News & Events
Berger Kahn LA is now Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane
The former Los Angeles office of Berger Kahn has re-formed as Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane, ALC. The new firm retains all of the principals, associates and staff of the Berger Kahn LA office. The change is effective August 1, 2009.
The firm will continue to handle a diverse range of complex corporate and litigation matters in the areas of appeals, aviation, business, entertainment, insurance and professional liability. The firm also will handle labor and employment, bankruptcy and restructuring, complex business litigation, manufactured housing, real estate and breach of contract matters. The new firm will practice throughout California from the same offices, located at 4551 Glencoe Avenue, Suite 300, in Marina del Rey.
"We are the same winning team as before – with the same big firm expertise and resources, but with small firm responsiveness and efficiency," said Allen Michel, Gladstone Michel's managing partner. "Our mission remains the same as it has been for years – to deliver superior legal representation at rates our clients appreciate.”
The office’s departure from Berger Kahn is completely amicable: “Client conflicts became increasingly difficult to navigate. Everyone decided that the most elegant solution for our clients was to change the nature of the LA office’s relationship with Berger Kahn," Michel said.
“We leave as friends, both personally and professionally,” said Michel, whose college roommate Craig Simon is the managing partner of Berger Kahn. Simon agreed, saying, “We wish our former partners well. I’m confident both firms will thrive.”
Since every lawyer in the LA office of Berger Kahn is joining the new firm, it is not surprising that the firm’s key principals will be the same as before:
Leon Gladstone brings a highly specialized entertainment law practice to Gladstone Michel, providing entertainment insurance coverage advice and litigation expertise. He represents major U.S. entertainment insurers and completion guarantors, as well as actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, publishers, production companies, distributors, authors and below-the-line talent.
Allen Michel has over three decades of jury trial and appellate experience representing lawyers, accountants and other professionals, and handling litigation of complex business, entertainment, insurance coverage and real property matters.
Gene Weisberg, national coverage counsel for an internationally known insurer, focuses on insurance coverage disputes and complex business litigation.
Arthur Willner’s practice emphasizes defense of high exposure, complex litigation arising from aviation, products liability, civil rights and commercial disputes.
Owen Sloane, one of the entertainment industry's most respected attorneys, represents some of the world's most successful talent in entertainment, music and intellectual property matters. He currently represents American Idol alum Chris Daughtry who recently had the No. 1 album in the country, Chester French, the Frank Zappa Estate, and Rob Thomas, the frontman for Matchbox Twenty, as well as other major artists and leading companies in the entertainment, Internet and music publishing businesses.
Arthur Grebow will continue with the firm as Of Counsel; his practice focuses on real estate, manufactured housing, business litigation and corporate matters.
Jason Wallach’s core practice areas are bankruptcy, corporate, transactional and litigation matters. He has particular expertise in helping financially stressed businesses and individuals, and keeping financially healthy clients out of litigation.
Teresa Tracy represents management in all areas of labor and employment law and litigation, including wrongful termination, discrimination, wage and hour, class action, union organizing campaigns, grievances and arbitrations, and collective bargaining. She also provides preventive services, including comprehensive counseling and training.
Gladstone Michel's other lawyers are:
Principals: Michael J. Aiken (Insurance Coverage, Business Litigation); and Patricia J. Campbell (Business Litigation, Entertainment, Aviation); Counsel: Donald L. Mabry (Business Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Entertainment); Associates: Julie H. Rubin (Real Estate, Manufactured Housing Law, Business Litigation); Amber M. McGovern (Business Litigation, Aviation); Rachel M. Stilwell (Entertainment, Business); Grace B. Kang (Business Litigation, Bankruptcy & Restructuring); Maile Fulton (Insurance Coverage, Aviation, Business Litigation); and Courtney A. Dillaplain (Entertainment).
Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane, ALC, lawyers are admitted in all state and federal courts throughout California.