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Aaron Liskin

Partner

Practice Areas

Honors & Awards

  • “Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2021-2022
  • “Rising Star,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2015-2019
  • “Legal Impact Report,” Variety, 2019

Education

  • University of Southern California, B.A., 1996
  • Roskilde University in Denmark, M.A., 2004
  • University of Texas School of Law (Associate Editor, Texas Law Review, high honors, Order of the Coif.), J.D., 2008
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson, III in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Aaron Liskin is a Partner at KHIKS. Mr. Liskin handles a wide range of complex litigation matters, and his areas of expertise include entertainment, intellectual property, and general commercial litigation. Mr. Liskin has represented clients in high profile profit participation litigation, including Frank Darabont and Creative Artists Agency in The Walking Dead matter, the executive producer on Bones, and the creators and showrunners on Smallville. Mr. Liskin also regularly represents talent in profit participation audit support and pre-litigation settlements.

Mr. Liskin regularly represents clients in complex litigation involving partnership, LLC and joint venture disputes. He has represented clients in disputes involving music royalties, contract, fraud, defamation, trade secrets, unfair competition and employment disputes. He has represented clients in state and federal courts in trial and appellate matters. A strategic litigator, Mr. Liskin is highly regarded in handling complex matters for major estates, corporations, and high-net worth, and high-profile professionals.

Mr. Liskin graduated with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law. After graduating, he clerked for the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson III, on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He currently serves on the board of a non-profit, Youth Emerging Stronger (YES).

  • Board of Directors, Youth Emerging Stronger (Member)
  • California and Texas Bars (Member)

Representative Matters

  • Represented the creator, writer, and executive producer of the worldwide hit television series The Walking Dead, and leading talent agency CAA, in a suit against the AMC television network. The plaintiffs alleged that AMC produced the show and licensed it for broadcast to itself for license fees well below market rates, resulting in diminished profits for the show and its participants. After the trial team of Dale Kinsella, Chad Fitzgerald, and Aaron defeated two of AMC’s motions for summary judgment and several key motions in limine, the case settled for $200 million plus future revenue sharing related to streaming exhibition of The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead.
  • Represented the executive producer of the hit television series Bones in a lawsuit against 20th Century Fox Television, the Fox network and affiliated companies. The plaintiff alleged that 20th Century Fox Television cheated him out of his share of profits from the show, and that network executives threatened to cancel the series if he did not accept a lower licensing fee from Fox. The arbitration resulted in a $179 million award for the plaintiffs. The case settled pending appeal of the award.
  • Represented the creators, writers, and executive producers of the hit television series Smallville in a suit against Warner Bros. Television (the studio that produced the show), The CW network (the network that broadcast the show) and other Time Warner entities.  The plaintiffs alleged that Warner Bros. Television licensed the show for broadcast on its affiliated “sister” network The WB (which became The CW) for fees well below market rate, resulting in diminished profits for the show.
  • Ongoing representation, with Jonathan Steinsapir, Katherine Kleindienst, and the late Howard Weitzman, on matters for the Estate of Michael Jackson.
  • Successfully represented producer Tony Thomas and his ex-wife against their former business manager and attorney in a lawsuit that went to trial on the issue of whether the defendants had wrongly received over $1.5 million in profits from the sale of one of Thomas’s real estate holdings. The Court awarded Thomas and his ex-wife a total of $2,193,461.
  • Represents the producer of the television miniseries It in lawsuit against Warner Brothers arising out of the record breaking two-part film adaptation.
  • Represents Willowbrook Capital in an LLC dispute against Joan Dangerfield regarding a new entertainment technology venture.
  • Represented Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc., the producer of The Bold and the Beautiful, in a defamation suit brought by a hairstylist on the series. The case was successfully dismissed on summary judgment.

