Carmel Valley Entertainment & Sports Lawyers

Justin Sterling, Esq. is the Founder and Principal Attorney of The Sterling Firm, A Professional Law Corporation. Mr. Sterling is licensed by the California State Bar and the United States District Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California. He is committed to representing clients and serving the legal community with the utmost professionalism and compassion.

Mr. Sterling attended law school at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law, where he graduated Suma Cum Laude. Mr. Sterling also obtained his undergraduate degree from West Chester University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Mr. Sterling has served...

Adam T. Carralejo is a trial attorney with broad expertise and a strong, ethical reputation. Adam started his career handling estate and trust work in Santa Barbara – his first client matter was the infamous case of Butler v. LeBouef, involving an unethical estate planning attorney and successful trust contest in Santa Barbara Superior Court. Adam would go on to spend several years with a Los Angeles firm advising HOA boards and representing HOA homeowners. During this time, he gained invaluable experience understanding the needs of community managers, boards of directors, and, most importantly, individual homeowners. He’s drafted CC&Rs, provided education...

A veteran entertainment lawyer, arbitrator and author, Mark Litwak also teaches entertainment law at USC school of law. He recently won a multi million dollar award against a distributor who failed to pay a filmmaker his share of movie revenue. Litwak also functions as an expert witness on entertainment disputes and as a Producer's Rep, assisting filmmakers in the marketing and distribution of their films. Litwak is the author of six books: Reel Power, The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood (William Morrow, 1986), Courtroom Crusaders (William Morrow, 1989), Dealmaking in the Film & Television Industry (Silman-James Press,...

Douglas K. Schreiber (Member) born Los Angeles, California, September 16, 1953; admitted to bar, 1978, California; 1979, U.S. District Court, Central and Southern Districts of California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of Southern California (B.S., cum laude, 1975); Loyola University of Los Angeles (J.D., cum laude, 1978). Recipient: American Jurisprudence Award for Remedies. Member: State Bar of California. Reported Cases: Waisbren v. Peppercorn Productions Inc., (1995) 41 Cal.App.4th 246 48 Cal. Rptr. 2d 437; Lenane vs. Franchise Tax Board (1994) 9 Cal.4th 263, 36 Cal. Rptr.2d 563 Amicus Curiae.

Cheryl Hodgson offers a unique combination of legal expertise and practical business experience based upon years of experience in the music industry at a manager, agent, and music publisher. Expert in litigation of matters pertaining to contractual disputes, artist rights, trademarks, copyrights, Cheryl uses her courtroom expertise not only as a litigator but as a mediator in cases involving trademarks copyrights and entertainment related matters. Years in the courtroom provide her clients with strong advocacy for in business transactions, calculated to seal the deal, while minimizing future risks. Hodgson has been certified for...

BIG FIRM EXPERIENCE…SMALL FIRM SERVICE® Melvin N.A. Avanzado is the principal of The Avanzado Law Firm, APLC. Mel is a trial lawyer and outside general counsel, representing clients in complex matters in entertainment, media, intellectual property, sports and employment. Mel has extensive experience practicing with big law firms but now practices in his own small firm so he has the ability to provide personalized service to his clients. Mel is extensively involved in his community. Mel is active with numerous non-profit organizations, serving as general counsel to the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles and the UCLA Alumni Association...

Our operation is focused on providing cost effective solutions and expert customer service to all our clients. In addition to real estate, the firm represents clients in business litigation, construction defect problems, estate planning, arbitrations and mediations. We want our clients to fully understand the legal process and what will be involved in finding a constructive result to their legal issue. I am very active in the legal and real estate community. I continue to educate myself on the most up to date information within my field. I maintain active memberships with both local and national groups in the industry....

Ori Blumenfeld is a senior associate with Margulies Faith LLP. Mr. Blumenfeld focuses his practice in all areas of complex bankruptcy and insolvency, corporate restructuring, distressed assets, acquisition and disposition, and related litigation matters. In terms of his corporate bankruptcy expertise, Mr. Blumenfeld has represented debtors, trustees, and both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy courts. In addition, a substantial portion of his work consists of serving as general or special counsel to federal and state receivers appointed to general equity, Family Code, rents and profits, Health and Safety Code, and regulatory receiverships, as well as bankruptcy trustees, and...

Randy M. Grossman obtained his California state par certification in 1994 and has been providing trusted legal counsel to clients throughout the state ever since. The Law Offices of Randy M. Grossman is a criminal defense firm in San Diego that provides aggressive legal defense counsel for felony and misdemeanor charges. Mr. Grossman personally handles all of the firm’s cases, providing clients with one-on-one attention and sound legal advice. Mr. Grossman has thousands of cases under his belt, and is well-respected in the California court system. He works relentlessly to ensure his clients receive a fair trial and to...

Marlon Monroe brings a background of court battles and life experiences rarely found in employment law & civil rights attorneys. Prior to practicing law, Marlon taught middle school in Los Angeles for five years and worked in the music industry. After graduating from law school in South Florida, he began his legal career and moved back to Oakland, CA, where he practiced criminal defense for 15 years and became known as “The People’s Champion” due to his zealous advocacy, successful outcomes and representation of prominent members of the local community. While cultivating his skills in the courtroom, Marlon also worked with...

