Ashley R. Yeargan is a partner at Russ August & Kabat and a member of its Media & Entertainment and Litigation & Trial groups. 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 2022-2024. 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.
While a law student at Stanford Law School, Ashley was a First Place Recipient of Stanford Law School’s Intellectual Property Writing Award and also collaborated with former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher on a report for the National War Powers Commission concerning the respective powers of the US President and Congress to make and declare war.
RECENT MATTERS
Below are examples of Ashley’s current and recently-resolved matters:
- Representing Drake in several litigation matters pending in California, New York, and Canada, 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.
- Resolved a dispute clouding chain of title to a documentary film and is now assisting with the delivery of that film to a U.S. distributor.
- Providing ongoing legal counsel to Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc., in connection with US projects, including the series American Ninja Warrior.
- Handling confidential Hollywood accounting disputes related to contractual participations in films, television programs, and music.
- Representing high-profile individuals in obtaining retractions (and takedowns) from online and print entertainment news media.
- Defended Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila in a trademark and trade dress infringement case brought by the owners of Tequila 512.
- 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 music executive Todd Moscowitz in a lawsuit against Theory Entertainment, LLC regarding his ownership of stock in the company.
- 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 in 2013. The jury completely denied Mr. Charalambopoulos’s claims and rejected his request for more than $25 million in damages against Ms. Grammer.
- Represented Jamie Spears in his capacity as conservator of the Estate of Britney J. Spears in litigation against blogger Anthony Elia and various other media matters.
- Represented producer Dana Brunetti in his 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. The case also involved a claim that ABC improperly promoted Wipeout by trading on consumer goodwill associated with Tokyo Broadcasting’s shows in order to attract viewers.
- 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
Minna Jay is a partner at Russ August & Kabat, where she represents clients in high-stakes patent litigation. Ms. Jay has significant experience in all phases of litigation before federal district courts, the ITC, and the PTAB. Over recent years, she has helped attain highly favorable settlement and trial outcomes resulting in over a billion dollars in awards and settlements for clients across a wide range of technologies, including smart thermostats, data compression, wireless communications, electronic storage devices, and semiconductors.
Prior to joining Russ, August, & Kabat, Ms. Jay successfully defended complex product liability, tort, and business litigation cases on behalf of automotive manufacturers and ride-share technology companies in both pre-trial and trial phases. She also worked closely with her clients regarding novel autonomous vehicle research/development issues. Ms. Jay formerly externed for the Honorable Otis D. Wright, II and the Honorable Craig Richman. Ms. Jay graduated from Loyola Law School where she served as the Senior Production Editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review.
Ms. Jay has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star” by Los Angeles Magazine every year since 2020. In 2023 and 2024, she was named a Top 100 Rising Star and a Top 50 Women Rising Star.
Shani M. Williams is an associate at Russ August & Kabat, where she practices in the Intellectual Property and Litigation & Trial groups. Ms. Williams’s practice focuses on patent litigation.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, she clerked for the Honorable Kenneth L. Ryskamp, Senior District Judge in the Southern District of Florida.
Ms. Williams was recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer in 2025 and prior to that she was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2015-2020. From 2018-2020, she was recognized as a Southern California Top 50 Women Rising Star.
Ms. Williams graduated summa cum laude from Pepperdine University School of Law and is a member of the honor society Order of the Coif. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she was a President’s Scholar and graduated with highest honors.
Andrew D. Weiss is an attorney at Russ August & Kabat, where he practices in the Patent Litigation and Litigation & Trial departments.
Mr. Weiss has represented a variety of clients, including technology, internet, semiconductor, MRI and manufacturing companies. Mr. Weiss has deep experience in all aspects of litigation, from pre-filing evaluation and strategy to trial and appeal.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, Mr. Weiss was an associate at Irell & Manella LLP for four years, where his practice focused primarily on intellectual property litigation.
