Paul Hastings is one of the very few go-to firms for Hollywood’s leading studios, including Disney and Warner Bros., top-tier talent agencies like CAA, UTA and WME, music labels, networks, writers, directors, high-profile individuals and sports people across the entertainment ecosystem. Our continuous involvement in disputes that shape how content is created, monetized and protected underscores Paul Hastings’ central role in the legal, strategic and cultural direction of the global entertainment business.

What distinguishes our Entertainment & Media Litigation group is not only the significance of our matters, but the depth of our bench and the breadth of our client base. The team maintains decades-long relationships with legacy media institutions while advising an expanding roster of next-generation disruptors across sports, technology, fashion, gaming and digital platforms. This dual perspective allows us to operate effectively at the intersection of traditional entertainment and emerging technology, where many of the industry’s most novel and consequential legal issues arise.

Our lawyers consistently deliver decisive results in high-profile litigation, arbitration and pre-litigation matters. Beyond traditional disputes, the Paul Hastings Entertainment & Media Litigation practice is helping to define the future legal framework of the entertainment industry. The team is at the forefront of emerging issues involving AI and deepfakes, streaming and digital rights, NFTs and IP in digital assets, and crisis-driven internal investigations. With a proven track record across state and federal courts and complex alternative dispute resolution, Paul Hastings continues to shape outcomes that influence industry standards and market behavior.

Client Successes

• Jimmy Donaldson, p/k/a MrBeast, the world’s largest YouTube creator (with over 400 million YouTube subscribers), in several matters, including defending MrBeast against a $100+ million claim in a highly publicized lawsuit brought by the former principals of Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe alleging that Donaldson breached the parties’ endorsement and joint venture agreements to promote a virtual restaurant chain known as “MrBeast Burger.”

• Zuffa, LLC (d/b/a UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship) in a putative class action seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for purported violations of privacy laws. The lawsuit alleges that UFC, one of the largest sports entertainment brands in the world, purportedly disclosed personally identifiable information about subscribers to the Fight Pass video streaming service through its use of the Meta Pixel.

• One of Hollywood’s longest-running talent agencies, William Morris Endeavor (WME), in connection with the dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. WME’s current and former agents Patrick Whitesell, Warren Zavala and Danny Greenberg were each subpoenaed by both Lively and Wayfarer’s counsel.

• Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a leading talent agency, as the plaintiff in an unfair competition suit against Range Media Partners. CAA alleged that Range — which was founded by several former CAA talent agents — unlawfully competed as an unlicensed talent agency, and that Range gained an unfair competitive advantage by stealing confidential information and poaching clients and employees from CAA.

• Various affiliates of The Walt Disney Company to successfully defend a nationwide series of lawsuits challenging Disney’s adoption and administration of its COVID-19 vaccine mandate during the pandemic to protect the health and safety of Disney employees and customers.

• Disney Worldwide Services (DWS) in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit arising out of Disney’s termination of its global information technology services contract with Paris-based Atos SE on account of Atos’ failing business prospects.

• Fast-fashion internet retail giant, SHEIN Distribution Corporation, in a federal lawsuit alleging that Shein engaged in criminal copyright and trademark infringement in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act (RICO); and against allegations of trademark and trade dress infringement brought by Ralph Lauren regarding SHEIN apparel and handbags.

• Ubisoft in two federal class action lawsuits. One alleging Ubisoft’s practices violate privacy rights under various statutes, including the federal Video Privacy Protection Act, the Federal Wiretap Act and California’s Invasion of Privacy Act. And the second-class action alleging that Ubisoft’s decision to “sunset” various video games constitute consumer fraud in violation of the California Legal Remedies Act and other state and federal consumer protection laws.

• Well-known YouTube brand and Podcasters, Full Send, in state court litigation in which the plaintiff asserted numerous tort claims stemming from a Full Send YouTube video.