Munck Wilson Mandala has one of the strongest entertainment and media practices in the industry. We are well-known for our work with clients who bring innovation and creativity to their art, and we use our combined talents to help them succeed in a multitude of entertainment and digital media endeavors. With more than a century of combined experience, MWM represents clients ranging from successful solo creators to global media studios in complex intellectual property, business, and litigation matters.  

The entertainment industry continues to be a dynamic and ever-changing business landscape where creative minds combined with technological advances require skilled advisors. The MWM team provides experienced legal counsel with a keen understanding of the legal disputes that disruptive technologies and new financial models present to entertainment law. MWM brings high technical aptitude and exceptional legal skills to help propel productions and projects through this competitive industry. We provide tailored and creative legal counsel to clients in all segments of the entertainment industry, including production companies, studios, producers, celebrities, musicians, creators, developers, and agencies.  

Entertainment Services Include:

  • Licensing and Distribution Agreements
  • Copyright, Trademark, and Intellectual Property Protections
  • Contract disputes
  • Digital Rights and Data Privacy
  • Film and Television Rights and Agreements
  • Financing and Private Equity Investments
  • First Amendment Litigation
  • Joint Venture Agreements
  • Artist and Union Agreements
  • Employment Disputes
  • Endorsements
  • Royalty Accountings and Litigations
  • Name, Image, Likeness

    Jenifer Wallis has been identified as a gamechanger and has demonstrated the highest commitment to expanding Munck Wilson’s brand in the LA market. Her knowledge of LA culture and her entertainment law experience have placed the firm’s LA office in the lead, ahead of other firm offices in expanding entertainment law.

    Los Angeles Business Journal Apr. 20, 2022 

    Entertainment and Media Transactions

    We negotiate and prepare a wide variety of agreements related to tv, music, film, or copyrighted works, such as development, production, distribution, joint venture, or license agreements, and we represent clients in transactions involving the grant of security interests in, licenses, leases, or the assignment, purchase or sale of intellectual property assets. Clients call on us for representation in brand-related transactions, including license, marketing, distribution, franchise, or co-branding agreements. We have represented businesses around the world in connection with royalty agreements, content licenses, development and transfer agreements, software licensing and distribution agreements, outsourcing agreements, and e-commerce transactions.

    • MWM represented Resi Media LLC, an industry-leading video streaming platform, in a $150M acquisition by Pushpay
    • In 2010, MWM represented Newtoy, Inc., creators of Words With Friends, in a $180M cash and stock merger with Zynga, Inc.
    • Representation of a privately-held game developer in its sale of assets to another private company for cash and stock

    Entertainment and Media Disputes

    • Two songwriters of the 2001 hit song “Playas Gon’ Play,” which Billboard named among its 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time, against Ms. Taylor Swift and Co. in a copyright infringement action resulting in a major appellate victory that COSMOPOLITAN termed “a seriously unexpected move” in Hall v. Swift, 782 F. App’x 639 (9th Cir. Oct. 28, 2019), wherein the Ninth Circuit reversed a dismissal on the pleadings, as well as defeating summary judgment on remand in Hall v. Swift, 2021 WL 6104160 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 9, 2021)
    • MGA Entertainment, Inc., as a member of the briefing team, in the highly publicized multibillion-dollar “battle of the dolls” trial against the Barbie-doll manufacturer, Mattel, Inc., over the rights to the “Bratz” doll franchise, including summary judgment briefing and various trial briefing throughout the 13-week trial
    • Drafted motions resulting in the successful removal of conservator and termination of conservatorship for a high profile music-industry conservatee
    • Obtained six figure settlement on behalf of model from corporate entity that continued to use her image in advertising after the company’s license for use of her image had expired
    • Defended record label against allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary, and fraud by former artist, resulting in summary judgement on behalf of record label
    • Represented class of business owners against NBCUniversal alleging they were fraudulently induced to participate on a reality television show resulting in millions of dollars of corporate waste and fraud
    • Represented group of producers in copyright infringement case against major record labels and Taylor Swift
    • Obtained seven figure settlement on behalf of television producer regarding unpaid contingent compensation from major media company
    • Obtained six figure settlement for former Victoria’s Secret model against business that illegally used her image in advertisements

