John V. Berlinski

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.

• 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