Jeffrey I. Abrams
Of Counsel | Los Angeles

Areas of Practice

Film, Television & Direct to Video

• Representation of writers, producers, production companies, and full-service entertainment businesses in connection with acquisition, development, production, and distribution agreements in the film, television (live action and animated), theater, publishing, new media, music, sports, and radio industries

Licensing & Merchandising

• Representation of intellectual property owners, licensing agencies, and licensees in the negotiation and enforcement of various merchandise license, permission, and personal appearance agreements, including royalty accounting disputes See Brando Living Trust Infringement Lawsuit

Intellectual Property and Brand Protection

• Counseling companies regarding due diligence, registration, exploitation, and protection of trademarks, service marks, rights of publicity, and other similar assets

Employment/Executive Compensation

• Negotiation of employment and severance agreements, as well as non-compete, non-solicit, and trade secret agreements on behalf of high ranking entertainment industry executives

General Business & Corporate

• General corporate, legal, and business affairs

Mediation and Arbitration

• Private and court-appointed mediator in over 500 litigated cases, including entertainment, intellectual property, employment, business “divorces,” and real estate disputes

Articles & Reported Decisions

• Worth v. Universal Pictures (1997) 11 F.Supp.2d 1167 (C.D. Cal.) (Copyright Act preemption)
• Yerkovich v. MCA Inc. (1997) 11 F.Supp.2d 1167 (C.D. Cal.) (net profit issue)
• No Fear, Inc. v. Imagine Films, Inc. (1995) 930 F. Supp. 1381 (C.D. Cal.) (motion picture title dispute)
• A Firsthand View of the Middle East: Lessons of Mediation Provide Insight, Los Angeles Lawyer, June, 2004