Manatt Grows National Litigation Practice

LOS ANGELES — Oct. 7, 2013 — Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, today announced that Steven M. Goldberg has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in its nationally recognized litigation practice. He was previously a partner at Russ August & Kabat.

Regularly handling entertainment, real estate, securities, business tort, employment, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation matters for high profile clients, Goldberg also frequently works on intra-corporate disputes, and antitrust, copyright and trademark infringement litigation.

Goldberg has twice been a partner at Manatt, first in the 1980s and again from 2000 to 2003.

“We are delighted to welcome Steve back,” said Matt Kanny, chair of Manatt’s Litigation Division. “He is a highly regarded trial lawyer with a track record of success representing his clients. Steve’s background in business litigation, particularly in the finance and entertainment arenas, adds further depth to Manatt’s considerable capabilities. He is a great addition to the firm.”

Goldberg routinely represents stock brokers and brokerage firms in securities arbitrations, as well as individuals and companies in securities fraud litigation. In addition, he works with banks in loan participation litigation regarding troubled real estate projects.

Many notable sports figures, including Jerry West, Mitch Kupchak, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, Brent Barry, Stacey Augmon, B.J. Armstrong, Nomar Garciaparra, Mark Langston, Rex Hudler, Tom O’Malley and Sean Douglass, have been part of Goldberg’s prominent client roster.

Among the significant cases that Goldberg has handled is a dispute involving a judgment for $107 million in which he successfully obtained an order freezing the assets of the well-known record producer Marion “Suge” Knight and Death Row Records, who filed for bankruptcy shortly after.

He also represented the South Beverly Park Homeowners Association and the residents of South Beverly Park, including Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Zanuck, Louise Taper and Michael Solomon, in a real estate dispute against the North Beverly Park Homeowners Association. His clients prevailed on their claims after a trial.

“I could not be more pleased to be back at Manatt,” said Goldberg. “The firm’s strengths across a range of practice areas have only grown since I was last a partner. This litigation team is second to none and I’m looking forward to working alongside both distinguished old friends and talented new colleagues.”

Manatt’s litigation practice combines aggressive, creative litigation talent with a deep knowledge of industries and practice areas, including advertising, healthcare, entertainment, consumer brands, energy, financial services, intellectual property and real estate. The firm’s litigators include some of the top trial and appellate lawyers in the country. Manatt has been recognized for excellence in litigation by The American Lawyer and Chambers USA, and appears onU.S. News & World Report’s list of “Best Law Firms” for litigation.

Goldberg joins Manatt on the heels of two other litigation partner additions in Los Angeles this summer, Donna L. Wilson and John W. McGuinness, from BuckleySandler LLP, both complex commercial litigators.

Goldberg earned a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from New York University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review. He is admitted to practice in both California and New York.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation's leading law and consulting firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base – including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies – across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.