Erica Kim is an associate at Russ August & Kabat and a member of its Media & Entertainment and Litigation & Trial groups. Erica serves as the primary associate on pre-litigation and litigation matters involving defamation, privacy rights, copyright and trademark infringement, profit participation claims, and breach of contract. She also advises clients on music-related transactions. Erica has represented a variety of clients in the media and entertainment industry, including recording artists, producers, actors, television personalities, influencers, production companies, live entertainment companies, and other high-profile individuals.
In 2023, Variety featured Erica in its Legal Impact Report.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, Erica was on a trial defense team for a 10-day jury trial that resulted in a complete defense verdict recognized by Courtroom View Network as one of the “Top 10 Impressive Defense Verdicts of 2017.”
While a law student at UCLA School of Law, Erica was a judicial extern for the Honorable Lee Smalley Edmon, Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeals, Second Appellate District, Division 3. At the nation’s premier law school for media and entertainment law, Erica focused her studies on entertainment-related matters, taking courses in Music Industry Law, Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property, and Entertainment Income Tax. In her second year, Erica was selected to be a Lawyering Skills Writing Advisor to first-year law students, and she also spearheaded an independent project proposing the creation of UCLA Law’s Pro-Bono Music Industry Clinic, which launched in 2018.
Leeran Kasis is an associate at Russ August & Kabat, where he is a member of the firm’s intellectual property, litigation, and mergers and acquisitions groups. Mr. Kasis has represented businesses and individuals in a wide variety of complex disputes, including in the areas of real estate, corporate governance, and business. Mr. Kasis previously practiced in the litigation department of Clark Hill. Mr. Kasis received his J.D. from UCLA School of Law. While in law school, he externed for the Honorable Stephen V. Wilson of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Stanton (“Larry”) Stein is a partner and the head of Russ August & Kabat’s Media & Entertainment group. Larry’s clients include actors, writers, directors, producers, music artists, high-net-worth individuals, entertainment guilds, talent agencies, personal and business management companies, independent production companies, and video game companies.
Larry is widely known in the entertainment industry for his work taking on Hollywood studios. Throughout the last decades, Larry created legal theories for challenging the film and television accounting practices of vertically integrated studios and media conglomerates through litigation. He is literally the father of vertical integration accounting lawsuits. His efforts have changed the face of talent and rights holders’ contract negotiations with studios, networks, and their affiliated production companies, seeking to more evenly allocate revenue to profit participants including actors, directors, writers and producers. Larry has brought countless lawsuits on behalf of his clients against companies that were self-dealing on licensing fees and a variety of other revenue streams. In addition to his groundbreaking litigation in the profit participation space, Larry has also fought to establish copyright protection for formats in reality television, bringing the seminal lawsuit in that area of law.
Larry also has a long history of bringing defamation, right of privacy, and right of publicity actions against publications and private individuals while dealing with the media and governmental agencies. He has secured dozens of confidential settlements and retractions.
Larry is a frequent author and lecturer in the field of entertainment law. He served as an adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at USC Gould School of Law and Stanford Law School and has lectured at Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, and UC Berkeley School of Law.
Regularly called on by journalists and legal scholars for comment regarding legal issues facing the entertainment industry, he has been quoted in such publications as: The Hollywood Reporter, Buzzfeed News, Law360, IPWatchdog, USA Today, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Deadline, Variety, Billboard, and many more.
Throughout his career, Larry has been recognized by leading legal, business, and entertainment industry publications and organizations for the successes he has achieved on behalf of his clients.
Larry is ranked as a “Top Media and Entertainment Litigator” by Chambers USA, named a “Legal Legend” by The Hollywood Reporter, was honored in Variety’s 2023, 2024, and 2025 Legal Impact report, recognized as one of Billboard’s “Top Music Lawyers” since 2020, and has repeatedly been named a “Southern California Super Lawyer” since 2004. The Daily Journal named Larry one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in California” while the Los Angeles Business Journal profiled him in “Who’s Who in LA Law.” California Lawyer featured him as a top five “A-list Entertainment Lawyers” and Los Angeles Times‘ The Envelope Magazine named him a 2024 “Business of Entertainment Visionary.” Nationally, Larry has been recognized as a “Best Lawyer” by The Best Lawyers in America and in “Lawdragon 500: Leading Lawyers in America.” Larry has received the “Entertainment Lawyer of the Year” awards from both the Beverly Hills and Century City Bar Associations, as well as the ACLU Foundation’s “Pro Bono Civil Liberties Award.”
