infringement over new name resulting from rebranding due to multiple mergers
- Represented several investment vehicles in appeals involving tort and contract claims relating to a Ponzi scheme
- Represented a foreign private investment fund in a Chapter 15 bankruptcy proceeding
- Represented a preeminent technology company in litigation related to a dispute between target company and former employee of target
- Represented a New York limited liability company against fraudulent conveyance claims from a former member
- Represented an insurance company in multiple arbitrations concerning an NBA player's insurance coverage
- Represented a major investment bank in "stuffing" investigation (allegations that investment advisory arm of company was improperly influenced by investment banking arm) by the Securities and Exchange Commission
- Advised a major investment bank about litigation exposure resulting from contemplated acquisition
- Advised a private equity firm on its rights should it receive anticipated requests to restructure lending commitments for planned acquisitions during 2007 credit crisis
- Advised a foreign corporation on how to avoid litigation when withdrawing from planned transaction
- Represented several not-for-profit associations of lawyers in filing of amicus brief before Second Circuit in support of district court's ruling in United States v. Stein
- Represented a single mother and her two minor children living in New York City Public Housing in housing court
- Represented a young man from Chad in asylum court in New Jersey who fled his home country due to persecution resulting from his political beliefs
- Represented an individual convicted of several counts of a controlled substance in his appeal
- Represented an individual alleging Eighth Amendment violations after he was housed with a known member of a rival gang in his appeal before the Ninth Circuit