Kristen Spanier handles litigation matters in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property, and general business law. She has successfully prosecuted and defended cases involving claims for trademark infringement, copyright infringement, defamation, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, and contractual disputes arising in a wide range of industries.  Ms. Spanier has represented various individuals and companies within the entertainment industry in connection with fraud and contractual business disputes.  She has also handled a number of palimony matters, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

Representative Matters

  • Defended Mattel against multi-million dollar breach of contract claims brought by former licensor.  Obtained complete defense verdict and award of attorneys’ fees for Mattel after a six week jury trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
  • Represented Mattel in various disputes with individuals claiming an interest in Mattel products based on implied contract and/or intellectual property claims.
  • Assist Howard Weitzman and other KWIKA lawyers in representing the Estate of Michael Jackson in various matters, including a dispute with the insurer of the cancelled This Is It concert tour.
  • Represent business management and financial services firms in action brought by ex-wife of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf arising out of the Wolfs’ marital property settlement.
  • Represented individuals in palimony actions, both as plaintiff and defendant, including obtaining summary judgment on behalf of prominent investment banker in action brought by his ex-wife.
  • Represented personal managers in commission disputes with former clients, including representing the former personal manager of actor Wesley Snipes in a Labor Commissioner Action in which Mr. Snipes claimed that his former manager had acted as an unlicensed talent agent. The Labor Commissioner ruled in favor of the manager.
  • Obtained arbitration award in favor of film distributor in breach of contract action between distributor and Miramax.
  • Obtained arbitration award in favor of International Creative Management, Inc. recovering commissions owed to the client by Sara Lee Corporation, parent company of Hanes Hosiery, arising from Hanes’ sponsorship of Tina Turner’s North American Tour.
  • Represented a commercial director in an action brought by the Directors Guild of America and obtained summary judgment in favor of the client.
  • Represented Mattel in a dispute with a former licensee and obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction preventing the former licensee from selling products bearing Mattel’s trademarks.

Admissions, Memberships & Qualifications

  • State Bar of California (Member)
  • Admitted to practice in State and Federal court

Honors & Awards

  • “Rising Star,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2004-2008)
  • “Super Lawyer,” Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2017)

Education

  • University of California at Berkeley, B.A. (Economics, magna cum laude), 1991
  • UCLA School of Law, J.D., 1995.