Recent Matters
The following is just a sample of Larry’s ongoing and recently resolved matters:
- Larry represents Drake in several litigation matters, including the recently resolved trademark infringement claim brought against him by Condé Nast in connection with his parody cover of Vogue magazine and a series of other parodies he released ahead of Her Loss, his album with 21 Savage. Larry is also advising and defending Drake in numerous lawsuits filed against him in connection with his guest appearance at Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld concert. He defended Drake in an interference case regarding the documentary Black Ice and advised in connection with cases stemming from a shooting at the Muzik nightclub after the 2015 OVO Fest.
- Larry represents and provides ongoing advice to Simon Cowell and Syco Entertainment on a variety of matters related to his television program America’s Got Talent and new television formats currently in development. An AGT Live show in Las Vegas was successfully launched in late 2021.
- Larry represents Trancas International Films, the producers of the highly successful Halloween motion picture franchise, in connection with contractual and profit participation issues.
- Larry is representing Jeff Franklin, the creator of the classic sitcom Full House and Fuller House in litigation against his former co-executive producer for interference with his business relationship with Warner Brothers.
- Larry represents artist and musician Post Malone in various litigation and confidential matters.
- Larry is defending Laguna Beach plastic surgeon Dr. Arian Mowlavi in a civil case against social media personality Chalene Johnson related to statements by Johnson on various social media platforms. Johnson filed an anti-SLAPP motion that Larry defeated. The matter is on appeal.
- Larry represents the Trustees of The Carroll Hall Shelby Trust in a number of litigation matters, including a recently resolved a dispute against a trust beneficiary regarding asset valuation. Larry assists the Trustees with an array of matters that pertain to protecting Shelby intellectual property and continuing Mr. Shelby’s legacy.
- Larry represented Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean, co-creators of the iconic “mockumentary” film This is Spinal Tap, in litigation against Vivendi and its subsidiaries Universal Music Group and StudioCanal. The case involved complicated copyright termination and accounting issues as well as cutting-edge legal issues regarding co-creators’ rights to terminate their copyright grants and regain ownership of their trademarks and other intellectual property rights.
- Larry represented music industry icon Scott (“Scooter”) Braun and his companies, including a high profile litigation case involving a former business venture with claims for, among others, breach of contract, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Larry advised artists Roddy Ricch, Smilez and Donis Winter in public and personal matters including real property and copyright infringement, respectively.
- On behalf of Todd Moscowitz, Larry filed a lawsuit against Theory Entertainment, LLC d/b/a 300 Entertainment for breach of contract and a judicial declaration regarding Moscowitz’s ownership of stock in the company he co-founded.
- Larry defended Little White Dog, Inc. and Cristina Ehrlich, a world-renowned stylist for some of Hollywood’s most recognized celebrities, in a civil action brought by a former employee.
- Larry successfully defended TV producer Brian Graden and his production company, Brian Graden Media, in a case brought by Rovier Carrington, a man claiming sexual misconduct and theft of ideas against Graden, the late Bray Grey, Paramount and Viacom. Larry helped establish that the allegations were supported by fabricated evidence, leading to the court’s dismissal of the action with prejudice and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. Carrington was found to be a vexatious litigant and the U.S. Attorney successfully prosecuted him for perjury in the case.
- On behalf of famed plastic surgeon and television reality star Dr. Terry Dubrow, Larry filed a defamation action against Dr. Dubrow’s former patient’s lawyer for various false statements made in the press. Stein defeated the defendant’s anti- SLAPP motion and then their appeal.
- Larry represented comedian Iliza Shlesinger in a class action suit brought by men for allegedly being turned away from Shlesinger’s interactive Girls Night In show that occurred in LA in late 2017, in alleged violation of the Unruh Act.
Bennett Bigman is a partner at Russ August & Kabat. He is a member of the Media & Entertainment and Litigation & Trial groups. His practice focuses on all aspects of the entertainment industry, representing clients in the film, television and music industries in matters involving accounting and profit participation claims, copyright and trademark disputes, right of publicity, idea submissions, breach of contract, defamation, employment and insurance. He is particularly experienced in intellectual property disputes involving copyright infringement, trademark infringement, unfair competition and trade secret litigation, and licensing disputes. Bennett has brought countless claims on behalf of his clients against companies that were self-dealing on licensing fees and a variety of other revenue streams.
