Alex M. Weingarten

Representative Matters

Entertainment Litigation

• Obtained judgment of nonsuit in the middle of trial, representing a defendant film financier against a large hedge fund; substituted in as counsel, taking over from a large law firm, just one month before trial
• Represented an internationally renowned musician in a dispute with a beverage company over compensation owed from a phantom equity clause in an endorsement agreement; obtained a substantial confidential settlement after defeating a summary judgment motion by defendants
• Represented a hip-hop artist in a dispute with a manager over commissions allegedly owed under a 360 management deal
• Obtained judgment for an actor, including punitive damages, attorney's fees, and interest, against a former assistant who stole money and identity
• Represented a pioneering electronic music impresario in claims regarding control of and profits from an independent label
• Representing adult children of deceased celebrity—one of whom is a celebrity himself—in litigation against stepmother attempting to disregard prenuptial agreement
• Represented an actress in claims of breach of fiduciary against her mother/manager
• Represented plaintiffs in claims for compensation due for their role in the $800 million purchase and sale of a film library
• Represented an internationally renowned musician and actress in employment discrimination claims brought by a former driver, and counterclaims for extortion
• Represented plaintiff musician in an action arising from injuries sustained during a performance at the 2009 Tony Awards
• Represented a production company and a producer against a foreign market distributor in International Film and Television Alliance arbitration, regarding breach of distribution agreement and failure to pay royalties; won award for client on all claims, including award of costs and attorneys’ fees
• Obtained an arbitration award of $3.8 million plus costs and attorneys' fees, for an international sales agent in a dispute with a foreign distributor, regarding motion picture titles
• Won an arbitration ruling against a studio for breach of lease agreement; obtained total victory on all claims from arbitrator, including award of fees and costs
• Represented a comedian in a dispute with a television network, regarding a breach of talent hold agreement
• Obtained a multi-million-dollar settlement for the largest independent film storage and vault facility, in an insurance bad faith dispute

Trust and Estate Litigation

• Represented trustees of a $100 million estate against claims of undue influence and incapacity brought by the son and grandson of the testator; defeated claims by the grandson following a bench trial establishing that he lacked standing to proceed
• Won at trial for the beneficiary of an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT), defeating claims by competing putative beneficiaries and securing the entire benefit of the insurance policy; exposed the opposing party as having manufactured evidence to support her claim in the process, as recognized by the court in its statement of decision
• Representing the adult children of a deceased celebrity in litigation against the stepmother who is attempting to disregard her prenuptial agreement
• Represented heirs of a $50 million estate against a new trustee/beneficiary who had altered trust documents while decedent was incapacitated
• Represented the trustees of a $25 million estate against claims of undue influence and incapacity brought by children of the decedent
• Represented the trustee and main beneficiary of a trust against a claim by the co-beneficiary (son of decedent) who was unhappy with his share of the estate; claims resolved in client’s favor, and petitioner challenging terms of the trust was disinherited through invocation of a no-contest clause
• Represented the beneficiary of a multi-million-dollar estate who had been disinherited by his sister; the sister had surreptitiously altered the trust documents of the decedent, using undue influence and fraud; terms of the original trust were restored, and client received his rightful share of his parents' estate
• Represented the majority of beneficiaries and co-trustees in a dispute between sisters over a $20 million estate, and litigated claims on behalf of the estate against third parties, bringing $10 million into the estate; defeated one beneficiary’s attempt to force other beneficiaries to sell trust assets

Commercial Litigation

• Won a seven-figure arbitration award for heirs of a partner with business in dispute over a buy-sell agreement; judgment included award of attorneys' fees, costs, and pre-judgment interest
• Represented a medical imaging center in a jury trial against a large national medical industry conglomerate over breach of an installation contract; obtained a unanimous jury verdict for the client on all counts, including breach of contract, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and defeated all counterclaims
• Represented a client in a bench trial on liability issues in an inverse condemnation case; won at trial on liability issues; case settled for $5.75 million, two days prior to the jury trial on damages
• Represented a telecommunications company in a rate discrimination case against an international service provider

Intellectual Property Litigation

• Represented a cable television network in defense against trademark claims brought by a liquor company
• Represented a television network in defense against copyright claims related to a broadcast of documentary feature
• Represented a manufacturer in patent litigation regarding sliding door technology
• Represented a toy manufacturer in defense against trademark claims brought by competitor, over the color of products
• Represented a toy company in defense against trademark and breach of license claims
• Represented one of the 20 highest-traffic Internet sites in the world, in a pre-litigation settlement of trademark infringement and dilution claims
• Prosecuted trade secret misappropriation claims by a fitness company franchisor against a franchisee
• Prosecuted multijurisdictional trade secret claims on behalf of a developer of pouch technology

Real Estate Litigation

• Representing the developer of hotel in South Florida in a multi-million-dollar litigation brought by investors in the development
• Obtained an eight-figure judgment following a six-week bench trial for the owner of an office building and film storage facility, in an inverse condemnation action against a major utility company
• Represented the developer of a $100 million-plus medical building project in litigation regarding competing claims by investors in the project; case settled on extremely favorable confidential terms for the client
• Represented a group of institutional real estate investors in $100 million alter ego claims against the principals of a development company; case settled on extremely favorable, confidential terms for the client
• Won an arbitration award against a studio tenant for breach of lease agreement; obtained total victory on all claims from the arbitrator, including award of fees and costs
• Defended claims of fraudulent conveyance of dozens of real properties in an action brought by a disgruntled seller, expunging lis pendens filed improperly against multiple properties and recovering fees and costs
• Represented an international real estate investment fund in multiple class action litigations alleging securities fraud
• Represented a national franchise corporation in litigation involving lease disputes
• Tried a zoning dispute on behalf of a nightclub against a municipal government

Education

• J.D. Georgetown University Law Center 1999
• B.A. University of California at Berkeley 1996

Bar Admissions

• California

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Judge pro tempore, Los Angeles County Superior Court
• Member, Chancery Club of Los Angeles
• Past chair, Jewish Federation of Los Angeles Legal Division

• Named a Top Music Lawyer, Billboard, 2018
• Named among the Top 50 Litigators in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2018
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2019
• Recognized in Variety Magazine's Legal Impact Report, 2017 - 2018
• Finalist, Los Angeles Business Journal's Leaders in Law Award, 2016 - 2018
• Named among Top 20 Lawyers in California Under 40, Daily Journal, 2013
• Recognized in Southern California Super Lawyer, 2014 - 2018; Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2008 - 2013
• Given an AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
• Recipient, Jules Ratner Leadership Award, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
• Recipient, Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin Community Service Award, Hillcrest Country Club

Volunteerism

• Member, board of directors, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
• Member, board of trustees, Junior Statesmen Foundation
• Member, National Young Leadership Cabinet, Jewish Federations of North America
• Member, board of directors, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California