Christine Shin is a partner in the corporate group at Russ August & Kabat and chair of the mergers & acquisitions/private equity practice.
Christine has represented U.S. Fortune 500 companies, international conglomerates and global private equity firms in their significant transactions. She has extensive experience in M&A, private equity, public company representation, cross-border investment, multi-jurisdictional deal execution and related corporate transactions. Ms. Shin leads and executes transactions for private equity funds active in the middle market and counsels their portfolio companies on operational matters.
Ms. Shin has negotiated and closed transactions ranging from less than $10 million to over $3 billion, including representing clients in the automotive, cosmetics, energy, entertainment, fashion, financial services, gaming, healthcare, medical, online gaming, real estate, retail, technology and pharmaceutical industries. She has worked closely with boards of directors in making critical strategic decisions for cross-border expansion in the US and overseas.
In 2022, Ms. Shin was recognized among the Los Angeles Business Journal‘s Women of Influence: Attorneys. She was also named a Super Lawyer Rising Star by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine from 2022-2024. In 2020 and 2021, Ms. Shin was named “A Leader of Influence” among 2020 Private Equity Investors & Advisors by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, Ms. Shin was part of the corporate practice at Latham & Watkins LLP. She earned her J.D. from Yale Law School and graduated with honors from Wellesley College where she majored in English and Economics.
Recent Matters:
- Phillips Edison in its $1 billion sale of real estate assets to Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership.
- Guidance Software in its $240 million sale to OpenText.
- Air Medical Resources Group in its $750 million sale to Air Medical Group Holdings, a KKR portfolio company.
- ArcLight Capital Partners in its acquisition of hydroelectric power assets from TransCanada Corporation for $1.065 billion.
- Onex Partners in its $3.55 billion acquisition of Thompson Reuter’s intellectual property and life sciences business.
- Acquisitions and dispositions for Oaktree Capital Management, Odyssey Investment Partners, Clearlight Partners, Mondi AG, Nestlé, Motorcar Parts of America, Boeing, Shinseggae Co., Ltd. and the National Pension Service of Korea.
- Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Duff & Phelps, Moelis, Stifel and other investment banks as financial advisors in a wide range of public company M&A transactions.
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
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)
Jean Rhee is a partner at Russ August & Kabat, where she specializes in complex business, employment, and intellectual property litigation, and employment law counseling. Ms. Rhee has represented numerous Fortune 100 and 500 clients in a variety of matters, ranging from complex civil to white-collar criminal and regulatory matters. She has successfully litigated in both federal and state court, as well as in various domestic and international arbitral forums.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, Ms. Rhee was an attorney at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP and Bird Marella. Before entering private practice, she clerked for the Honorable Ronald M. Gould on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ms. Rhee was recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2022-2025. Prior to that, she was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2013-2019, and both a Southern California Top 100 Rising Star and a Southern California Top 50 Women Rising Star from 2015-2020.
In her free time, Ms. Rhee stays active by rock climbing, surfing, running, and traveling. She is also focused on giving back to the local and legal community. From 2005 to 2007 she served as a director of the non-profit, Project by Project. From 2008 to 2014, she served as a director and acting General Counsel for the non-profit, Asian Professional Exchange, which was then the largest Asian American young professional organization in the US. In 2012, she co-chaired the Young Lawyers Subcommittee of the ABA White Collar Crime Committee. Currently, she serves on the Internet Committee for the International Trademark Association (INTA), and volunteers with Bet Tzedek.
Recent Matters
- First-chaired jury trial in California state court, and obtained unanimous verdict for client on all contract and quasi-contract claims.
- Obtained favorable resolutions for Brotman Medical Center, Inc. in a variety of civil matters, ranging from employment discrimination lawsuits (sexual orientation, race and age), to successfully preventing shareholders from obtaining a preliminary injunction to bar a time-sensitive going-private transaction.
- Counseled and represented numerous clients, including 99 Cents Only Stores, Battaglia Shops, Heathco, Brighton Collectibles, Centerplate, and Midnight Mission, regarding state and federal employment issues and termination decisions.
- Counseled and represented numerous clients, including deadmau5, The Honest Company, and Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, the world’s largest self-serve frozen yogurt brand, in trademark matters in district court and before the USPTO.
- Defended Merrill Lynch and Fidelity against nationwide wage-and-hour class actions brought by financial advisors.
