Stanton ("Larry") Stein
Partner, Head of Media & Entertainment Group
Russ August & Kabat
Stanton (“Larry”) Stein is the head of Russ August & Kabat’s Media & Entertainment group. Larry’s clients include actors, writers, directors, musicians and record executives, social media influencers, and production companies in matters adverse to the studios, record labels, and media conglomerates.
Larry is known for handling high-stakes litigation in every type of dispute that may arise in the entertainment industry, including breach of contract, profit participation and royalty disputes, defamation, violations of rights of privacy and publicity, copyright and trademark infringement, idea theft and unfair competition. Stein was the first in the industry to challenge accounting practices by vertically integrated studios and media conglomerates through litigation. His efforts changed the face of talent and rights holders’ contract negotiations with studios, networks, and their affiliated production companies, seeking to more evenly allocate revenue to profit participants. Additionally, based on client demands, Larry more recently has expanded beyond litigation into some television and music work for clients who prefer all their work be handled by the same team. Moreover, Larry has grown his music practice by its representation of several high-profile recording artists and recording executives. He also advises several international music artists who are in the process of crossing over into the US market.
Ranked as a “Top Media and Entertainment Litigator” by Chambers USA, recognized as a “Legal Legend” by The Hollywood Reporter, named a “Top Music Lawyer” by Billboard, as well as regular “Southern California Super Lawyer.” The Daily Journal named Larry one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in California,” while the Los Angeles Business Journal profiled him in “Who’s Who in LA Law,” and California Lawyer featured him as a top five “A-list Entertainment Lawyers.” Nationally, Larry has been recognized as a “Best Lawyer” by The Best Lawyers in America and in “Lawdragon 500: Leading Lawyers in America.” Larry has received the “Entertainment Lawyer of the Year” awards from both the Beverly Hills and Century City Bar Associations, as well as the ACLU Foundation’s “Pro Bono Civil Liberties Award.”
Regularly called on by journalists and legal scholars for comment regarding legal issues facing the entertainment industry, he has been quoted in such publications as: The Hollywood Reporter, Buzzfeed News, Law360, IPWatchdog, USA Today, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Deadline, Variety, Billboard, and many more.
Larry is an undergraduate of USC and recipient of a debate scholarship. He graduated USC School of Law on an academic scholarship and formed his own law firm 3 ½ years after graduating.
Larry is a frequent author and lecturer in the field of entertainment law. He served as an adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at USC Gould School of Law for fifteen years and at Stanford Law School. He has lectured at Harvard Law School, Yale Law School and UC Berkeley School of Law. Larry’s teaching and lecturing to students is his way of giving back to the community. He believes that teachers and mentors can make a huge difference in a young person’s life.
Larry represents Drake and his companies in a variety of matters that range from IP protection and enforcement to advice on clearance issues, to more personal disputes. He also oversees his defense in a variety of matters outside California where he or his company have been named. Larry successfully defended Drake in connection with over 1000 lawsuits cases filed against him regarding his appearance at Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld concert. Recently, all claims against Drake were dismissed with prejudice.
Larry represented the Estate of Donna Summer in a copyright infringement matter against Kanye West for the iconic Donna Summer song I Feel Love. This federal court case recently successfully settled.
Larry represents Simon Cowell and Syco Entertainment and provides ongoing advice in connection with the AGT series and other projects that are in development.
Larry represents Post Malone in various personal and confidential litigation matters including one that led to a complete dismissal in federal court.
Larry represents DJ Khaled in both litigation and personal matters and successfully resolved a personal and confidential pre-litigation dispute for Khaled.