Bennett represents actors, directors, writers, producers, musical artists, production companies, agents, managers, company executives, distributors, post-production companies and video game companies. He also regularly counsels companies and individuals regarding the enforcement and licensing of their intellectual property assets.
Bennett has extensive experience in civil litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in various arbitration tribunals. He also represents individuals and corporations in various business disputes and general corporate matters, as well as in employment, real estate and insurance coverage disputes. Bennett takes a pragmatic, strategic approach to get the best results for his clients.
Bennett is a frequent commentator on copyright and intellectual property issues and is often quoted in publications, including:
- “The Late Charles Bukowski Still Raising a Ruckus,” Courthouse News Service, April 26, 2017
- “Anticipated Led Zeppelin Trial Starts Tuesday”, Daily Journal, June 10, 2016
- “Library Ruling A Good Sign For Google In Next Book Case,” Law360, June 12, 2014
- “With ‘Raging Bull,’ High Court Can Fix Laches Circuit Split,” Law360, October 1, 2013
- “Legendary Denied Arbitration in ‘Godzilla’ Producers Suit,” Law360, May 10, 2013
- “Legal Landmark: Artists Start to Reclaim Rights to Their Music,” Variety, April 16, 2013
- “Producers In ‘Godzilla’ Fight Fire Back At Legendary Pictures,” Law360, January 17, 2013
Bennett was named to The Best Lawyers in America (2024 – 2025 Editions) for Litigation – Intellectual Property. He was recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2006-2007 and from 2009-2025 by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine. Bennett was honored in Variety’s 2024 and 2025 Legal Impact Report. He is included as a Recognized Practitioner by Chambers USA, in Media and Entertainment: Litigation.
Recent Matters
- Century of Progress, Inc., et al. v. Studiocanal, et al.: Representation of the co-creators of the iconic “mockumentary” film This Is Spinal Tap in an action involving the creators’ profit participation and rights ownership. The case involved complicated accounting issues as well as cutting-edge legal issues regarding co-creators’ rights to terminate their copyright grants and regain ownership of their trademarks and other intellectual property rights.
- Riggle v. Riggle: Representation of actor Rob Riggle as plaintiff in an action asserting claims for invasion of privacy and related statutory violations.
- SAS Black Sparrow v. AMBI Distribution: Representation of motion picture producer/financier in an action to recover amounts invested in an independent film.
- Representation of music industry icon Scott (“Scooter”) Braun, his companies and business manager in an arbitration involving an investment firm that the respondent was hired to manage. The case involves claims for, among others, breach of contract, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Representation of Trancas International Films, producers of the highly successful Halloween motion picture franchise, in connection with contractual and profit participation issues.
- Representation of Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc., in connection with U.S. projects, including the television series American Ninja Warrior.
- Kylin Pictures adv. Treehouse Films, et al. – Representation of international film company in breach of contract action brought by actor Kevin Costner regarding the motion picture Shanghai Sojourners
- Lin Pictures, et al. adv. Legendary Pictures: Representation of well-known producers in an action involving a major theatrical release, including a successful result on Legendary’s appeal of an order denying arbitration
Bennett has represented:
- Numerous well-known Hollywood producers, directors, writers and actors in profit participation disputes
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Authors and screenwriters whose works have become some of the most famous motion pictures and television series of all time in connection with complex rights analyses and copyright termination issues
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Actors and managers in commission disputes that were successfully resolved prior to litigation
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Producer of a popular cable television series in connection with defamation and privacy issues
- A leading post-production company in a copyright infringement action and other intellectual property and employment disputes
- A major advertising agency in a federal action involving the use of an image in an advertising campaign – won a defense verdict at trial
- A distributor of motion picture camera equipment in a dispute with a manufacturer
- Professional athletes in disputes with former agents
- A successful producer in disputes concerning the format of a popular television show and other intellectual property rights
- The heir of a Broadway composer in a case involving copyright termination issues
- An independent film producer in a copyright infringement action involving a famous novel
- A high-level entertainment executive in connection with a complex employment dispute
- Business owners in an arbitration involving commercial and real estate issues
- High-profile individuals in obtaining retractions from online and print entertainment media
Articles/Publications
- “U.S. Copyright Office weighs in on protection of AI-generated works”, Los Angeles Daily Journal (February 28, 2023)
- “Warhol, Prince and the future of copyright,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 06, 2022)
- “The Details are in the Devil in this Copyright Lawsuit,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (November 13, 2018)
- “Down the Stairway to Heaven, and into District Court,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 08, 2018)
- “One last swing at Google Books project,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (January 12, 2016)
- “Google Books decision is logical evolution of law,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (November 2, 2015)
- Co-author of the mock trial “screenplay” for the 2006 ABA Litigation Section meeting involving entertainment litigation
Ashley R. Yeargan is a partner at Russ August & Kabat and the co-chair of its Media & Entertainment group. She has represented a variety of clients in the media and entertainment industry, including actors, directors, writers, producers, musical artists, managers, small studios, production companies, and video game companies. Ashley focuses her practice on matters involving defamation, rights of privacy and publicity, copyright and trademark infringement, and breach of contract. She has litigated in federal and state courts as well as before various arbitral tribunals in California.
