News Type: Media Mentions

Law360 has turned to Michael Poster, M&R’s Music Acquisitions & Financing Chair, for comment on Sony Music Group’s recent purchase of a 50% stake in late pop star Michael Jackson’s music catalog for no less than $600 million. The deal places a total value of the assets up to $1.5 billion, the largest valuation of any music artist’s catalog to date. Among other insights, Michael makes clear that the trend of buying and selling music rights is “not going away, and we’ll continue to see more and more of it.”

Elizabeth Tosaris has joined Michelman & Robinson’s Regulatory & Administrative Law Practice Group as a partner in our San Francisco office. The arrival of such a prominent insurance lawyer has made headlines, with features in Bloomberg Law, Law360, the Daily Journal, Politico, Reuters and the San Francisco Business Times. We couldn’t be happier to have Elizabeth as part of our team and welcome her to the firm.

Dana Kravetz’s commentary on the NLRB’s expansion of the joint-employer rule and its impact on the hospitality space was featured in an article published last week by HOTELS Magazine. The story titled, “U.S. House votes to overturn new joint-employer rule,” covers the move in Congress to repeal the federal labor board’s joint-employer legislation and includes Dana’s take on what hotel owners and franchisors should be mindful of should the new rule ultimately take effect.

Mark Robinson has been quoted in a Law360 article titled, “The Top Environmental Insurance Trends Of 2024.” Among other things, the piece touches upon the decision made by multiple insurers last year suspending or limiting the sale of homeowners policies in California. For his part, Mark emphasized that carriers want to be able to write business in the state, so long as they are able to charge fair premiums —and not take significant losses—based on risk assessment.

M&R represents U.S. Continental Marketing, Inc. in trade secret litigation against SGS North America, Inc. arising from the misappropriation of proprietary and confidential chemical formulations that may cost U.S. Continental millions of dollars. The lawsuit has been featured in an article just published by IAM Trade Secrets titled, “Case spotlight: Refusal to return misappropriated trade secrets “won’t go unchecked”, attorney for US Continental contends,” which includes extensive commentary from lead counsel, Jeffrey Farrow.

Dana Kravetz was mentioned in a recent article published by Hotel News Now titled, “US Supreme Court Punts on ADA Tester Case.” The story covers the high court’s decision in Acheson Hotels v. Laufer, which was to explore whether someone checking hotel websites for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act — regardless of their intent to stay at the hotels — would have standing, or the right, to sue as an ADA tester. Dana had previously predicted the case could be vacated in the event plaintiff dismissed her claims, which the article reveals was the very outcome.

Jeffrey Farrow has been quoted at length in an article published by the Inland Empire Business Journal titled, “Corona Factory Files Landmark Trade Secret Lawsuit in New Hampshire Federal Court.” The story covers litigation filed by Jeff and his team at M&R on behalf of U.S. Continental Marketing, Inc. against SGS North America, Inc., alleging misappropriation of proprietary and confidential chemical formulations that may cost U.S. Continental millions of dollars.

Lara Shortz has been extensively quoted in an article published by Hotel Dive titled, “Hotel Industry Players Challenge NLRB Joint Employer Rule.” The piece shines a light on legal challenges posed by hoteliers, among others across industries, to the National Labor Relations Board’s new joint employer rule. For her part, Lara comments on the see-saw nature of the rule and the significant financial exposure it can generate within the hospitality space.