Richard Marks is an American entertainment lawyer. [1] [2] [3]
Marks graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970, where he was the valedictory speaker. [4] He continued his education at the UCLA School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1973 and passing the California bar that same year. [5]
Marks began his legal career in-house at major entertainment studios, including Universal, Disney, and Paramount. He transitioned to private practice, [2] eventually forming his own firm, Richard Marks & Associates Entertainment Law, in April 2020. [1]
Marks has also served as an expert witness in various high-profile legal cases, [2] including Depp v. Heard. [6] [7] [8]
John Christopher Depp II is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA awards. His films, in which he has often played eccentric characters, have grossed over $8 billion worldwide, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.
The University of California, Los Angeles School of Law is the law school of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Thomas Arthur Mesereau Jr. is an American attorney known for defending Michael Jackson in his 2005 child molestation trial, as well as Mike Tyson, Bill Cosby and, in 2023, Danny Masterson, a case in which Mesereau was sanctioned by the judge.
Southwestern Law School is a private law school in Los Angeles, California. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and enrolls nearly 1,000 students. Its campus includes the Bullocks Wilshire building, an art deco National Register of Historic Places landmark built in 1929. Southwestern is an independent law school with affiliation to the undergraduate program at California State University, Northridge.
Leo Terrell is an American civil rights attorney and talk radio host based in Los Angeles, California. He has frequently appeared on Fox News programs, such as Hannity and The O'Reilly Factor. Previously a Democrat, in a July 2020 interview, he declared his support for President Donald Trump—the first time he declared support for a Republican Party presidential candidate. Referring to his new self as "Leo 2.0", Terrell says that he is a happier person as a Republican.
Debra Ann Opri is an American attorney. Opri's main office is in Los Angeles. Opri is licensed to practice law in California, New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia D.C. Opri is best known as a celebrity attorney and guest commentator on divorce and other high-profile cases
Amber Laura Heard is an American actress. She had her first leading role in the horror film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006), and went on to star in films such as The Ward (2010), Drive Angry (2011), and London Fields (2018). She has also had supporting roles in films including Pineapple Express (2008), Never Back Down (2008), The Joneses (2009), The Rum Diary (2011), Paranoia (2013), Machete Kills (2013), 3 Days to Kill (2014), Magic Mike XXL (2015), and The Danish Girl (2015). From 2017 to 2023, Heard played Mera in the DC Extended Universe, including the films Justice League (2017), Aquaman (2018), and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023). She has also acted in television series such as The CW's teen drama Hidden Palms (2007) and the Paramount+ fantasy series The Stand (2020–2021).
Keith Fink is an American attorney, author, and academic. He represented clients in a contract dispute with Ellen DeGeneres dubbed by the media as "Iggygate".
Neal Jimenez was an American screenwriter and film director, best known for the 1986 film River's Edge. He was a member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994. He won Independent Spirit Awards for Best First Feature and Best Screenplay for The Waterdance.
Adam Fredric Streisand is an American trial attorney notable for his involvement in high profile litigation with regard to private wealth disputes: "Adam Streisand is widely regarded as one of the nation's top trial attorneys, particularly in high profile litigation involving private wealth disputes, fiduciary litigation, business succession and partnership disputes and litigation involving trusts, estates and conservatorships." He is credited with "rescuing" both NBA franchises in Los Angeles, having represented former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at trial against Donald Sterling over the Los Angeles Clippers, and Jeanie Buss in litigation over control of the Los Angeles Lakers. Streisand also represents Dea Spanos Berberian and Georgia Angelos in litigation involving succession and control over the LA Chargers and Baltimore Orioles, respectively. Streisand is named one of the top trial lawyers in the U.S. by the L.A. business journal, and one of the most influential people in Los Angeles, for these and many other victories in battles over the estates of the rich and famous, including Michael Jackson, Tom Petty, Hugh Hefner, Muhammad Ali, Ray Charles, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Douglas Tompkins, Barry White, Dennis Hopper, Michael Crichton, Anna Nicole Smith, Rodney Dangerfield, Rock Hudson, Joey Bishop, Bing Crosby, Gore Vidal, Carroll Shelby, Alan Thicke, Terry Semel Allen Paulson and others.
Dina LaPolt is an American entertainment lawyer and artist rights advocate based in Los Angeles, California. After an early career in the music industry, she became an entertainment lawyer in 1997. She is the founder and owner of LaPolt Law.
City of Lies is a 2018 crime thriller film about the investigations by the Los Angeles Police Department of the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. It is directed by Brad Furman, with a screenplay by Christian Contreras based on the non-fiction book LAbyrinth by Randall Sullivan. The film stars Johnny Depp as retired LAPD detective Russell Poole and Forest Whitaker as journalist Jack Jackson, with Rockmond Dunbar and Neil Brown Jr. also starring.
Andrei Iancu is a Romanian-American engineer and intellectual property attorney, who served as the under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from 2017 to 2021. He was nominated for both positions in 2017 by President Donald Trump. He left office on January 20, 2021. He is currently a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell's intellectual property & technology practice.
Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd[2020] EWHC 2911 (QB) was a defamation lawsuit brought in England. The case was initiated by American actor Johnny Depp, who sued News Group Newspapers (NGN) and then-executive editor Dan Wootton for libel after The Sun ran an article that claimed Depp had abused his ex-wife and criticised his casting in the Fantastic Beasts film series. The article stated, "Overwhelming evidence was filed to show Johnny Depp engaged in domestic violence against his wife Amber Heard," who "recounted a detailed history of domestic abuse incidents, some of which had led to her fearing for her life." After a three-week trial in London in July 2020, Andrew Nicol, a High Court judge sitting without a jury, rejected Depp's claim in a verdict announced later that year, ruling that the published material was "substantially true".
Jonathan Handel is an American entertainment lawyer, journalist, author and commentator.
John C. Depp, II v. Amber Laura Heard was a trial held in Fairfax County, Virginia, from April 11 to June 1, 2022, that ruled on allegations of defamation between formerly married American actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Depp, as plaintiff, filed a complaint of defamation against defendant Heard claiming $50 million in damages; Heard filed counterclaims against Depp claiming $100 million in damages.
Camille Vasquez is an American attorney known for representing actor Johnny Depp in the defamation case that he brought against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Brown Rudnick is an American law firm known in the practice areas of bankruptcy, litigation, brand and reputation management, and corporate transactions.
Jennifer K. Howell is an American film producer, actor, and social activist. She is the founder of The Art of Elysium, a nonprofit organisation, and Elysium Bandini Studios, a nonprofit film production company. Howell received the Walter Littlefield Distinguished Speaker in Rhetoric and Communication Award in 2012. She is known for producing films such as "Don't Come Back from the Moon", "The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards", "Forever", and Webby Awards winning documentary film "Obey Giant". She also produced the 2012 short documentary "The Art of Elysium Stories", which was nominated for the 3rd Annual Shorty Social Good Awards in the best video series category.
Emily D. Baker is an American legal commentator, podcast host, and former deputy district attorney. She is best known for her YouTube channel and podcast, "The Emily Show," where she provides legal analysis and commentary on high-profile cases and pop culture events. She is a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, from 2004 until 2020.