Billboard recognized Ashley in its “Top Music Lawyers” list from 2022-2025. The Hollywood Reporter recognized Ashley in 2021, 2022, and 2023 on its “Power Lawyers: Hollywood’s Top 100 Attorneys” list and on its “2016 Top 35 Under 35” list of executives in the entertainment industry. Variety featured Ashley as “Up Next” in Entertainment Litigation in 2016, as a Hollywood “New Leader” in 2022, and in its Legal Impact Report in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Ashley was named a 2024 “Business of Entertainment Visionary” in The Envelope magazine distributed by the Los Angeles Times. She has been recognized by Southern California Super Lawyers as a Rising Star from 2012-2020 and 2022 and as a Super Lawyer from 2023 – 2025, as well as selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch from 2021 – 2025. Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Ashley as one of LA’s most influential attorneys on its 2020 “Top Women Lawyers” list.
RECENT MATTERS
Below are examples of Ashley’s current and recently-resolved matters:
- Representing Drake in several matters in California, New York, Canada, and Florida, including the recently-resolved trademark case brought against him by Condé Nast in connection with his parody cover of Vogue magazine.
- Representing Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment in a variety of matters, including with respect to America’s Got Talent and new formats that are in development.
- Providing ongoing legal counsel to Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc., in connection with US projects, including the series American Ninja Warrior and America’s Funniest Home Videos.
- Representing high-profile individuals in obtaining retractions (and takedowns) from online and print entertainment news media.
- Representing Bar Rescue’s Jon Taffer in litigation against an impersonator.
- Defended Black Label Media in a vicarious copyright infringement case involving the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic.
- Defended Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila in a trademark and trade dress infringement case brought by the owners of Tequila 512.
- Resolved a dispute clouding chain of title to a documentary film and assisted with the delivery of that film to a U.S. distributor.
- Defended a producer and show runner in connection with breach of oral contract claims involving credit and compensation in connection with the Netflix animated series Castlevania.
- Represented the Trustees of the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust in litigation against a trust beneficiary.
- Won a federal court jury trial for reality television star Camille Grammer in a defamation and malicious prosecution lawsuit filed by her ex-boyfriend after she reported that he assaulted her.
- Represented Jamie Spears in his capacity as conservator of the Estate of Britney J. Spears in litigation against a blogger and other media matters.
- Represented producer Dana Brunetti in claims for credit and compensation in connection with the television series “Manhunt.”
- Represented Blake Shelton in his defamation action against Bauer Publishing in connection with In Touch magazine’s publication of the false and defamatory cover story “REHAB For Blake.” Shelton defeated Bauer’s anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss, and the matter was resolved.
- Represented Sharad Patel in a breach of contract claim against the Estate of Michael Jackson concerning a motion picture about Jackson’s life and life story using assets of his library.
- Represented two high-profile actors in confidential commissions disputes with their managers that were successfully resolved prior to litigation.
- Represented Ciara in a false light invasion of privacy case against her former boyfriend Future.
- Obtained the anti-SLAPP dismissal of a trade libel and interference case against musician Drake related to statements regarding the theatrical release of a film entitled Drake’s Homecoming.
- Represented Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Doug Davison in their dispute against Legendary regarding credit and compensation in connection with the feature film Godzilla.
- Represented Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc., in a copyright infringement case against American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. and Endemol USA in connection with their reality program Wipeout.
- Represented a television actress in a dispute involving the alleged breach of an agreement to provide endorsement services.
PUBLICATIONS
- “Addressing the Limitations of the Right of Publicity in the World of AI” Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 23, 2023
- “Are Confidential Settlements Possible in the Wake of #MeToo?,” Keeping It Honest: Transparency and Legal Issues in the Entertainment Industry, edited by Dina La Polt, Jessie Winkler, and Lindsay Arrington, 2019.
