Mark D. Passin
Experience
Experience includes representing recording artists, musicians, songwriters, actors, personal and business managers, independent record and music publishing companies, advertising agencies, and concert tour merchandising companies.
Areas of focus include high-profile contract disputes between major recording artists and record companies, record industry royalty audits, motion picture profit participations, disputes between artists and managers under the Talent Agencies Act, copyright and trademark infringement, and advertising industry cases.
Selected Results*
Trial against the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences involving the sale of Oscar statuettes. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
CBS, Inc. v. Donald Thomas Scholz et. al: Obtained judgment on behalf of Donald Thomas Scholz of the group "Boston" following a six week trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Aisha Tyler. Labor Commission proceedings; prevailed in talent agency dispute. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Trista Rehn. Labor Commission proceedings; prevailed in talent agency dispute. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Earl S. Burroughs aka Jack Hammer v. Pepsico, Inc., BBDO Worldwide, Omnicom Group, Inc. Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Pepsico, Inc., BBDO Worldwide, Inc. and Omnicom Group, Inc. in copyright infringement action. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Brett R. Spackman v. Agency.com Ltd., Miller Brewing Company, Skyworks Technologies, Inc., Starcom Media Vest Group and Young and Rubicam, Inc. Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Agency.com Ltd. in copyright infringement action. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Recognition
- Named a "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics (2009)**
Memberships
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- The Copyright Society of U.S.A.
Civic Associations
- Executive Committee Member, City of Hope Music and Entertainment Industry Group
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Education
- USC Gould School of Law, J.D. (1981)
- University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., magna cum laude (1977)
Selected Speeches
- Guest speaker at entertainment dispute/ADR program entitled, "Creatively Resolving Entertainment Disputes: How to Keep Your Clients Out of Court."