Suzanne Natbony is a third generation lawyer, with a focus on business transactional and regulatory/compliance law, and dispute resolution. She is licensed to practice in California, with her own law practice, Solve & Win, in West Los Angeles, in addition to being a Partner at the international law firm, Aliant LLP (AliantLaw.com) and Of Counsel to Merino Yebri LLP (MYlawLLP.com) in Century City. Ms. Natbony also serves as outside General Counsel to Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, a multi-state medical spa franchise (BHRCenter.com), Rejuva Medical Aesthetics, a westside medical spa, For Us By Us Network, a streaming video platform, and...

Gordon Firemark practices entertainment (Theatre, Film, Television, Digital Media), media and business law in Los Angeles. He helps creative industry professionals make deals that make sense, and that get their productions developed, financed, produced and distributed. His practice also covers intellectual property, cyberspace, new media, business transactions, and corporate matters for clients in the fields of media, entertainment, content and digital business. Mr. Firemark is frequently referred to as “The Podcast Lawyer™”, and is the author of The Podcast, Blog, & New Media Producers’ Legal Survival Guide. (Https://podcastlawbook.com) He is also a podcaster himself. ...

Joseph A. Yanny was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and attended college and law school at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Yanny obtained a B.E. in Engineering in 1975 and his J.D. in 1978. Mr. Yanny began practicing as a patent attorney in Chicago, Illinois where he obtained his first million dollar judgment before moving to California in 1980. Prior to founding his own law firm in 1983, Mr. Yanny worked in the aerospace industry in California.

Mr. Yanny is a member of the Chicago, Beverly Hills, South Bay, Los Angeles County, Illinois State and American Bar Associations;...

Tommy helps entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses of all kinds build great companies. His goal is to be a team member of your company to provide business and legal strategy in an effective and efficient manner. He serves as outside general counsel and advises clients in many different sectors, including technology, media, entertainment, retail, food and beverage, and outdoor recreation industries, among others. He prides himself on personalized services and building lasting relationships with his clients. He likes to work with teams bold enough to build epic brands, solve big problems, and make a dent in the universe.

Tommy graduated cum laude...

Mark Litwak is a veteran entertainment attorney and founder of the Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates based in Los Angeles, California. His practice includes work in the areas of copyright, trademark, contract, multimedia law, intellectual property and book publishing. As a Producer’s Representative, he assists filmmakers in arranging financing, marketing and distribution of their films. He also testifies as an expert witness in motion picture industry cases.

Litwak has packaged movie projects and served as executive producer on such feature films as “The Proposal,” “Out Of Line,” “Pressure,” and “Diamond Dog.” He has provided legal...

Mr. Alves's practice focuses on advising startups, emerging growth and middle market companies across a spectrum of industries in corporate, finance and business transactions with emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, contracts and project finance. Licensed in Brazil and the U.S., he practiced for several years at major law firms in Brazil and the U.S. advising domestic and international clients on, among other things, corporate, mergers and acquisitions and investments matters.

My goal is always to achieve the best possible outcome for the client. My current practice focuses on live musical and theatrical entertainment, and general civil litigation in federal and state courts. Other practice areas include alternative dispute resolution, copyright and trademark consultation, licensing and protection of intellectual property rights, employment issues, internet law, and appellate work. I also have substantial prior business experience in internet, alcoholic beverage distribution and entertainment industries. I am fluent in Hebrew.

I graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 2002 where I was an editor of Ecology Law Quarterly. Prior to that, I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Communication Studies from Loyola Marymount University. I was an adjunct professor of Communication Studies at Hawaii Pacific University, and have been an editor for many publications. I have also owned and run a few small businesses. I get what my business clients need. I come from a family of immigrants. I get the struggles there as well. I am also a musician and an artist...

I practice transactional entertainment and technology law and was a also a journalist at The Hollywood Reporter from 2010-20, where I covered entertainment labor, law and business. A former computer scientist, I was also active in local politics for over a decade. A preeminent expert on Hollywood unions and guilds, I'm the author of several books on the subject. I'm also an adjunct professor at USC and Southwestern law schools, and previously at UCLA Law School, and a non-resident research fellow at Rutgers University. I've worked as a talent lawyer; guild attorney; and as a litigator. I've been a member of the...

For four decades, I have successfully represented clients in the Media & Entertainment industries with Antitrust, Business and Appellate law needs. Licensed in New York and California, I have extensive experience in both domestic and international matters.

As a former Executive Vice President at Paramount Pictures, I am often called as an expert witness for media and entertainment industry disputes. I bring a unique set of skills and understanding to each and every case. I am dedicated to helping clients create strategies and solutions in a quick and efficient manner.

I hold a LL.M. in Trade Regulation, a J.D., and a M.S....

Full service entertainment law practice handling corporate, financing, production, marketing and distribution matters worldwide across all media for studios, networks, cable companies and independent producers.

