Manatt Adds Top Entertainment Litigator

LOS ANGELES — Feb. 10, 2014 — Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that John M. Gatti has joined the Los Angeles office as a partner in the Litigation Division and will serve as co-chair of the firm’s national Entertainment Litigation practice group. He joins the firm from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, where he served as the chair of its Entertainment Litigation practice group. 

Considered one of the nation’s leading entertainment litigators — for six consecutive years The Hollywood Reporter has named Gatti to its “Power Lawyers: Top 100 Influential Attorneys in Entertainment” list — Gatti has more than 25 years of commercial litigation experience representing clients in various industries, with an emphasis representing studios, television networks, film financiers, talent, gaming and sports entities, and independent entertainment production companies involved in the media, entertainment, sports, Internet and gaming industries.

“John is a terrific addition to Manatt,” said Matt Kanny, chair of the firm’s national Litigation Division. “He is a superb litigator and proven leader. Substantively, his focus on entertainment and, in particular, motion pictures and television, complements Manatt’s industry-leading work in this area. John joins an extraordinary team, and I know he and Entertainment Litigation practice co-chair Robert Jacobs will accomplish great things for clients.”

Gatti’s litigation and trial involvement includes significant first-chair trial experience representing clients across a variety of industries before state, federal and bankruptcy courts. His practice includes representing individuals and corporations in complex business and commercial disputes. Current and past clients include CBS, Alcon Entertainment, Atom Factory, Sony/Columbia Pictures, Fox, MGM and Alan Ladd, Jr.

His record of success includes actions for breach of contract, unfair competition, copyright and trademark infringement, profit participation claims, idea submission claims, media torts including defamation, invasion of privacy, and right to publicity and use of celebrity name and likeness in all media, including the Internet.

William T. Quicksilver, Manatt’s managing partner and chief executive officer, said Gatti’s addition “further strengthens our outstanding national litigation platform and underscores our commitment to growth in our core industry sectors. John’s work presents cross-practice opportunities in the areas of digital media, intellectual property, real estate, labor and employment, tax and corporate transactions. We are pleased to welcome him to the firm.”

“I’m energized by the opportunities this move presents,” said Gatti. “Manatt combines one of the strongest litigation practices in the country with a top-flight entertainment practice. The firm has a reputation for deep industry expertise and excellent client service. I look forward to working with Robert to lead the practice and working with my new colleagues across the country.”

Gatti serves as a board member for the University of Southern California Entertainment Institute, Junior Achievement of Southern California, and the Inner City Law Center.

He earned a J.D. and a B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Southern California.

Representing global corporate players and legendary talent across film, television, and music, Manatt provides entertainment and media clients with a full array of services. With coast-to-coast resources backing entertainment litigation teams in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, the firm combines in-depth knowledge of industry deals and transactions with a proven record in entertainment and media litigation. Manatt’s multidisciplinary practice represents clients in the television, radio, motion picture, music, digital entertainment, art and advertising sectors in high-profile disputes over copyright infringement and breach of contract, right of publicity matters, trademark claims, false advertising consumer class actions, and Digital Millennium Copyright Act claims.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation’s leading law and consulting firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base — including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies — across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.