Judith M. Praitis

Melanie Howard’s practice focuses on the acquisition, protection, licensing, exploitation and sale of intangible assets for major brands and individual talent. Known for her business-minded approach, she represents clients across a variety of industries, including fashion and luxury retail, esports, automotive, technology, entertainment and media, and financial. Clients regularly turn to Melanie for strategic brand protection guidance and counsel on data privacy matters in the context o...

Robert L. Wallan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Robert L., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James E. Curry is a partner in the Entertainment, Technology and Advertising Practice Group in the firm's Century City office. Areas of Practice Mr. Curry has represented companies in commercial trial litigation for 25 years, with an emphasis in the entertainment area. He has represented three of the four U.S. Broadcast television networks, and five of the seven major studios, in addition to a myriad of other entertainment companies. In the television area, he has substantial experience in te...

Russell Hayman represents companies in the technology, health, life sciences and in other sectors in complex civil litigation nationwide. Drawing on his background as a federal prosecutor, he has also represented companies in government investigations and criminal proceedings. A successful trial lawyer having taken over 25 cases to trial, Russell has successfully defended clients in complex federal antitrust, patent infringement and theft of trade secret cases involving acoustic, cellular, Wi...

Keith Custis is a compassionate and dedicated litigator who founded Custis Law, P.C. to help individuals facing difficult work issues. Keith focuses his practice on the representation of employees in cases involving wrongful termination , workplace discrimination , sexual harassment , retaliation , wage and hour laws and violations of the numerous laws that require job-protected leaves of absence. Keith also represents employees and consumers in wage and hour and consumer class actions . Havi...

Susan advises clients on franchise and distribution law issues, including compliance with federal and state franchise and business opportunity laws. Clients are primarily franchisors with some large area developers, sub-franchisors, and multi-unit franchisees. Her clients range from startup franchisors to Fortune 500 companies. Susan is certified as a Franchise & Distribution Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Susan’s practice includes structuring franch...

Gary Lincenberg is a name partner at one of the most prestigious litigation firms in the country and the National Chairman of the ABA White Collar Crime Committee. Mr. Lincenberg's success in the past five years in white collar cases has been remarkable. His two recent trials were against the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where Mr. Lincenberg defended the former CFO of a semiconductor manufacturer against a securities fraud indictment alleging revenue recogniti...

William H. Jackson III joined Pircher in 1989 and has focused his practice on the acquisition, disposition and financing of high-level, institutional quality, real estate. In the last year alone, the transactions he’s represented have totaled well over $1 billion. Jackson has built a reputable client list throughout his career which now includes some of the largest private equity investors on the West Coast, the largest fund investing in emerging managers, the largest family office base...

Melissa Tara Daugherty is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Melissa Tara, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melissa Tara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve Plinio is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Entertainment Law - Music. Steve, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steve is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.