FOUNDATIONS

Wein Law Group, LLP was founded in 2009 by Steve Weinberg.  Steve is a 19 year veteran attorney specializing in representing music, film and television entertainment industry clients in a variety of intellectual property and complex business related disputes and transactions.

From 2008-2009, Steve served as Senior Counsel for CBS Television in its syndicated television unit.  At CBS, Steve handled licensing for legendary CBS/Paramount television programming including, CSI, Star Trek, I Love Lucy, Frasier, Happy Days, The Twilight Zone, Cheers, among many others. Steve also served as standby counsel for on-set production clearance for shows such as Entertainment Tonight, The Insider and Judge Judy.

Prior to his post at CBS Television, Steve was of counsel to the entertainment law firm Christensen Miller Fink Jacobs Glaser Weil & Shapiro (now Glaser Weil Fink Howard & Shapiro) from 1999-2008. At the Christensen Miller firm, Steve built an impressive track-record of successes representing high profile clients in complex litigation and disputes.

By way of a few examples, Steve defended Death Row Records and its founder Marion “Suge” Knight in post-trial proceedings after a jury awarded a verdict in excess of $14 million following a three-week trial handled by another firm. In this matter, Steve authored a series of post trial motions which successfully reduced the jury verdict by $10 million dollars, and later defeated the plaintiffs’ attempts to reinstate the jury award on appeal. See Brumfield v. Death Row Records, Inc., 2003 WL 21966294 (Cal. App. 2 Dist.).

Steve also worked on the litigation team representing Capitol Records/EMI on a variety of commercial and intellectual property matters including, a royalty accounting dispute involving multi-platinum artists and producers Dr. Dre and Eminem, and a potential acquisition of the Grammy Award winning group The Dixie Chicks, from Sony. 


PROVEN TRACK RECORD

In addition the matters mentioned above, Steve successfully handled a variety of other complex, multi-party engagements for the Christensen Firm, including: 
 
Key member of litigation team representing MGM in an action against its insurance carrier, AIG, for bad faith denial of insurance coverage related to claims brought against MGM for copyright infringement of the James Bond franchise. With Steve’s critical input, the Firm won several key motions, posturing the case for a very favorable settlement for the client before trial.

• Key member of litigation team representing Don Felder, the former lead guitarist of “The Eagles” and co-author of the song "Hotel California" in his disputes with the band and manager, Irving Azoff. Directed the discovery team and authored a series of dispositive motions which successfully defeated Mr. Azoff's attempts obtain dismissal.
• Key member of litigation team representing MGA Entertainment which achieved complete defense verdict in a copyright and trademark infringement action arising out of the Company's worldwide success of its "Bratz" line of dolls. Supervised trial preparation and authored a series of motions which helped successfully terminate the case in the client’s favor.
• Senior litigator representing Yari Film Group in connection with disputes arising out of the production and distribution of the Academy Award winning film “Crash.” Supervised all aspects of investigation and discovery, and authored a series of successful motions which dramatically limited the client’s exposure.
• Represented Fidelity National Title Insurance Company in a quiet title and foreclosure action against an insured real estate investment trust concerning a commercial property valued at $4 million. Won complete defense of the action on summary judgment by uncovering critical evidence in discovery demonstrating a forged notary acknowledgement.
• Senior litigator on one of the largest property insurance litigation matters in California history, spanning nearly four years. Steve played a key role on the trial team and was instrumental in securing a settlement for the firm’s client valued at nearly $200 million. 

Prior to joining the Christensen Firm, Steve headed an independent television production company which produced programming for pay-per-view and satellite systems including DirecTV, T.C.I., iNDemand (f/k/a Viewer's Choice), Request Television, BET/Action Pay-per-view and Playboy. In that capacity, Steve negotiated and drafted television production, licensing and distribution agreements, obtained content and title clearances, copyright and trademark registrations and producer's errors and omissions insurance coverage. He also drafted production documentation including, deal memoranda, production budgets, talent contracts, releases, sync licenses and location agreements.

EDUCATION

Steve received his law degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles where he graduated in the top 15% of his class and earned multiple American Jurisprudence awards for academic excellence. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree from the prestigious Communications School at UCLA where he graduated magna cum laude (top 7% of the class) and earning departmental honors. Steve is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts within the State of California, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

HISTORY

Before becoming a practicing lawyer, Steve worked as a professional studio musician (guitar) and BMI songwriter, achieving numerous recorded credits. Steve has also previously worked as a commercial studio photographer (with national magazine credits) and continues to work as the director of location photography for a popular satellite television series that has been in distribution worldwide since 1996.

DEPTH

Steve currently spends much of his spare time recording music, managing local bands and songwriters, and playing lead electric guitar in the classic rock cover band: “Rod Lightning & the Thunderbolts of Love.” To satisfy his passion for both classic rock music and the technology that created it, Steve’s other hobby is collecting and restoring vintage vacuum tube guitar amplifiers. 

1925 Century Park East, Suite 2120
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310-508-7005
Steven@WeinLawGroup.com