Featured Practices
John Berlinski is regarded as one of Hollywood’s most respected lawyers, with a practice focused on representing top actors, producers, directors, talent agencies, guilds, independent studios, casinos, resorts, and recording artists in their most significant disputes.
John has been at the forefront of some of the most hot-button legal issues facing the entertainment industry today, representing clients in high-stakes and high-profile licensing, distribution, intellectual property, residuals, and “backend” profit participation disputes. In a case that drew national attention, John represented actor-producer Scarlett Johansson in her groundbreaking lawsuit alleging that The Walt Disney Company had improperly failed to release her film Black Widow as promised, opting instead for a “day-and-date” release on streaming service Disney+ that deprived Ms. Johansson of tens of millions of dollars in box office bonuses. John is also well renowned for his role in obtaining the largest award in the history of profit participation arbitration, on behalf of David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, and Kathy Reichs, the actors and author-producer behind the hit Fox television series Bones.
Prior to joining Bird Marella, John was the Chair of his prior law firm’s entertainment practice. Before that, he spent seven years at NBCUniversal, where he was the Senior Vice President & Head of West Coast Television Litigation. John has received numerous awards and accolades, including being recognized by Variety as a top entertainment litigator in its Legal Impact Report 2022: Top Attorneys Winning Cases and Making Deals in Hollywood; as one of Hollywood’s top attorneys by The Hollywood Reporter on its “Power Lawyers 2022: Hollywood Top 100 Attorneys” list; as an Entertainment Trailblazer by The American Lawyer; and by The National Law Journal for his groundbreaking work.
Education & Admissions
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1999
- Cornell University, B.A., with distinction, 1995
- California, 2000
Notable Matters
Currently representing actor Brad Pitt in his multi-jurisdictional lawsuits against ex-wife Angelina Jolie and others concerning the parties’ interests in Chateau Miraval—the highly regarded French winery. The lawsuits are pending in Los Angeles, Luxembourg, and France.
Representing The Seelig Group (TSG), a private media and entertainment investment and advisory firm that has invested billions of dollars in Twentieth Century Fox (Fox) films including Avatar: The Way of Water, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Deadpool in a breach of contract and tortious interference lawsuit against Fox and The Walt Disney Company.
Successfully represented the actor/producer Scarlett Johansson in a widely publicized lawsuit alleging that The Walt Disney Company interfered with her contract to star in the Marvel Entertainment film, Black Widow.
Successfully represented Genting Malaysia Berhad, a major international gaming and resort business, in a billion-dollar lawsuit against Fox Entertainment Group and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company. The case, which was filed in the Central District of California, alleged that Fox wrongfully terminated the parties’ 2013 licensing agreement in which Fox had granted to Genting the right to use Fox intellectual property to build a theme park.
Obtained a $179 million arbitration award for fraud and breach of contract on behalf of Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, the stars of the long-running hit TV show Bones, and author-producer Kathleen Reichs, against 21st Century Fox and the Fox Broadcasting Company. The award, which included $128 million in punitive damages, is the largest arbitration award in the history of profit participation disputes.
Successfully defended Resorts World Las Vegas, a $4+ billion hotel and casino on the Las Vegas “Strip,” in a trademark infringement and unfair competition action brought by Wynn Resort Holdings.
Successfully represented the executive producers who conceived one of basic cable television’s most-watched series ever in a confidential profit participation arbitration, obtaining a significant monetary award and prevailing party attorneys’ fees.
Represented television executive Katie O’Connell Marsh in a suit alleging that she was underpaid more than $15 million in contingent bonuses involving television shows she developed while CEO of Gaumont International Television, including Narcos, Hannibal, Hemlock Grove, and F is for Family.
Awards & Recognition
- Ranked (Band 3), Media & Entertainment: Litigation, Chambers USA, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America, Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television, Best Lawyers®, 2023
- Legal Impact Report, Variety, 2019, 2021-present
- California Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2022
- Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2022
- Entertainment Trailblazer, American Lawyer, 2021
- Southern California Super Lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine, 2021
- Power Lawyers, The Hollywood Reporter, 2020, 2022-present
- Entertainment Trailblazer, National Law Journal, 2020
Publications
- Quoted, “A Red-Letter Day For Black Widow,” Law Quadrangle, November 2022
- Quoted, "‘Narcos’ Profits Suit Settles Ahead of Trial," The Hollywood Reporter, October 2022
- Quoted, "Netflix Seeks to Renegotiate Deals to Show Ads Next to Popular Shows," The Wall Street Journal, July 2022
- Featured, "Scarlett Johansson Lawyer John Berlinski Moves To Bird Marella As Partner," Deadline, May 2022
- Quoted, "Disney wants Scarlett Johansson case arbitrated; her team wants an open court," Los Angeles Times, August 2021
- Quoted, "Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney Over ‘Black Widow’ Streaming Release," The Wall Street Journal, July 2021
- Author, “Is the curtain closing on TV profit participation litigation?,” Daily Journal, August 2020
- Quoted, "Arbitrator Says Fox Dug A $179M Grave In 'Bones' Profit Row," Law360, February 2019
News & Insights
Record Number of Bird Marella Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers®
Bird Marella is proud to announce the inclusion of 26 lawyers in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® by U.S. …
Friday, August 18, 2023
Go to the postBird Marella Earns Firm Recognition in Entertainment as Principals Advance in 2023 Chambers USA Rankings
Chambers and Partners, internationally regarded as one of the primary arbiters of achievementin the legal profession, recognizes Bird Marella in its 2023 rankings of the top lawyers and …
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Go to the postBerlinski, Nessim, and Cherlow Recognized by Variety’s 2023 Legal Impact Report
Variety named principals John Berlinski, Ron Nessim, and Julia Cherlow to its highly regarded 2023 Legal Impact Report. The annual report recognizes the top lawyers in Hollywood entrusted …
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Go to the postThe Hollywood Reporter Names John Berlinski to Top 100 Power Lawyers List
The Hollywood Reporter has named principal John Berlinski to its annual Power Lawyers list, recognizing “the 100 most influential attorneys in the entertainment industry.” John is one of …
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Go to the postBenjamin Gluck and Ariel Neuman Named Lawyers of the Year as 20 Bird Marella Attorneys Recognized Among the 2023 Best Lawyers in America®
Bird Marella is proud to announce the inclusion of 20 lawyers in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by U.S. News. Benjamin …
Friday, August 19, 2022
Go to the postJohn Berlinski Comments on Potential Obstacles for Profit Participants with Netflix Ad-Supported Platform in Wall Street Journal
Bird Marella Principal John Berlinski is quoted in the July 12, 2022 Wall Street Journal article, “Netflix in Talks With Hollywood Studios to Facilitate New Ad-Supported Platform.” In the article, Mr. Berlinski …
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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