Michael D. Holtz

Top rated Entertainment & Sports attorney in Woodland Hills, California

The Holtz Firm
Michael D. Holtz
The Holtz Firm

Practice Areas: Entertainment & Sports, Employment Litigation, Personal Injury; view more

Licensed in California since: 1990

Education: New York University School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009, 2011 - 2012, 2016 - 2025 Selected to Rising Stars: 2004
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The Holtz Firm

21650 W Oxnard St
Ste 500
Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Visit website

Details

The founder of The Holtz Firm, Michael D. Holtz, focuses his practice on sexual assault and harassment, employment litigation, and entertainment litigation and transactional work. Working out of his firm’s offices in Woodland Hills and Calabasas, California, Mr. Holtz represents a diverse group of clients from various states throughout the country. Admitted to practice in California since 1990, Mr. Holtz handles cases in all state and federal courts in California and across the United States, as well as in numerous arbitration tribunals including the American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS, Signature Resolutions and ADR Services.

Both in the courtroom and in front of arbitration panels, Mr. Holtz has represented individual and company clients in a wide range of disputes involving sexual assault, breach of contract, employment law matters, including sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination and other acts of retaliation, intellectual property rights, idea submission/theft, right of publicity and privacy, defamation, copyright infringement, and commission disputes involving artists, managers and talent agents. 

In addition to arbitration panels, Mr. Holtz has appeared before the California Labor Commission, the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), and all of the entertainment unions, including the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and IATSE.  His successful track record has led to respect and recognition from his fellow members of the bar, including an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree with high honors from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mr. Holtz attended New York University School of Law and was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1990. He spent two decades as a partner at a premier Century City-based entertainment litigation boutique firm before starting his own firm in 2018.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.

Practice areas

Entertainment & Sports, Employment Litigation: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Intellectual Property Litigation

Focus areas

Entertainment, Sports & Leisure Law, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff

  • 30% Entertainment & Sports
  • 30% Employment Litigation: Plaintiff
  • 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
  • 10% Intellectual Property Litigation

First Admitted: 1990, California

Professional Webpage: https://www.theholtzfirm.net/about-our-founder

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Nevada
  • California, 1990
  • New York
  • Florida
  • Texas
  • New Jersey
  • Beverly Hills Bar Association, LACBA
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • Obtained seven figure settlement for victim of sexual assault and harassment in the workplace, 2021
  • Obtained eight-figure settlement on behalf of client in connection with claims of sexual harassment and other employment-related impropriety , 2023
  • Obtained seven figure settlement for female executive who was wrongfully terminated and retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, 2022
  • Obtained significant settlement for actress against major studio and television production company arising from claims for sexual harassment, hostile work environment, retaliatory discharge, breach of contract, and violations of the California Labor Code., 2019
  • Obtained settlements for writers who were denied contractual payments on major motion picture, 2020
  • Secured several sizeable settlements for wrongful termination and discrimination claims against large entertainment companies, 2020
  • Prevailed in a JAMS arbitration before ret. Judge Terry Friedman on issue of whether "Haunting In Connecticut 2; Ghosts of Georgia" was a "sequel" to "Haunting in Connecticut."   Obtained summary judgment for Gold Circle Films in multi-million dollar breach of contract action filed by Manatt Phelps & Phillips on behalf of their client Robin Williams., 2013
  • Obtained favorable settlement for female executives against large tech companies for discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination., 2020
  • Obtained multi-million dollar (eight figure) judgment in USDC action on behalf of international media company against former executives for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties and conversion , 2019
  • Achieved complete victory for contractor against homeowner in arbitration involving extensive remodel of home in Santa Monica, 2018
  • Achieved favorable result in arbitration for high net worth celebrity who was being sued for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud , 2018
  • Prevailed in trial in Los Angeles Superior Court on breach of contract claim arising out of film accounting dispute for client Gary Gilbert/Camelot Pictures against Lakeshore Entertainment., 2015
  • Achieved settlement of claims by John Singleton against Paramount Pictures arising out of Paramount's failure to grant two puts to Singleton as part of his Hustle & Flow deal with the studio., 2012
Representative Clients:
  • Tiger Woods, Nick Carter, Dolph Lundgren, Gold Circle Films, Epic Pictures, Voltage Pictures, high-level entertainment and corporate executives, writers, producers
Transactions:
  • Negotiated amendment to employment contract for high level entertainment executive, 2019
  • Negotiated and drafted multiple co-production agreements, shopping agreements, option/purchase agreements, and licensing agreements for clients in the entertainment industry., 2023
  • Negotiated and drafted Producer and Sales Agency Agreements for artists and entertainment professionals , 2020
  • Negotiated and drafted Operating Agreement and corporate documents for joint venture of medical professionals, 2020
  • Negotiated and drafted Operating Agreement and related corporate documents for multi-member corporation with multi-state operations, 2019
Honors/Awards:
  • Selected as Southern California Super Lawyer every year since 2016, Southern California Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2022
  • AV Preeminent Peer Rating on Martindale.com, 2019
  • Selected as Southern California Super Lawyer for 2020, Southern California Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2020
Educational Background:
  • University of Michigan: B.A., 1987, High honors
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • Guest lecturer on the Business of Entertainment at UCLA, 2020

Office location for Michael D. Holtz

21650 W Oxnard St
Ste 500
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Phone: 310-739-4335

Selections

13 Years Super Lawyers
1 Year Rising Stars
  • Super Lawyers: 2009, 2011 - 2012, 2016 - 2025
  • Rising Stars: 2004

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