Martin Katz

Martin D. Katz is a partner based in the firm’s Century City office. He is also Team Leader of the firm’s Entertainment, Technology and Advertising Industry Team, with oversight responsibility for entertainment litigation. Mr. Katz has received numerous honors and awards, including the CLAY Award for California Lawyer’s Attorney of the Year (2008), Entertainment.

Mr. Katz’s entertainment background includes representation of studios, independent producers, post-production facilities and broadcasting companies in connection with various types of claims, including those relating to motion picture and television distribution rights, participation accounting, copyright and idea submission, motion picture and television distribution rights, music rights, interactive rights and gaming licenses, disputes with talent, executive compensation disputes, employee misconduct, vertical integration, wrongful death and a host of insurance coverage issues unique to the entertainment industry.

Mr. Katz’s insurance coverage background includes the handling of complex coverage disputes on behalf of policyholders concerning mass tort claims; product liability claims; environmental liabilities; construction defect claims; earthquake, natural disaster and other catastrophic losses; fidelity losses and other employment-related claims; aviation and aerospace claims; and insurance company bad faith, as well as risk management consulting for policyholders.

Mr. Katz has extensive experience in connection with insurance placed in the London Market and has served on Creditors Committees for various insolvent London Market companies. Mr. Katz also has been involved in the evaluation and adjustment of attorneys fees, in various contexts, including litigation over what constitutes reasonable and necessary fees.

Mr. Katz has had substantial trial, arbitration and appellate experience over the course of the past thirty years. During the past decade, Mr. Katz has served as lead trial counsel in numerous complex arbitrations, jury trials, judicial references and bench trials. He has litigated cases in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and London. He has also briefed and argued more than ten appeals.

Education:

• J.D., University of Michigan, 1983, cum laude
• B.A., Northwestern University, 1980, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions:

• California, 8th Circuit, 9th Circuit, 11th Circuit