Mr. Weiss is a graduate of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and has an undergraduate degree in Computer Science. He was chosen to the 2010 and 2011 “Rising Stars” list by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine.
Ben Wang is a partner at Russ August & Kabat. He represents clients in business and intellectual property disputes, particularly in patent trials and appeals.
Ben clerked for Judge Ferdinand Fernandez of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and Chief Judge George H. King of the Central District of California. He also served a three-year term on the Committee on Federal Courts for the California State Bar, and worked for the U.S. Trustee Program for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ben earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California where he graduated order of the coif, served as Executive Notes Editor for the U.S.C. Law Review, received the James Tam Award for academic excellence, served as a teaching assistant for Professor George Lefcoe’s Real Estate Transactions and Finance classes, and worked as a legal writing instructor.
The Los Angeles Daily Journal named him one of the Leading Intellectual Property Lawyers in California. The Los Angeles Business Journal named him one of the Most Influential Minority Lawyers in Los Angeles. Super Lawyers magazine named him a Rising Star, Super Lawyer, and Top 100 Super Lawyer. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
EXPERIENCE
- SPEX v. Western Digital – $315,715,899 jury verdict of patent infringement in favor of client SPEX with potential pre-judgment interest of an additional $232,543,187. As a result of various pre-trial activities, Western Digital and its attorneys at Gibson Dunn disastrously decided to present no rebuttal witnesses at trial. The verdict is one of the highest patent verdicts ever in the Central District of California and nationwide. Encryption patent.
- Pavo v. Kingston – $13.7M judgment based on jury verdict of patent infringement, willful infringement, enhanced damages, and interest in favor of client Pavo. All issues affirmed in a precedential opinion by Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Memory device patent.
- SPEX v. Apricorn – $4M damages award after jury verdict of patent infringement. Encryption patent.
- Nanology Alpha v. WITec – 5% royalty damages award after jury verdict of patent infringement. Scanning probe/optical microscope patent.
- Mirror Worlds v. Facebook – Reversal of district court’s summary judgment of non-infringement by Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
- LG v. Conversant – Published opinion by Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, affirming claim construction by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes review proceedings, and that none of the claims was invalid under the prior art.
- Core Wireless v. LG – Precedential opinion by Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, affirming all issues in favor of client Core Wireless, including claim constructions, no invalidity despite no rebuttal testimony about prior art, and eligibility of the patents under Section 101.
- VIA Technologies v. ASUS – Favorable settlement for client VIA in USB circuit design trade secret misappropriation case.
- Neurovision Medical Products v. Medtronic – Favorable settlement for client Neurovision in nerve monitoring electrode patent infringement case.
- Core Wireless v. Apple – $7.3M jury verdict. Cellular communications patents.
- TQP v. Newegg – $2.3M jury verdict. Encryption patent.
- Clear with Computers v. Hyundai – $19M judgment based on jury verdict of infringement and no invalidity, ongoing royalty, and interest. Marketing patent.
- St. Jude Medical v. Access Closure Inc. – $27.1M jury verdict. Medical device patent.
- MTH v. FATTOC, LLC – Favorable settlement for client MTH in high frequency trading trade secret misappropriation case.
- Santarus v. Par Pharmaceutical – Favorable settlement for client Santarus in omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate patent infringement case.
- Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation v. Intel – $110M settlement for client WARF. Data speculation circuit patent.
- Peer Communications v. Skype – Judgment of invalidity in favor of client Peer Communications. Network communications patent.
- Zenith Electronics Corp. v. Thomson, Inc. – Favorable settlement for client Thomson in set-top box patent infringement case.
- Knowles Electronics v. AAC Acoustic Technologies – Trial judgment of no trade secret misappropriation in favor of client AAC. MEMS technology.
- Ben has also advised clients in cases brought by the FTC, claims involving well-known social networking websites, and antitrust, securities fraud, copyright infringement, and breach of contract claims.
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)
