Ashlee Difuntorum is an entertainment litigator who resolves breach of contract, copyright and trademark infringement, and false advertising disputes in film, music, television, and the creator economy. Her clients include celebrities, artists, production companies, brands, and influencers. She has been quoted as a legal expert in entertainment in Rolling Stone, Page Six, USA Today, and TechCrunch, and was named to the Daily Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 list recognizing California’s top rising lawyers.
Ashlee helps clients resolve disputes before litigation is filed, working closely with them on pre-lawsuit strategy to protect their projects, relationships, and bottom line. For the disputes that end up in litigation, Ashlee is a skilled and effective advocate who litigates with precision and purpose. She has achieved terminating sanctions on behalf of a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist.
Ashlee translates complex legal issues into plain language for clients, opposing counsel, courts and arbitrators, and increasingly for a broader audience as a Forbes contributor covering social media, creators, and new media platforms. She has led presentations and written several articles on litigation lessons for transactional entertainment attorneys. Her presentation to the Beverly Hills Bar Association drew over 900 registrations, and led to an invitation to author a three-part series in the Daily Journal and in The Licensing Journal.
In addition to her entertainment practice, Ashlee conducts workplace investigations. She earned the Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate (AWI-CH) and has led dozens of neutral investigations involving internal employee complaints of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and policy violations. This work has informed her litigation practice and made her a sharper, more effective attorney.
Ashlee is active in the community and has significant pro bono experience. She is on the Board of Directors for Casa Cornelia Law Center, a non-profit that provides free immigration-related legal services to vulnerable individuals across Southern California, including children fleeing abuse and survivors of trafficking and domestic violence. She has also served as a volunteer attorney for Casa Cornelia and helped individuals gain asylum and employment authorization in the U.S. Ashlee’s pro bono experience includes serving as outside pro bono counsel to GLAAD, a national organization with a mission to garner full acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community through accurate media and entertainment representation.
While in law school, Ashlee externed for the Honorable Manuel L. Real of the United States District Court, Central District of California and for the United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California. Prior to joining Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP, Ashlee worked at two international AmLaw 100 firms.