Alex M. Weingarten

• Daily Journal
  • Leading Commercial Litigators, 2024
  • Top 100 Lawyers in California, 2023
  • Top 20 Lawyers Under 40, 2013
• LA Times B2B Publishing, Legal Visionary, 2023
• The American Lawyer “2022 West Trailblazers”
• Los Angeles Business Journal
  • Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers, 2018 - 2023
  • Top100 Lawyers, 2022
  • LA500: The Most Influential People in Los Angeles, 2019 - 2023
  • Leaders in Law Award Finalist, 2016 - 2018
• Billboard, Top Music Lawyer, 2018 - 2024
• Variety, Legal Impact Report, 2017 – 2022
• Benchmark Litigation
  • Shortlisted, Entertainment Litigator of the Year, 2024
  • Litigation Star - Commercial (National, California), 2024
• Super Lawyers
  • Southern California, 2014 - 2018, 2020 - 2024
  • Rising Stars, 2008 - 2013
• Best Lawyers in America
  • Commercial Litigation, 2019 - 2024
  • Entertainment Law – Music, 2023
• Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent Rated
• The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
  • The Bruce I. Hochman Maimonides Torch of Justice Award, 2023
  • Jules Ratner Leadership Award, 2015
• Hillcrest Country Club, Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin Community Service Award

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

• Member, Board of Directors, Bet Tzedek

• “Navigating Prospective Client Obligations Under Rule 1.18,” Daily Journal, 2024
• Panelist, “State of the Real Estate Market; New Approaches to Analyzing Space Needs, Leasing” and “Risk Management and Other Business Issues,” Sandpiper Partners 15th Annual California Legal Market Conference, March 14, 2023

Alex advised on the following significant 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, and 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 a 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

*Alex advised on these matters prior to joining Willkie.