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- Home
- Professionals
- Mitchell A. Kamin
As a trial lawyer and co-chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group, Mitch Kamin represents global media, entertainment, and other large companies in complex disputes. He excels at the prompt resolution of claims, often through negotiation or early motion practice, and has extensive trial experience to secure the best possible outcomes when litigation is the only option.
Mr. Kamin focuses on civil litigation involving copyright and trademark, contract disputes, class actions, and business torts, and has significant experience with litigation concerning content creation and distribution. His clients are leaders in the entertainment industry -- including major companies in film, television, music, sports, and gaming. He has tried cases in state and federal courts, and successfully handled many government investigations and enforcement actions. Mr. Kamin also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Communications and Media Industry Group.
Civil Litigation
- Represent the major record labels and music publishers in high-stakes copyright litigation against ISPs Charter Communications and Bright House Networks.
- Served as lead counsel for Fox News Networks in Fox News Network LLC v. Charter Communications Holding Co. LLC , alleging that Charter applied incorrect carriage rates for all systems following its acquisition of Time Warner Cable.
- Serve as lead national counsel for United States Olympic Committee in litigation involving alleged athlete abuse, including cases brought by Olympic gymnasts.
- Represented Sony Music Entertainment in Quincy Jones’ lawsuit against Michael Jackson’s Estate. Successfully removed Sony as a liability defendant in the case, and eliminated exposure to damages.
- Successfully defended 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Chernin Entertainment in a federal copyright infringement lawsuit involving The Valley of the Dolls. After extensive litigation, the case settled with a complete walkaway and limit on future suits.
- Obtained summary judgment for Sony Music Entertainment, with dismissal of all contract and intellectual property claims brought by former music manager regarding 70’s rock act.
- Represented an international video game publisher in copyright infringement claims by major record labels and publishing companies regarding licensing of sound recordings and compositions. Successfully resolved all claims without litigation.
- Obtained summary judgment for a Chinese pharmaceutical client whom a competitor had sued for trademark infringement. Following targeted discovery and an early motion for summary judgment, the court dismissed all of the competitor's causes of action and invalidated the competitor's mark.
- Represented Azusa Pacific University in a variety of matters, including a civil suit against a former asset manager who misused his position and violated his fiduciary duties to the university. Achieved favorable settlement including repayment of improperly obtained funds.
- Defended a jury consulting firm against international insurance company alleging billing fraud over fifteen year professional relationship. Successfully resolved civil lawsuit and secured non-prosecution of related federal criminal investigation.
- Represented ballot initiative sponsors in a high-profile First Amendment case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which upheld the district court order refusing to enjoin Measure B, a Los Angeles County ballot initiative passed by voters in 2012 that aims to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Successfully moved a residential real estate transaction case from court to arbitration after a pre-emptive suit from the plaintiff and prevailed on all claims, including breach of contract and fraud, at arbitration. Notwithstanding adversary’s claim that a liquidated damages provision limited recovery, obtained an award more than three times the amount of the provision, as well as punitive damages for fraud.
Advisory Work
- Regular advise major film and television content creators in disputes with distributors.
- Leading internal “culture review” for major entertainment company, to develop and reinforce workplace policies that promote diversity and inclusion and mitigate risk of inappropriate workplace conduct.
- Managed the national and international introduction of gaming and social gaming products for an S&P 500 company. Assessed legality of products in the U.S. and abroad, which included analysis of federal law, such as the Federal Wire Act, as well as various regulatory authorities in U.S. states and other countries.
- Counseled European cable network on legal issues arising from deals with domestic movie studios, enabling it to protect its rights and avoid litigation.
White Collar
- Represented airbag manufacturer Takata Corporation in connection with criminal investigation by U.S. Department of Justice that resulted in the company’s February 27, 2017 plea to one count of wire fraud.
- Represented dozens of executives and employees of a Fortune 500 technology company under investigation for potential violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Coordinated three parallel investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the company’s audit committee. Also represented senior executives from other companies in similar investigations.
- Conducted an internal investigation and persuaded the Department of Justice to decline prosecution of an international gaming company for alleged violations of the Federal Wire Act.
- Represented at trial numerous individuals charged with serious crimes and offenses in New York state courts, including a three-week jury trial that incorporated novel litigation around the use of experts in eyewitness identification and another jury trial in which acquittal was achieved for an elderly foster mother.
Public Interest, Pro Bono, and Policy Work
- Obtained nationwide injunction against Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Department of Justice, stopping DOJ practice of requiring local law enforcement agencies to cooperate in federal civil immigration enforcement in order to better qualify for receipt of federal law enforcement funding.