Navid handles business litigation and employment litigation for individual and corporate clients in a wide range of industries, from small businesses to large publicly-traded corporations. As a seasoned Los Angeles entertainment lawyer, Navid has extensive experience in the media and entertainment industries, representing clients such as recording artists, managers and agents, production companies and content providers. Navid has litigated numerous intellectual property claims involving, among other things, copyright and trademark infringement, cyber-squatting, defamation, right of publicity, and trade secret misappropriation. Navid handles sexual harassment, wrongful termination, disability discrimination and pregnancy discrimination. Since 2002, Navid Soleymani has been litigating complex business, entertainment,...

Barry Melton is a Lake County, California, attorney admitted to practice law before all the courts of the State of California since 1982; and he is admitted to practice before California's Central, Eastern and Southern U.S. District Courts. He is also qualified to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Barry has been admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court for more than 20 years. In addition to a broad range of general legal practice experience, Barry Melton is an attorney certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Board of Legal...

A distinguished Southern California attorney, Bruce Jeffer is dedicated to providing exceptional representation for Corporate Law matters. With an emphasis on Mergers & Acquisitions, Energy and Securities transactions, his practice areas include Entertainment & Sports, International, Investment Management, Natural Resources and Real Estate law matters.

A Founding Member of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, Bruce has 50 years of experience and legal knowledge. He is recognized by peers for both his leadership and business law acumen. Always results-oriented, he is dedicated to outstanding service, legal expertise, and cost-effective representation. Bruce is committed to helping his clients achieve their business goals.

Jay has represented and advised investors of public companies in shareholder derivative actions and complex class action litigation for over a decade. He helped secure millions of dollars in financial recovery and corporate governance reforms. He investigated and litigated claims involving such issues as accounting fraud, executive compensation, board entrenchment, board elections, corporate takeovers, inadequate internal controls, and violations of the False Claim Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-money laundering laws, and vehicular and aeronautical safety regulations.

Since 2017, Jay has focused his legal practice on helping entrepreneurs successfully form and operate their businesses, representing clients in contract or business...

With over 20 years of experience in media, tech, and law, I am passionate about empowering and representing artists and brands in the digital age. Having founded tech companies, digital agencies and a bank - I have a unique view of how business works and thrives. Originally a techie (early hacker, Cisco CCNA and Microsoft MCSE), I have a unique understanding of the cyber world, AI and emerging technologies. As an attorney at Sterling Media Law, I focus on media law, cyber law, business law, and real estate law - negotiating complex and creative deals. My mission is to help...

Mr. Carucci was born and raised in San Diego, California. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego where he graduated from the Honors program with a degree in Business Administration. Mr. Carucci then attended law school at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C. During law school, Mr. Carucci interned for the Honorable Frederick H. Bysshe of the Ventura County Superior Court and externed with the Department of Justice in their Fraud Department. At Georgetown, Mr. Carucci was also a Senior Articles Editor on the American Criminal Law Review and a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution...

Gemma L. Mondala's practice is broad but focuses primarily on business litigation, employment law and complex litigation matters. Gemma's experience includes the defense of insureds against claims related to automobile accidents, premises liability, products liability, slip/trip and falls, dog bites, toxic torts and construction defects. She has also represented business clients in enforcing and defending against breach of contract and business tort claims (i.e. intentional interference with contract and business advantage, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud and misrepresentation) as well as claims involving breaches of fiduciary duties. Gemma also advises Cities, Counties and...

Mark A. Pearson is a founding partner at ARC Law Group (www.arclg.com), a law firm focused on counseling Creative, Talented and Entrepreneurial clients. His primary practice areas involve forming business entities, counseling on trademark & copyright issues, and drafting contracts for music, film & new media clients. His list of interesting and eclectic clients include entertainment industry tech firms, social media outlets, online content providers, film, radio & television producers, live entertainment companies, publishers and video game developers. Mark and his partner, Anne Yarovoy, have also been known to associate with various theater producers, musicians, industry execs,...

David L. Axelrod began work as a teenager, selling scorecards in Dodger Stadium. After attending college, David L. Axelrod entered a career as Park Ranger and Fire Fighter, at the East Bay Regional Park District of Northern California. In 1988, David L. Axelrod graduated law school at the University of California, Berkeley, California, passed the bar, and commenced the practice of law. David L. Axelrod worked as Deputy Attorney for CALTRANS Legal Division in Los Angeles, California, and then as Deputy Tuolumne County Counsel in Sonora, California. Mr....

I am an attorney who provides legal services to emerging and established artists. I also cater to the legal needs of entrepreneurs and to businesses which are just starting up or have already been established. In representing these clients, I strive to protect the intellectual property of businesses and creative and technical artists across a wide spectrum of media.

I have extensive experience in legal, finance, management and company-building.

As an attorney, my focus has been on transactional drafting and negotiation and providing ongoing legal counsel and contract interpretation to numerous private individuals as well as companies in varied fields such as media and entertainment, oil and gas, mining and exploration, virtual reality technologies, private health care, cannabis, and mortgage lending and real estate.

As an entertainment professional, I have acquired, or produced, and distributed dozens of feature films, while usually being active in managing the business and legal affairs of most the companies I have worked for or founded. My...