- “Scripting a Resolution: The Advantages of Mediation in the Entertainment Industry,” USC Spotlight Entertainment Law Journal, 2017 (Inaugural issue).
- “This land is your land, and this song may be your song,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 28, 2016
- “One Last Swing at Google Books Project,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, January 12, 2016
- “Google Books decision is logical evolution of law,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, November 2, 2015
- “Batmobile Captures Copyright Protection,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 6, 2015
Larry Russ is a founding partner and co-head of the litigation department of Russ August & Kabat.
As an active trial attorney, Mr. Russ has focused on trademark, copyright, patent, business torts, trade regulation and advertising law and complex litigation. Mr. Russ has also worked extensively on antitrust and unfair competition matters.
Directly after being admitted to the California Bar in 1978, Mr. Russ launched his career by successfully challenging Levi-Strauss & Co’s resale price maintenance program related to men’s jeanswear in Levi Strauss & Co. v. Federated Pants, et al., 1979-2 Trade Cases #62,727 (C.D. Cal. 1979). In 1981, as co-lead trial counsel, Mr. Russ achieved a multi-million dollar jury verdict in one of the first private Section 7 Clayton Act cases that directed Pillsbury Flour Co. to divest itself of Wilton, Inc., a dominant cake decorating equipment specialty firm.
Throughout his career, Mr. Russ has successfully represented clients in the direct marketing industry and the apparel industry. Mr. Russ also has extensive experience representing clients in the home entertainment, technology and communications sectors, including video game hardware manufacturers, computer software developers, electronic toy makers and wireless communications companies.
In 1985, Mr. Russ obtained the highest Superior Court sanctions award in California history in connection with his representation of plaintiffs in a complex Malibu real estate fraud matter in which the trial judge delivered a seven-figure verdict and awarded punitive damages.
In 2002, Mr. Russ negotiated a highly publicized settlement on behalf of Yodeler Wylie Gustafson against Yahoo. Gustafson, who had recorded a single yodel for a Yahoo radio commercial, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Yahoo after the company began using Gustafson’s distinctive and unique yodel as the company’s audible signature on a myriad of company products and releases.
Mr. Russ represented the prevailing parties in several major apparel cases. In 2010, Mr. Russ successfully defended Forever 21 in a copyright and trade dress infringement action filed by Express. Mr. Russ obtained Summary Judgment in Forever 21’s favor, as well as an award of attorney fees.
In 2016, Mr. Russ was lead Class counsel in Perkins, et al, v LinkedIn, a privacy class action challenging LinkedIn’s ubiquitous ad- connection emails. The Class was approved and LinkedIn agreed to modify its practices and pay the Class $13,000,000+.
More recently, Mr. Russ has been re-focusing his attention on consulting with established and emerging companies in connection with e-commerce, financing, expansion, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, strategic alliances and intellectual property issues. Along with the new chair of the Mergers & Acquisition Department, Christine Shin, Mr. Russ is tasked with the mission of building a pre-eminent M&A team rivaling the talent and depth of knowledge of big law M&A departments.
In addition to his law practice, Mr. Russ is the past President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish National Fund Los Angeles zone. Mr. Russ is also involved as a principal of several well-known Los Angeles apparel companies including world renowned retailer, American Rag Cie. In 2014, Mr. Russ/ American Rag Cie was selected as a finalist by the Los Angeles Business Journal at the prestigious Southern California Apparel Awards, and WeAr Magazine, a world-renowned international magazine focusing on the apparel industry, announced that American Rag Cie was voted as the best retail denim store in the world.
Mr. Russ is also active in helping emerging and troubled companies raise funds. For a number of years, Mr. Russ served as an associate editor of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers quarterly publication. He is an active member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation, Antitrust and Intellectual Property Law Sections as well as an active member of the American Bar Association Antitrust and Intellectual Property Law Sections.
Mr. Russ was recognized as a Super Lawyer by the Publishers of Los Angeles Magazine from 2008-2025. From 2013-2025, Mr. Russ was recognized as a Southern California Top 100 Super Lawyer. Mr. Russ was also recognized among The Best Lawyers In America list for Patent Litigation from 2012-2025. In 2024 and 2025, he was named a “Legal Visionary” in the LA Times B2B’s Business of Law: Updates, Trends, & Visionaries Magazine. Mr. Russ was selected to The American Lawyer’s Top Rated IP Lawyers list in 2015.
Admitted
- State Bar of California (1978)
- U.S. Supreme Court (1989)
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1978)