- Obtained nationwide injunction against President Trump and all branches of the military prohibiting enforcement of ban on transgender service in the military.
- Successfully tried case in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge for three Death Row inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Court found that excessive summer heat conditions in confinement on Angola’s death row constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- Achieved an unprecedented settlement—on the eve of trial—in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Orange, California and Orange County concerning the 19-year wrongful imprisonment of Dewayne McKinney for a crime he did not commit.
- Filed amicus briefs in significant California and U.S. Filed amicus briefs in significant California and United States Supreme Court cases, including two that represented the interests of indigent Holocaust survivors: Republic of Austria v. Altmann, 541 U.S. 677 (2004) and American Insurance Association v. Garamendi, 539 U.S. 396 (2003).
Memberships and Affiliations
- Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Vice Chair, Board of Commissioners (2017-present), Appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti
- One Justice, Chairman, Board of Directors (2014-present)
- Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Chair, Board of Commissioners (2011-2012), Appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
- Attorney General Kamala Harris, Transition Team, Civil Rights Enforcement (2011)
- Liberty Hill Foundation, Board of Directors (2008-2011)
Previous Experience
- Bet Tzedek Legal Services, President and CEO (2003-2010)
- Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, Skadden Fellow, Staff Attorney and Supervising Attorney (1994-1998)
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Staff Attorney (1993-1994)
November 12, 2020, Covington Alert
The election of Joe Biden as President will influence virtually all areas of U.S. policy, including at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). We previously previewed (here and here) key aspects of communications policy that would be affected by the presidential election and what a Democratic-led FCC would mean for each. To advance its communications policy ...
October 20, 2020, Covington Alert
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency, but its agenda is controlled by its Chairman, who along with any new Commissioners, is appointed by the President. The November 3rd election therefore will have a substantial effect on the FCC’s policies for the telecommunications, media, and technology sectors in 2021 and beyond. This alert ...
Why Cash-Strapped Towns Are Suing Streaming Giants
September 17, 2020, The Hollywood Reporter
Mitch Kamin is quoted in The Hollywood Reporter regarding the current lawsuits many small towns are taking up with streaming services. Mr. Kamin says, “It’s going to be an uphill battle [for cities]. The law just wasn’t structured with streaming in mind.”
July 14, 2020
LOS ANGELES—Variety has named Covington partners Matthew DelNero, Mitch Kamin, Robyn Polashuk, and Neema Sahni to its 2020 Legal Impact Report. Variety notes that “these legal eagles made massive deals and litigated thorny disputes for entertainment industry clients, studios and networks.” In its feature, Variety notes Covington as a “go-to for TV programmers,” ...
Two Covington Partners Named to Los Angeles Business Journal's Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers
July 13, 2020
LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Business Journal has named Mitch Kamin and Ashley Simonsen to its Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers, a list of the “best litigators” in Los Angeles. Mr. Kamin, co-chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group, represents global media, entertainment, and other large companies in complex disputes. He focuses on ...
March 27, 2020
LOS ANGELES—The Hollywood Reporter has named Mitch Kamin to its “Power Lawyers 2020,” a list of the top 100 lawyers in Hollywood. Each year, THR's editors extensively research the attorneys who are negotiating the industry's biggest deals and navigating its most impactful litigation to select 100 individuals for the Power Lawyers list. Mr. Kamin is a trial ...
January 30, 2020, Covington Alert
It has been another strong year in anti-corruption enforcement, with 2019 meeting or beating the high-water mark for enforcement across a number of measurements.
May 7, 2019
LOS ANGELES—For the second consecutive year, The National Law Journal has named Covington to its "Pro Bono Hot List." The 2019 special report recognizes the lawyers and law firms who "have used their legal expertise to take on some of the biggest issues of our time." In its profile of the firm, The National Law Journal highlights Covington's pro bono efforts, ...
Our 2019 Pro Bono Hot List
May 7, 2019, The National Law Journal
Covington was named to The National Law Journal's "Pro Bono Hot List" for its representation of the City of Los Angeles to prevent the federal government from requiring assistance with immigration enforcement as a condition of grants. “Law firms can help close this gap, particularly in cases like these that require substantial expertise and resources,” said ...
March 7, 2019
LOS ANGELES—Ryan Weinstein has joined Covington in the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice in Los Angeles. Mr. Weinstein most recently served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California. At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Weinstein prosecuted and tried dozens of criminal cases, briefed and argued numerous appeals before the ...
