Law Offices of Jonathan Stein conducts a business practice emphasizing sophisticated trial work, capital raises and sensitive contractual negotiations, especially in the entertainment and gaming industries.
Jonathan has won ten 7-figure litigations in the last 12 years. His overall record in litigated matters in the last 17 years is 49 wins and 5 losses. Jonathan’s reputation among judges and other senior lawyers in Los Angeles Superior Court (the nation’s largest); his strong academic background and past associations with national law firms; and over 260 trial days before a judge and jury, lend stature and ease when handling diverse business litigations.
Jonathan has five aspects to his practice: business litigation, capital raises and gaming, entertainment contracts and litigation, lobbying activities, and work as outside general counsel.
BUSINESS LITIGATION
Jonathan often litigates against the largest firms in California state and federal courts. He litigates nationally as well, in other states including New York, South Carolina and Texas (with the assistance of local counsel). In 17 years, he has seldom been outmanned, in part because he limits his caseload in a manner that a large-firm partner cannot.
Unlike the majority of business litigators, Jonathan relishes the opportunity to try a case before a jury, and values winning above all. His clients regularly spend less than half the money spent by less-focused opponents. His consistent focus on winning the case, rather than processing court papers, reduces the time to trial. Jonathan usually avoids unnecessary discovery battles whenever possible, on the theory that perhaps 20 documents win most jury trials.
Most of Jonathan's cases are 7-figure cases, with less than 10 litigation boxes of important documents. Mr. Stein’s hourly rate in 2009 is $525 per hour. This rate is designed to be 25% less than comparable rates charged by litigation partners at national or international law firms. Unlike these firms, there are no high fees charged by associate attorneys with lesser litigation skills, or foggy ideas of how to win the case. And unlike many of these partners, Jonathan is more than happy to try a case.
Mr. Stein emphasizes a direct and cost-effective approach to mediation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. A sense of strategic timing, the choice of a good mediator, and his personal reputation as someone who wins trials, give Mr. Stein's clients the ability to settle cases on preferential terms.
CAPITAL RAISES AND GAMING
Jonathan was instrumental in raising a $21-million casino development financing in 2006. He has also worked on several casino financings of larger or similar size. Jonathan maintains a broad acquaintanceship among several hundred executives and financiers at casino companies, investment banks, gaming device manufacturers and vendor companies.
For raising capital, Jonathan has extensive contacts among large investment banks, regional investment banks and boutique banks, as well as private equity funds, hedge funds and alternative investment funds. Mr. Stein's relationships are strongest in the real estate, gaming and leisure space. But these same relationships also provide access to other industry spaces served by the same banking institutions, investment companies and fund managers.
Jonathan is broadly experienced in commercial gaming, Indian gaming and charity bingo. After 10 years in gaming, Jonathan is comfortable with commercial gaming operations and problems, federal law and IGRA, state gaming laws and regulatory bodies, as well as tribal compact terms and conditions.
Jonathan's work on casino development has put him at the junction of casino business operations, gaming economics, federal and state law, and the political approval process. Outside of the practice of law, Mr. Stein remains senior investor with the Gabrielino-Tongva Tribe, through a wholly-owned company. Other investors include John Hancock Insurance Company and other institutional investors.
ENTERTAINMENT CONTRACTS AND LITIGATION
Jonathan has negotiated substantial contracts with 20th Century Fox (Fantastic
Four, Fantastic Four 2, Night At The Museum, Taxi, Big
Momma's House 2), Sony (Spiderman, Big
Fish), Paramount (Paycheck, Aoen Flux), NBC
Universal (Jarhead), Disney (Hot Chick),
Warner Bros. (Lady In The Water), MGM (Walking Tall),
Dimension Films (Cursed), ABC-TV (Alias),
NBC-TV (Crossing Jordan) and Fox-TV (Boston Public),
among others.
Mr. Stein has been attorney of record in litigations for such above-the-line talent such as Pamela Anderson, and represented in business matters several of the industry's busiest second unit directors.
LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
Jonathan is a registered lobbyist under California’s Political Reform Act. His clients include the Gabrielino-Tongva Indian Tribe, a major gaming machine manufacturer, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Jonathan has been a lobbyist for four years and has a large number of relationships with elected officials and their staff. As important, Jonathan has been part of high-profile, controversial legislative battles with entrenched interests (see Press). His strong, loyal and competent guidance helps out-of-state companies and in-state companies face challenges of participating in the public policy process.
Jonathan usually recommends that a local lobbyist also be hired to provide day-to-day coverage of hearings in Sacramento.
OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSEL
Jonathan works as outside general counsel to a number of companies in different economic sectors, including retail, entertainment and gaming.
Jonathan served as Chief Executive Officer of two different companies and incorporates into his legal practice the leadership skills learned as CEO. Jonathan is well organized, applies common sense and is concise when solving business/legal problems. Jonathan emphasizes both cogent strategy and competent execution on that strategy. | 