Howard Weitzman – In Memoriam

Howard Weitzman – In Memoriam

Partner

Practice Areas

Honors & Awards

Listed in Chambers USA, the world’s leading guide to the legal profession
America’s “Power Lawyers,” The Hollywood Reporter (2009 – 2019)
“Legal Impact Report,” Variety (2013-2019)
“The Best Lawyers in America,” U.S. News & World Report (1995-Present)
“Top Music Lawyers,” Billboard (2018)
Los Angeles Entertainment Law – Music “Lawyer of the Year,” Best Lawyers (2014)
“Southern California Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyer Magazine (2004 – 2019)
“L.A.’s Top 100 Lawyers,” Los Angeles Business Journal (2009)

Education

University of Southern California, B.A. (1962)
University of Southern California Law Center J.D. (1965)

Mr. Weitzman is recognized as one of the most influential attorneys in the nation. His practice includes litigation in civil, criminal, antitrust and regulatory forums. Mr. Weitzman has been lead trial attorney in over 300 civil and criminal jury trials, and has represented over 1,000 individuals and companies on matters ranging from intellectual property and entertainment issues to family law and estate issues. He has twice received the Jerry Geisler Memorial Award as the outstanding trial lawyer in Los Angeles County. He has been profiled in a number of publications and was named one of the top fifteen lawyers in the country by The National Law Journal.

Mr. Weitzman’s clients have included every major motion picture studio, talent agencies William Morris, ICM and CAA, and many high-profile clients including John DeLorean, Michael Jackson, Marlon Brando, Morgan Freeman, Magic Johnson, O. J. Simpson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ivan Reitman, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Sean Combs and Chuck Lorre, amongst others. He currently represents the Estate of Michael Jackson. He is perennially named a “Power Lawyer” by The Hollywood Reporter and in Variety’s “Legal Impact Report.”

From 1995-1998, Mr. Weitzman served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations for Universal Studios, where he was responsible for restructuring the corporate part of the business. Mr. Weitzman regularly counsels major corporations on contract and business strategies.

Mr. Weitzman taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Southern California Law School for 12 years. He has lectured at Harvard, Georgetown Law Center, UCLA and numerous other law schools across the nation, and has been a speaker at countless seminars and symposiums for Bar Associations and conferences. Mr. Weitzman has been a guest on many national television shows, including “Larry King Live,” “Dateline,” and “Good Morning America.”

State Bar of California (Member)
U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Representative Matters

The representation of The Estate of Michael Jackson in numerous litigation matters, including a lawsuit against Lloyds of London seeking to recover proceeds from a cancellation insurance policy covering Michael Jackson’s planned “This Is It” concert tour and disputes arising out of the exploitation of Mr. Jackson’s intellectual property. Mr. Weitzman provides strategic support for the Estate on an ongoing basis with respect to a variety of legal and business issues, including the administration of the Estate, the handling of creditors’ claims and the restructuring of debt obligations.
Lead counsel, handling the very public dispute between Chuck Lorre, the co-creator of “Two and a Half Men,” and Charlie Sheen. In this extremely high profile and widely publicized matter, Sheen blamed Lorre for his termination from TV’s top sitcom, and sued Lorre and the production studio for $100 million. Mr. Weitzman led the KHIKS team, which reached a mutually agreeable resolution for both sides.
Lead counsel to international pop star Justin Bieber against Mariah Yeater, who accused Bieber of fathering her child in 2011. The paternity suit against Bieber was ultimately dropped in another possibly career altering, high profile matter successfully handled by Mr. Weitzman.
Represented Britney Brands in a dispute regarding royalties from Spears’ top-selling fragrance line. Marketing company BrandSense claimed it had orchestrated a fragrance deal between Britney Brands and Elizabeth Arden, making millions for Spears and her company in exchange for 35 percent of her profits. However, BrandSense claimed that Britney Brands had violated the original agreement by attempting to cut the marketing company out of payments for Spears’ “Radiance” perfume. BrandSense sued Spears, her father, and her company, for $10 million, claiming the contract guaranteed royalties on all perfumes developed by the partnership between Spears and Elizabeth Arden. Mr. Weitzman filed a new lawsuit on behalf of Britney Brands, contesting these claims, and alleging that the marketing company withheld profits, and that the contract only included three fragrances that were under development at the time of the contract, not future fragrances. Spears and her legal team demanded damages, and a declaration that BrandSense is not entitled to any further royalties.

Practice Areas

Honors & Awards

Listed in Chambers USA, the world’s leading guide to the legal profession
America’s “Power Lawyers,” The Hollywood Reporter (2009 – 2019)
“Legal Impact Report,” Variety (2013-2019)
“The Best Lawyers in America,” U.S. News & World Report (1995-Present)
“Top Music Lawyers,” Billboard (2018)
Los Angeles Entertainment Law – Music “Lawyer of the Year,” Best Lawyers (2014)
“Southern California Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyer Magazine (2004 – 2019)
“L.A.’s Top 100 Lawyers,” Los Angeles Business Journal (2009)

Education

University of Southern California, B.A. (1962)
University of Southern California Law Center J.D. (1965)