Copyright Litigator Robert E. Allen Joins McKool Smith

Los Angeles, CA, July 20, 2015 --  McKool Smith, one of America's leading trial firms, has announced that intellectual property (IP) litigator, Robert E. Allen, has joined the firm as a principal in its Los Angeles office.  Mr. Allen specializes in copyright-related disputes, particularly in the entertainment and new media sectors.  He was instrumental in formulating the legal theories supporting the successful class action brought by his clients, two founding members of American rock band The Turtles, against Sirius XM Radio Inc. concerning misappropriation of their pre-1972 recordings that recently resulted in a partial settlement of $210 million.

Prior to joining McKool Smith, Mr. Allen headed his own law firm which focused on entertainment-related IP disputes in both state and federal court.  Before that, for more than a decade, he served as the Senior Vice President, Head of Business and Legal Affairs for Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the then-largest music publisher in the world.  During his time at the publishing company, he was also head of the New Media Business Development Committee, a team charged with setting the direction and execution of cutting-edge digital and internet exploitation strategies.

"Robert brings a new area of experience and clientele to the firm. His expertise in the music entertainment and new media sectors make his arrival particularly exciting," said Mike McKool, a Founder and Chairman of McKool Smith. "He will make a wonderful addition to our Los Angeles office."

"Litigation is a fundamental part of my practice, so I was naturally drawn to McKool Smith's national reputation as a first-class trial firm," said Mr. Allen.  "I was equally attracted to the firm's rapidly growing footprint in California and its record of  success in high-profile intellectual property disputes.  I look forward to growing my practice at the firm while working with the most successful trial lawyers in the country. "

McKool Smith's courtroom track record in intellectual property litigation is unrivaled.  In January, the firm was awarded "IP Firm of the Year" by Benchmark Litigation.  Last year, the firm was named an "IP Group of the Year" by Law360 based on the significance, size, and complexity of its intellectual property litigation wins.

With more than 180 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C., McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America's leading trial firms.  Since 2006, the firm has secured nine nine-figure jury verdicts, as well as ten eight-figure jury verdicts. The firm has also won more VerdictSearch and The National Law Journal "Top 100 Verdicts" over the last eight years than any other law firm in the country. Courtroom successes like these have earned McKool Smith critical acclaim and helped the firm become what The Wall Street Journal describes as "one of the biggest law firm success stories of the past decade."  McKool Smith represents leading clients in intellectual property, complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and white collar defense matters