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 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.