Covington Litigation Leaders Reflect on Landing Am Law's California Regional Litigation Award
January 15, 2019, The Recorder
The American Lawyer named Covington the California Litigation Department of the Year, citing high-profile matters that we have handled for California institutions like the state Senate, Uber, the City of Los Angeles, McKesson, and the University of California. The Recorder sat down to interview two of the firm's co-chairs of its Commercial Litigation ...
Mitch Kamin Named Among Top 100 Lawyers in California
September 28, 2018
LOS ANGELES—The Daily Journal has named Covington partner Mitch Kamin among its “Top 100 Lawyers” in California. The Top 100 are selected for making a significant impact on their practice area, the legal industry or the larger society. Mr. Kamin is the co-chair of Covington’s Commercial Litigation Practice and represents global media, entertainment and other ...
Another One Bites the Dust (Thanks Covington)
April 16, 2018, The Am Law Litigation Daily
The Am Law Litigation Daily highlights a victory on behalf of the city of Los Angeles following U.S. District Judge Manuel Real's decision to enjoin an attempt by the Justice Department to link funding for community-oriented policing to cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies on immigration enforcement. Mitch Kamin, who was a member of the Covington ...
Trump Admin. Can't Deny DOJ Grants To 'Sanctuary' Cities
April 12, 2018, Law360
Law360 highlights Covington's successful representation of the City of Los Angeles following a decision by a California federal judge which imposed a permanent, nationwide ban that would prevent the Administration from placing certain immigration-related conditions on community policing grants administered by the Justice Department. The Covington team included ...
August 28, 2017, Bloomberg
Bloomberg highlights Covington's role as co-counsel with the ACLU in a lawsuit challenging the ban preventing transgender men and women from serving in the armed forces. “When the memorandum was issued on [August 25] it was apparent to us that this was going to cause immediate harm to the transgender community serving in the military," says David Zionts. Mitch ...
Mitch Kamin Among LA’s "Most Influential IP Attorneys"
August 15, 2017
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Business Journal has named Covington partner Mitch Kamin one of the “Most Influential IP Attorneys” in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Business Journal highlighted Mr. Kamin’s representation of entertainment industry leaders such as 21st Century Fox and Sony Music Entertainment in complex, high profile intellectual property disputes, ...
December 6, 2016, Covington Alert
On December 2, 2016, the English High Court ruled that the members of the band Duran Duran would be in breach of the contracts under which they assigned their publishing copyrights if they exercised their U.S. statutory right to terminate the transfer of the U.S. copyrights under section 203 of the Copyright Act. The case, Gloucester Place Music Limited v Simon ...
Rights Manager Makes Case for Digital Control
August 29, 2016, Los Angeles Business Journal
Mitchell Kamin is quoted in a Los Angeles Business Journal article regarding a $25 million verdict against ISP Cox in a copyright infringement case brought by BMG Rights Management. According to Kamin, “The music industry and copyright holders are certainly pushing to limit the safe-harbor provision.” He continues, “They feel companies on the tech side of things ...
April 14, 2016, BNA’s Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal
Mitchell Kamin Joins Covington's Los Angeles Office
September 14, 2015
LOS ANGELES, September 14, 2015 - Covington announced that Mitchell Kamin has joined the firm’s litigation and white collar defense and investigation practices in its Los Angeles office. A prominent litigator and community leader who served as co-managing partner of a leading Los Angeles litigation boutique, Mr. Kamin will continue to focus on high stakes ...
Hand in Someone’s Pocket (Head in the Sand): Representing Sports and Entertainment Clients in a World of Corrupt Practices
October 4, 2013, Ethics Plenary Session of the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries
Social Gaming
May 29, 2013, 15th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking
The FCPA: Recent Developments and the DOJ/SEC Resource Guide
March 5, 2013, Southern California Edison
Socially Regulated: Does Social Gaming Need to be Regulated, and Can It Be?
February 27, 2013, GLI Gaming Regulators’ Conference
Private Lawyers and the Public Interest: The Evolving Role of Pro Bono in the Legal Profession
August 2012, Journal of Legal Education
- Los Angeles Business Journal, "Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers" (2020)
- The Hollywood Reporter has named Mr. Kamin to its “Power Lawyers 2020,” a list of the top 100 lawyers in Hollywood.
- Variety, "2020 Legal Impact Report"
- The Daily Journal, “Top 100 Lawyers” in California (2018, 2008, 2005-2006)
- Founder’s Award, Liberty Hill Foundation (2017)
- Los Angeles Business Journal, "Most Influential Intellectual Property Attorneys" (2017)
- Rose L. Schiff Commitment to Justice Award (2014)
- JFSJ/PJA, Living the Legacy Award (2011)