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Kristen Spanier

Partner

Practice Areas

Honors & Awards

  • “Legal Impact Report,” Variety (2026, 2025)
  • “The Best Lawyers in America” (2020-Present)
  • “Rising Star,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2004-2008)
  • “Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2017-2022)

Education

  • University of California at Berkeley, B.A. (Economics, magna cum laude), 1991
  • UCLA School of Law, J.D., 1995.

Kristen Spanier handles litigation matters in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property, and general business law. She has successfully prosecuted and defended cases involving claims for trademark infringement, copyright infringement, defamation, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, and contractual disputes arising in a wide range of industries.  Ms. Spanier has represented various individuals and companies within the entertainment industry in connection with fraud and contractual business disputes.  She has also handled a number of palimony matters, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

  • State Bar of California (Member)
  • Admitted to practice in State and Federal court

Representative Matters

  • Represented SeaWorld in a putative class action brought under consumer protection laws. Following a bench trial, a federal judge found that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the case and entered judgment for SeaWorld.
  • Represented Mattel, Inc. in a 2.5-month jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, successfully defending Mattel against a claim of idea theft, in a long-running dispute with a billionaire East Coast real estate developer, Norton Herrick. The plaintiff claimed that the toy company stole a format that he had optioned and later presented to Mattel in 2014 for a reality show about toy inventors featuring child judges.
  • Defended Mattel against multi-million dollar breach of contract claims brought by former licensor.  Obtained complete defense verdict and award of attorneys’ fees for Mattel after a six week jury trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
  • Represented Mattel in various disputes with individuals claiming an interest in Mattel products based on implied contract and/or intellectual property claims.
  • Assist Howard Weitzman and other KHIKS lawyers in representing the Estate of Michael Jackson in various matters, including a dispute with the insurer of the cancelled This Is It concert tour.
  • Represent business management and financial services firms in action brought by ex-wife of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf arising out of the Wolfs’ marital property settlement.
  • Represented individuals in palimony actions, both as plaintiff and defendant, including obtaining summary judgment on behalf of prominent investment banker in action brought by his ex-wife.
  • Represented personal managers in commission disputes with former clients, including representing the former personal manager of actor Wesley Snipes in a Labor Commissioner Action in which Mr. Snipes claimed that his former manager had acted as an unlicensed talent agent. The Labor Commissioner ruled in favor of the manager.
  • Obtained arbitration award in favor of film distributor in breach of contract action between distributor and Miramax.
  • Obtained arbitration award in favor of International Creative Management, Inc. recovering commissions owed to the client by Sara Lee Corporation, parent company of Hanes Hosiery, arising from Hanes’ sponsorship of Tina Turner’s North American Tour.
  • Represented a commercial director in an action brought by the Directors Guild of America and obtained summary judgment in favor of the client.
  • Represented Mattel in a dispute with a former licensee and obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction preventing the former licensee from selling products bearing Mattel’s trademarks.

Practice Areas

Honors & Awards

  • “Legal Impact Report,” Variety (2026, 2025)
  • “The Best Lawyers in America” (2020-Present)
  • “Rising Star,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2004-2008)
  • “Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2017-2022)

Education

  • University of California at Berkeley, B.A. (Economics, magna cum laude), 1991
  • UCLA School of Law, J.D., 1995.

Related News

April 8, 2026

Variety Recognizes Six KHIKS Attorneys in 2026 “Legal Impact Report”

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The firm is pleased to announce that partners Shawn Holley, Greg Korn, Patricia Millett, Kristen Spanier, Nick Soltman, and Aaron Liskin have been recognized in Variety’s 2026 “Legal Impact Report.”...
February 20, 2026

15 KHIKS Attorneys Named to 2026 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List; Allen Secretov Recognized as a “Rising Star”

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KHIKS is proud to announce that 15 of the firm’s attorneys have been honored on the 2026 Southern California “Super Lawyers” list. This impressive accolade comes from one of the...
August 21, 2025

Fifteen KHIKS Attorneys Named 2026 “Best Lawyers;” Two Named to “Ones to Watch” List

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Partners Chad Fitzgerald, Shawn Holley, Larry Iser, Dale Kinsella, Katherine Kleindienst, Gregory Korn, Alan Kossoff, Michael Kump, Suann MacIsaac, Amber Melius, Patricia Millett, Allen Secretov, Nick Soltman, Kristen Spanier, and...
April 9, 2025

Seven KHIKS Attorneys Named to Variety’s 2025 “Legal Impact Report”

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The firm is pleased to announce that Partners Larry Iser, Patricia Millett, Kristen Spanier, Chad Fitzgerald, Michael Kump, Shawn Holley, and Jonathan Steinsapir have been selected for inclusion in Variety’s...
February 26, 2025

KHIKS Jury Trial Result for Mattel Recognized Among Daily Journal’s “Top Verdicts of 2024”

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The firm is pleased to announce that it was recently recognized by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal in its “Top Verdicts of 2024” issue for the jury trial victory...
February 20, 2025

16 KHIKS Attorneys Named to 2025 Southern California “Super Lawyers” and “Rising Stars” Lists

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KHIKS is pleased to announce that 16 of the firm’s attorneys have been named by Thomson Reuters to either its 2025 Southern California “Super Lawyers” or “Rising Star” list. One of...
August 15, 2024

Fifteen KHIKS Attorneys Named 2025 “Best Lawyers;” Two Named to “Ones to Watch” List