- Second-chaired seven felony count healthcare fraud jury trial in federal court and obtained purely probationary sentence for client. Briefed appeal of judgment, including issue of first impression in the Ninth Circuit under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
- Represented President and CEO of premium denim manufacturer in sentencing for a $15M workers’ compensation fraud case, and succeeded in obtaining sentence of only 1 month and reducing restitution amount to under $6M following a contested restitution hearing.
- Represented individual client in abating $33M IRS jeopardy assessment.Conducted internal investigation for and counseled international defense contractor regarding Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues relating to multi-million dollar defense contracts with Indonesian military.
- Represented President of foreign subsidiary of Fortune 500 computer manufacturing company in connection with global federal government investigation into alleged Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.
- Represented Global Head of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands for Hilton Hotels Corporation in civil litigation and parallel federal criminal investigation initiated by his former employer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood had alleged that the client had breached his non-solicitation, confidentiality and intellectual property agreements and misappropriated trade secrets relating to the W Hotels. The civil matter was resolved via confidential settlement, and the United States Attorney’s Office ultimately declined to bring charges.
- Represented Milberg LLP, lead plaintiffs’ counsel in a securities class action proceeding, in a sanctions hearing in federal court in San Diego where the defendant corporation alleged that Milberg knowingly received documents misappropriated by its former employee, and used them in the underlying class action. After a full-blown evidentiary hearing, the Court found that no misconduct had occurred.
- Successfully demurred to claims against publicly-traded bank holding company, Hanmi Financial Corporation, its subsidiary bank and its directors and officers in shareholder derivative action.Represented largest PVC pipe manufacturer in the world, J-M Manufacturing, Inc., in $1B+, bet-the-company qui tam case involving federal and state False Claims Act statutes through the pre-trial phase.
- Successfully moved to compel arbitration of breach of contract claims against international pop and film star, Rain a.k.a. Jung Ji Hoon.
- Represented CEO of major US airline in making an SEC proffer in connection with an insider trading inquiry.
- Conducted stock options backdating investigation for the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of a Fortune 500 company.Second-chaired multi-week international arbitration in insurance coverage dispute for Shell Oil.
Nathan Meyer is a partner at Russ August & Kabat, where he practices in the litigation and intellectual property departments.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, from September of 2005 to March of 2008, Mr. Meyer was an associate at Kaye Scholer LLP, where he was a member of the litigation department.
Mr. Meyer is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College. From 2010-2020, he was chosen to the “Rising Stars” list by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine. From 2016-2020, Mr. Meyer was recognized as a Southern California Top 100 Rising Star.
Recent Matters
- Lead trial counsel in five-day real estate trial in 2022, Los Angeles Superior Court.
- Primary appellate counsel in reversal of trial court ruling on an issue relating to dissolution of Limited Liability Companies, 2021
- Represented, with Larry Russ and Jean Rhee, a major apparel retailer in a trademark case, through successful summary judgment and successful appeal at the Ninth Circuit.
- Lead counsel in more than a dozen apparel copyright matters (defense side) regarding fabric prints.
- Represented, with Jules Kabat, a real estate investor in an arbitration with a partner.Represented, with Jules Kabat, a truck lift gate manufacturer in five cases across multiple state relating to the enforceability of out-of-state noncompetes under Business & Professions Code 16600.
- Represented, with Steve Goldberg, clothing manufacturing company in a a monthlong jury trial.
- Represented, with Mike Brophy, an apparel partnership in a monthlong court trial.
- Primary appellate counsel in approximately ten successful appeals, including published case law regarding the scope of trust deeds and reversal of trial court order on dissolution of limited liability company.
- With Marc Fenster, successfully litigated a patent ownership dispute from complaint through trial, including opening and closing argument and taking testimony before the Court.
- With Larry Russ, defended Forever 21 in a copyright and trade dress case that resulted in a grant of summary judgment in favor of the client.
- Second-chaired, with Judith Meadow, a three-day court trial regarding enforcement of an Australian judgment and fraudulent transfers revolving around an Indian Ocean casino.
- Represented, with Steven Goldberg, David Gabor, and Raquel Vallejo a Beverly Hills homeowners association in a ten-day court trial regarding disputed easement rights.
- Represented, with Larry Russ, a marine products company against various entities in the marine product industry concerning allegation of a horizontal bid-rigging conspiracy for foam-filled marine fender and buoy contracts.
- Second-chaired a two-day court trial, with Steven Goldberg, in a real estate partnership dispute.