    Press Releases

    MWM Partner Jenifer Wallis Named Chair of the Entertainment Practice

    Bringing more than 15 years of legal experience, Wallis represents clients in a wide variety of business litigation and entertainment matters.  In business litigation, she has represented clients as the lead chair in trade secret, trademark, and copyright infringement lawsuits in state and federal courts.  She routinely handles trademark and copyright infringement actions, and she

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    Press Releases

    Munck Wilson Mandala Welcomes Josie Leinart

    Prior to her legal career, Leinart worked as an actress (Josie Loren) on more than 23 professional television and film projects for various studios and networks including Paramount, Warner Brothers, ABC, NBC, Lifetime, Disney, and Nickelodeon.  She is best known for her role as Kaylie Cruz in the ABC Family series Make It of Break

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    Press Releases

    Munck Wilson Mandala Wins Litigation Department of the Year; William A. Munck Honored as a Diversity & Inclusion Champion and Tasha Schwikert Honored as a Lawyer On the Rise

    Each year, Texas Lawyer honors those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the Texas legal profession, whether in shaping the law, achieving outsized results for their clients, or assisting those in need of legal services.  The honorees have had extraordinary careers and are considered impact players in the Texas legal community. 

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    Press Releases

    Munck Wilson Mandala Named a 2020 Inc. Best Workplace; Only Full-Service Law Firm Recognized in the Nation

    Collecting data from more than 3,000 submissions, Inc. singled out 395 finalists nationally for this year’s list.  Each nominated company took part in an employee survey on topics including trust, management effectiveness, perks, and confidence in the future.  Inc. gathered, analyzed, and audited the data. The strongest engagement scores came from companies that prioritize the

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    Press Releases

    Munck Wilson Mandala Honored as a 2020 Inc. Best Workplace

    Collecting data from more than 3,000 submissions, Inc. singled out 395 finalists nationally for this year’s list.  Each nominated company took part in an employee survey on topics including trust, management effectiveness, perks, and confidence in the future.  Inc. gathered, analyzed, and audited the data. The strongest engagement scores came from companies that prioritize the

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    Press Releases

    Jenifer Wallis has been selected as a 2020 Top Women Attorney by the Los Angeles Business Journal

    Wallis brings more than 14 years of legal experience, representing clients in intellectual property, complex litigation, and entertainment.   In business litigation, Wallis represents clients as the lead chair in trade secret, trademark, and copyright infringement lawsuits in state and federal courts.  She routinely handles trademark and copyright infringement actions, and she serves as general counsel

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    In the News

    Intellectual Property Issues and Trends: Fandom

    Intellectual property increasingly defines a company’s value and ability to grow and thrive. As such, careful management of intellectual property portfolios with an eye towards current changes and trends is necessary. Particularly among those working in entertainment industries, a notable social change is the rise of “fandom,” communities of fans who bond over a shared

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    Press Releases

    Munck Wilson Mandala Welcomes New LA Partner Jenifer Wallis

    “We were extremely impressed with Jenifer’s experience in intellectual property, complex litigation and entertainment,” said MWM’s managing partner William A. Munck.  “She is a perfect fit for the projected expansion of our firm in LA and she will complement the work of our managing partner Gary Hecker.” “I am looking forward to working with Jenifer,”

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    Press Releases

    13 Munck Wilson Mandala Lawyers Named 2024 Ones to Watch List

    Munck Wilson Mandala is pleased to announce that 13 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, a publication that recognizes up-and-coming attorneys for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. The majority of the MWM attorneys featured on this year’s list have been named to the list annually

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    Press Releases

    Munck Wilson Mandala Welcomes IP/Trademark Partner Kristin Kosinski

    Munck Wilson Mandala welcomes intellectual property and trademark partner Kristin Kosinski to the firm’s Los Angeles office. Kosinski brings more than 22 years of legal experience representing domestic and international clients in entertainment, finance, fashion, health, technology, beverages, and other industries. Among her services, she advises clients on trademark, copyright, and licensing matters. Kosinski previously

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    Client Alerts

    Severe Implications of Willful Infringement and the Importance of Obtaining Licenses

    In the case of Scott Hargis v. Pacifica Senior Management LLC, an architectural photographer, Scott Hargis, alleged that a senior living management company “reproduced, distributed, and publicly displayed” Hargis’s photos on its website for commercial purposes without a license.i Specifically, Hargis alleged that the company willfully infringed because it is “it is a sophisticated for-profit

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