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Power Lawyers 2023: Nominations Are Open

The submission deadline for THR's 17th annual Power Lawyers feature is February 24.

THR, Esq's Latest News

Elon Musk and Tesla Beat Investor Lawsuit Over “Funding Secured” Tweets

Elon Musk and Tesla are not on the hook for losses investors suffered when he posted messages on Twitter in 2018 indicating that he had secured the funding to take Tesla private, a jury found Friday. The trial in San Francisco federal court stemmed from a series of tweets Musk posted saying that he had […]

Apple Privacy Suits Claim App Changes Were Guise to Boost Ad Revenue

Apple is being taken to court over allegations that it lies to consumers about privacy measures to gain an edge on competitors while actually harvesting massive amounts of data to grow advertising revenue. Despite representations in a campaign touting its privacy features, Apple continues to collect user data and “facilitates interception by third parties,” according […]

Power Lawyers 2023: Nominations Are Open for The Hollywood Reporter’s Top Attorneys List

The Hollywood Reporter is now accepting nominations for its 17th annual Power Lawyers feature, which spotlights the 100 most influential attorneys in the entertainment industry. Each year, THR’s editors research and extensively vet candidates to create a list of the lawyers Hollywood relies on for negotiating top-dollar deals and arguing high-stakes legal battles. As part of that process, THR accepts nominations […]

Apple and Google Called Upon to Oust TikTok From App Stores

A member of the Senate Intelligence Committee is pushing Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores because of national security concerns as the Chinese-owned company faces escalating prospects of a national ban amid bipartisan scrutiny of its data-sharing practices. In a letter addressed to the chief executives of Apple and Alphabet, Sen. […]

In Court, Elon Musk Is a Case Study in How Not to Use Twitter

Long before Elon Musk became the self- described “chief twit,” he was a prolific Twitter user. Among his 22,000-and-counting tweets, there’s one thread that has given him financial and legal headaches for years. On Aug. 7, 2018, Musk posted this message on Twitter: “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” That tweet, and […]

‘Rust’ Charges: Prosecutors Say Alec Baldwin Shouldn’t Have Pointed Gun

Alec Baldwin has officially been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Charges were formally filed against Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who both face two counts of involuntary manslaughter, on Tuesday after Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced criminal charges against both on Jan. 19. Notably, prosecutors […]

Priscilla Presley Moves to Invalidate Daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s Will

A Presley estate battle is brewing. In a petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Priscilla Presley challenges the will of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. She questions the “authenticity and validity” of a 2016 amendment that replaced her and former business manager Barry Siegel as co-trustees with Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter Riley […]

Marilyn Manson Sued Over Alleged Sexual Assault of a Minor

Marilyn Manson is facing another lawsuit for sex crimes, this time from a woman who says she was groomed and sexually assaulted when she was underage in the 1990s. Manson allegedly targeted the Jane Doe plaintiff when she was 16 using his celebrity to “groom, manipulate and exploit” her, resulting in multiple sexual assaults over […]

‘Charlie Says’ Trial: Ousted Producer Kevin Shulman Clashes With Ex-Partners

A breach of contract suit over claims that producer and director Kevin Shulman was shut out of Manson family murder movie Charlie Says goes to trial on Monday, setting the stage for a showdown on whether he was cheated out of a producer credit and the fees to go along with it. Shulman and Jeremy […]

Berk Brettler: Hollywood Power Lawyers Talk Teaming Up for New Firm

Blair Berk and Andrew Brettler, two of the entertainment industry’s most well-known and respected lawyers, have teamed up to combine their civil and criminal practices into a one-stop-shop boutique firm.  A go-to civil litigator and fixture on THR‘s Power Lawyers list, Brettler has a client including Chelsea Handler, Sydney Sweeney, Amy Robach and Kevin O’Leary. […]

Marilyn Manson Settles Sexual Assault Suit Brought by Esmé Bianco

Marilyn Manson has settled a lawsuit brought by Esmé Bianco, a Game of Thrones actress who accused him of sexual, physical and psychological abuse in a series of violent incidents over the course of their relationship. The two sides reached a deal “in principle to resolve” the suit, according to a court document filed on […]

Ex-Fox News Employee Laura Luhn Sues Network Over Roger Ailes’ Sexual Harassment and Blackmail

Former Fox News employee Laura Luhn is suing the network over decades of alleged abuse by late CEO Roger Ailes — including an allegation that he blackmailed her with sexually explicit videos. The suit, which also includes claims against former co-president Bill Shine and parent company 21st Century Fox, is being filed under New York’s […]

Google’s Digital Advertising Dominance Under Fire As Justice Dept. Brings Antitrust Suit

The Department of Justice and several states have brought another federal antitrust lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of abusing its dominance to stifle competition in the digital advertising market.  The government alleges in a suit filed on Tuesday that Google has engaged in a “systematic campaign” to “neutralize and eliminate” competitors through a series […]

Activision Blizzard Beats Shareholder Suit

Activision Blizzard will not have to face a lawsuit from investors claiming the company lied to them by minimizing the impact of allegedly widespread sexual harassment and discrimination against female employees, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson on Monday concluded that Activision Blizzard didn’t make false statements to shareholders about the […]

Guest Column: Lisa Marie Presley’s Death Highlights Estate Challenges of Multigenerational Fame

Nothing educates the public about estate law (and, sometimes, probate litigation) like the death of a celebrity. The passing of Lisa Marie Presley is likely no exception. High-profile deaths often shine a light on the sometimes complex post-death proceedings to shuttle a person’s wealth to his or her heirs or beneficiaries — assuming the estate is solvent […]

‘Rust’ Shooting: Alec Baldwin, Other Crew to Be Charged in Halyna Hutchins’ On-Set Death

Prosecutors in New Mexico on Thursday announced criminal charges will be filed against Alec Baldwin in connection with his role in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of Rust. Mary Carmack-Altwies, the district attorney who serves Santa Fe County, will charge star and producer Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with two counts […]