Practice Areas

Honors & Awards

  • “Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2021-2022
  • “Rising Star,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2015-2019
  • “Legal Impact Report,” Variety, 2019

Education

  • University of Southern California, B.A., 1996
  • Roskilde University in Denmark, M.A., 2004
  • University of Texas School of Law (Associate Editor, Texas Law Review, high honors, Order of the Coif.), J.D., 2008
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson, III in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Related News

January 10, 2024

14 KHIKS Attorneys Named to 2024 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that 14 of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2024 Southern California “Super Lawyers” list by Thomson Reuters. One of the most respected...
April 13, 2023

Aaron Liskin Speaks to Variety about Mick Mars’ Lawsuit Against Motley Crue

Aaron Liskin was recently featured in an exclusive Variety article about the ongoing legal battle between Mick Mars and his former bandmates in Motley Crue. Mars filed suit against his...
January 10, 2023

13 KHIKS Attorneys Named to 2023 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List

KWIKA logo

KHIKS is pleased to announce that 13 of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2023 Southern California “Super Lawyers” list by Thomson Reuters. One of the most respected...
February 8, 2022

KHIKS Secures Another Major Victory for Legendary Boxer and Republic of the Philippines Presidential Candidate Manny Pacquiao

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KHIKS attorneys Dale Kinsella, Aaron Liskin, and Allen Secretov secured another major victory for their client, the legendary boxer and Republic of the Philippines presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao, by defeating...
January 20, 2022

13 KHIKS Attorneys Named to 2022 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List

KWIKA logo

KHIKS is pleased to announce that 13 of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2022 Southern California “Super Lawyers” list by Thomson Reuters. One of the most respected...
July 26, 2021

KHIKS Obtains $200M Settlement for Frank Darabont/CAA in ‘Walking Dead’ Dispute

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In an outstanding victory for its clients, the firm recently negotiated a $200,000,000 settlement for "The Walking Dead” television show creator Frank Darabont and his agency CAA in their long-running,...
April 26, 2021

KHIKS Obtains Dismissal of Long-Running Abuse Lawsuit Against Michael Jackson Estate

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The Estate of Michael Jackson, represented by Jonathan Steinsapir and the late Howard Weitzman, scored a major victory on Monday when a Los Angeles judge ruled that the late artist’s...
January 21, 2021

14 KHIKS Attorneys Named 2021 “Super Lawyers”

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that 14 of the firm’s attorneys have been named 2021 Southern California “Super Lawyers” by Thomson Reuters. One of the most respected rating services in...
July 15, 2020

Aaron Liskin Appointed to Youth Emerging Stronger Board of Directors

The firm is pleased to announce that partner Aaron Liskin was recently appointed to the Youth Emerging Stronger (YES) Board of Directors. YES serves local 12-24 year old youth who are experiencing homelessness,...
April 15, 2020

AMC’s Motion for Summary Judgment Denied – “The Walking Dead” Trial to Start in November 2020

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In the latest development in the profit participation battle between plaintiffs Frank Darabont & CAA and defendant AMC, Judge Joel M. Cohen denied AMC’s motion for summary judgment, AMC’s last...
June 6, 2019

Six from KHIKS named Super Lawyer “Rising Stars,” Three make “Up-and-Coming 100″ List for 2019

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that six of the firm’s attorneys were named Southern California “Rising Stars” for 2019 by Super Lawyers magazine and three were named on the “Top...
April 10, 2019

Seven KHIKS Attorneys Named to Variety’s 2019 “Legal Impact Report”

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The firm is pleased to announce that partners Dale Kinsella, Howard Weitzman, Michael Kump, Shawn Holley, Chad Fitzgerald, Aaron Liskin and Nicholas Soltman were selected for inclusion in Variety's coveted "Legal...
June 16, 2018

Six from KHIKS named Super Lawyer “Rising Stars,” Four make Top 100 list for 2018

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that six of the firm’s attorneys were named Southern California “Rising Stars” for 2018 by Super Lawyers magazine and four were named on the “Top...
June 5, 2017

Six from KHIKS named Super Lawyer “Rising Stars” for 2017

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that six of the firm's attorneys were named Southern California "Rising Stars" for 2017 by Super Lawyers magazine. ...
February 7, 2017

Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP Elevates Aaron Liskin to Partner

Santa Monica, CA – February 7, 2017 – Entertainment and business litigation law firm Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP (KHIKS) announces that Aaron Liskin has become a Partner of...
June 7, 2016

Super Lawyers Magazine: Six from KHIKS named Rising Stars for 2016

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that Amber Melius, David Swift, Aaron Liskin, Joshua Rosenberg, Katherine Kleindienst, and Nicholas Soltman have been named Southern California Rising Stars for 2016 by Super...
December 8, 2015

KHIKS sues 20th Century Fox on behalf of ‘Bones’ producer

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Barry Josephson, executive producer of 20th Century Fox Television's mega-hit Bones, has hired KHIKS to represent him in his lawsuit against Fox, alleging the studio has cheated him out of...
August 21, 2015

Hollywood, Silicon Valley Sharpen Their Swords in Piracy War- Variety

Aaron Liskin was quoted in Ted Johnson’s Variety article “Hollywood, Silicon Valley Sharpen Their Swords in Piracy War,” which discusses the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in relation to Hollywood’s...
June 8, 2015

Super Lawyers Magazine: Six from KHIKS named Rising Stars for 2015

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that Jeremiah Reynolds, David Swift, Amber Melius, Greg Gabriel, Aaron Liskin and Joshua Rosenberg were named Southern California Rising Stars for 2015 by Super Lawyers...
November 11, 2014

Firm Scores Big Win in Darabont/AMC Case

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Several trades are reporting the firm's win in New York Supreme Court in the Frank Darabont, et. al v. AMC, et. al case regarding the show "Walking Dead." ...
December 10, 2013

Does this restraining order violate free speech rights?

KHIKS attorney Aaron Liskin was quoted by the E-Commerce Times in Erika Morphy’s piece “Snapchat Wants to Make Ousted Cofounder Shut Up.”  The cofounder in question is Reggie Brown, who...
August 6, 2013

Baseball sidesteps potential legal precedent in A-Rod accusation

KHIKS attorney Aaron Liskin was quoted by Law360.com in Pete Brush's article on some of the effects, legal and otherwise, of Major League Baseball's 211-game suspension of Yankee star Alex...
May 30, 2013

KHIKS protects Starz Entertainment’s contract rights in Colorado jury trial

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KHIKS attorneys Michael Kump, Jonathan Steinsapir and Aaron Liskin, and paralegal Janet Glick, represented long-time KHIKS client Starz Entertainment in a jury trial against defendant DISH Network that commenced on...
March 13, 2013

Celebrities’ financial info: Is it illegal to publish?

KHIKS attorney Aaron Liskin was quoted in The Hollywood Reporter in Eriq Gardner’s article about recent hack attacks and subsequent unauthorized publication of the personal financial data of Hollywood stars...
March 5, 2013

A $62,000 misunderstanding?

KHIKS attorney Aaron Liskin was quoted in USA Today in sports reporter Jeffrey Martin’s story about a Florida doctor who purchased the green jacket won by golfer Art Wall in...
January 30, 2013

Storm clouds gathering for Yankees, A-Rod

KHIKS attorney Aaron Liskin was quoted in Pete Brush’s article at Law360.com on rumors that the New York Yankees are aggressively looking for a way out of their contract with...
January 15, 2013

Cyclist Armstrong likely to face long line of litigants

KHIKS attorney Aaron Liskin was quoted in Dietrich Knauth’s article at Law360.com on Lance Armstrong’s recent doping confession.  Armstrong faces potential lawsuits from people and organizations he previously sued for...
August 16, 2012

KHIKS wins for ‘Bold & Beautiful’ producers against soap’s lead stylist

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Dale Kinsella, Jeremiah Reynolds and Aaron Liskin have prevailed on summary judgment on behalf of Bell-Phillip Television Productions and the senior supervisors of the popular soap opera The Bold and...

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