Martin D. Katz

Marty Katz is retired from the firm and is now Of Counsel. Marty practiced law for forty years and established himself as one of the preeminent litigators in California, with extensive trial, arbitration and appellate experience. He settled and litigated to conclusion cases in many different practice areas. 

Areas of Practice

Marty had extensive experience in many different areas of law. Among other things, however, Marty is a contracts maven. In both trial courts and on appeal, Marty litigated the rules of construction, the role of extrinsic evidence and the parameters of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing – and several of Marty’s cases have resulted in landmark appellate decisions.  

Marty's entertainment background included representation of studios, independent producers, gaming companies and other content providers, post-production facilities, distributors, broadcasting companies, wifi connectivity providers, talent agencies and venue builders and owners. Marty’s representation spanned a wide variety of claims, including those relating to participation accounting, copyright and idea submission, distribution rights, music rights, interactive rights, gaming licenses, talent disputes, executive compensation disputes, employee misconduct claims, vertical integration, performer injuries, wrongful death and a host of insurance coverage issues unique to the entertainment industry. Marty received numerous honors and awards, including the CLAY Award for California Lawyer's Attorney of the Year (2008), Entertainment.

Marty's insurance coverage background included the handling of complex coverage disputes concerning mass tort claims; product liability claims; environmental liabilities; construction defect claims; earthquake, natural disaster and other catastrophic losses; fidelity losses and other employment-related claims; aviation and aerospace claims; and insurance company bad faith. Marty had extensive experience with insurance placed in the London Market and he served on Creditors’ Committees for various insolvent London Market companies.

Marty also litigated a variety of employment claims, including disputes over the issuance of stock options and whistleblower claims under both federal and state law. He litigated construction defect claims, including claims asserting architectural design defects and defects in component parts. He litigated a variety of real estate disputes, including claims asserting failure to close and CAM overcharges. He has litigated personal injury cases, claims for invasion of privacy and legal malpractice claims. Marty also litigated contractual and statutory claims for the recovery of attorneys’ fees. 

Honors

Best Lawyer in America, Best Lawyers, 2011-2021, 2024-2025

Power Lawyer, Entertainment Litigation, Hollywood Reporter, 2007-2019

Media & Entertainment/ Litigation Recognition, Chambers USA, 2009-2024

Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2009-2025

Top Entertainment Litigators, Daily Variety's Legal Impact Report, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2019

Media & Entertainment MVP, Law360, 2012

Which Lawyer?, Practical Law Company, Media, 2011, 2012

Recognized in Media & Entertainment: Litigation, Legal 500 US, 2023

Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property, Legal 500 US, 2009, 2013-2016, 2019

Leading Lawyer in Media & Entertainment: Litigation, Legal 500 US, 2017-2022

California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award, Entertainment, 2008

Best of the Bar, Entertainment and Media, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2007

Top Entertainment Attorneys, Hollywood Reporter, 2005

Super Lawyer on repeated occasions, Los Angeles Magazine

Southern California Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2022-2025