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Partners Chad Fitzgerald, Shawn Holley, Larry Iser, Dale Kinsella, Kat Kleindienst, Greg Korn, Alan Kossoff, Michael Kump, Suann MacIsaac, Amber Melius, Patricia Millett, Allen Secretov, Nick Soltman, Kristen Spanier, and...
August 6, 2024

KHIKS Wins Jury Trial for Longtime Client Mattel

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Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP team of Larry Iser, Patti Millett, Kristen Spanier, and Chad Fitzgerald successfully obtains a defense verdict on behalf of longtime client Mattel, Inc. in...
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...
August 17, 2023

Fifteen KHIKS Attorneys Named 2024 “Best Lawyers;” Kate Mangels Named to “Ones to Watch” List

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Partners Chad Fitzgerald, Shawn Holley, Larry Iser, Dale Kinsella, Kat Kleindienst, Greg Korn, Alan Kossoff, Michael Kump, Suann MacIsaac, Amber Melius, Patricia Millett, Allen Secretov, Nick Soltman, Kristen Spanier, and...
January 10, 2023

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

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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...
August 18, 2022

Fourteen KHIKS Attorneys Named 2023 “Best Lawyers;” Shawn Holley Named Entertainment Law- Motion Pictures and Television “Lawyer of the Year”

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Partners Chad Fitzgerald, Shawn Holley, Lawrence Iser, Dale Kinsella, Gregory Korn, Alan Kossoff, Michael Kump, Suann MacIsaac, Amber Melius, Patricia Millett, Allen Secretov, Nick Soltman, Kristen Spanier, and Jon Steinsapir...
May 20, 2022

KHIKS Secures Dismissal of Consumer Fraud Class Action Claims Against SeaWorld

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KHIKS’s SeaWorld team (Larry Iser, Kristen Spanier and Kat Kleindienst) won the dismissal of consumer fraud claims brought as a putative class action against SeaWorld. The lead plaintiff claims that...
January 20, 2022

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

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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...
October 29, 2021

KHIKS Wins in 9th Circuit for SeaWorld

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KHIKS’s SeaWorld team (Larry Iser, Kristen Spanier, and Kat Kleindienst) have won the appeal in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals of the dismissal of a consumer fraud putative class...
August 19, 2021

Eleven KHIKS Attorneys Named 2022 “Best Lawyers;” One Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”

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Partners Zachary Elsea, Chad Fitzgerald, Shawn Holley, Lawrence Iser, Dale Kinsella, Gregory Korn, Alan Kossoff, Michael Kump, Suann MacIsaac, Nick Soltman, and Kristen Spanier have been recognized among the top...
February 26, 2021

KHIKS’S Mattel Team Wins on Appeal of Dismissed Idea Submission Case

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KHIKS’s Mattel team (Larry Iser, Kristen Spanier and Patricia Millett) have prevailed on the appeal from the dismissal by the Los Angeles Superior Court of an idea submission case brought by toy inventor Technology...
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...
September 4, 2023

KHIKS Wins Trial for SeaWorld of Activist-Backed Lawsuit

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KHIKS’s SeaWorld team (Larry Iser, Kristen Spanier, Kat Kleindienst, and paralegal Chris Avalos) prevailed in the trial of a consumer fraud lawsuit conceived of and backed by anti-SeaWorld advocacy group...
September 25, 2020

KHIKS’s SeaWorld Team Obtains Dismissal of Consumer Fraud Putative Class Action

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KHIKS’s SeaWorld team (Larry Iser, Kristen Spanier and Kat Kleindienst) have obtained dismissal of a consumer fraud putative class action against SeaWorld relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, filed in the...
August 20, 2020

Eleven KHIKS Attorneys Named 2021 “Best Lawyers;” One Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”

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Partners Zachary Elsea, Chad Fitzgerald, Shawn Holley, Lawrence Iser, Dale Kinsella, Gregory Korn, Michael Kump, Suann MacIsaac, Nick Soltman, Kristen Spanier, and Howard Weitzman have been recognized among the top...
August 15, 2019

Nine KHIKS Attorneys Named 2020 “Best Lawyers”

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Partners Shawn Holley, Lawrence Iser, Dale Kinsella, Gregory Korn, Michael Kump, Suann MacIsaac, Nick Soltman, Kristen Spanier, and Howard Weitzman have been recognized among the top lawyers in the nation in...
January 15, 2016

KHIKS wins three for SeaWorld

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KHIKS’s SeaWorld Team, Larry Iser, Kristen Spanier, Greg Gabriel and Nick Soltman recently notched three significant victories for our client SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, obtaining the dismissal of three consolidated...
March 11, 2014

KHIKS obtains summary judgment for Mattel in copyright dispute over ‘Masters of the Universe’

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The United States District Court in Los Angeles has ruled in favor of KHIKS’s client, toy manufacturer Mattel, Inc., entering summary judgment in Mattel’s favor against the claim of writer...
October 30, 2013

KHIKS wins appeal of Mattel board game win

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The California Court of Appeal has upheld Mattel’s 2011 defense verdict over its alleged failure to adhere to a license agreement for the board game Outburst.  Mattel was represented at...
June 22, 2011

KHIKS Obtains Jury Verdict for Mattel, Inc. in Licensing Dispute Over Board Game

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EL SEGUNDO, California (June 22, 2011) – A Los Angeles Superior Court jury has found in favor of toy manufacturer Mattel, Inc., ruling that Mattel fully complied with the terms of...
July 11, 2010

The Huffington Post: World Cup Sponsorship Scandals Sure to Take Attorneys into Extra Time

Kristen Spanier shows us how professional soccer’s World Cup is generating at least as much interest off the field as on. Read the Full Article...

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