Irell & Manella LLP offers a diverse and sophisticated legal practice in an environment dedicated to excellence and innovation. Our clients come to us from across the country and around the world. Our recent victories and successful transactions include:
- A $300 million jury verdict for breach of contract in favor of City of Hope National Medical Center after a three month trial against Genentech. The case concerned Genentech's licensing of fundamental biotechnology patents based on inventions of two City of Hope scientists. The California Supreme Court unanimously upheld the $300 million verdict, making it the largest damage award ever affirmed in the California courts.
- A $73.99 million verdict for our client TiVo following a lengthy jury trial against EchoStar (Dish Network) in a Texas federal court.
- Together with co-counsel, the representation of Viacom and Paramount Pictures in the sale of the DreamWorks live-action film library in a deal worth $900 million.
- The successful pro bono representation of conservation and animal welfare groups in limiting the U.S. Navy’s use of high-intensity, mid-frequency sonar during war games.
- The negotiation and sale of one of the most expensive paintings ever sold, Gustav Klimt’s Adele Block-Bauer I, following its restitution by the Austrian government.
- Summary judgment for CBS in a landmark contract case involving royalties for home-entertainment reissues of classic television series.
- Together with co-counsel, the representation of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., one of the nation’s fastest-growing gaming companies, in its $2.5 billion bid to acquire the owner of the Tropicana casino, and in other recent transactions totaling over $1.8 billion.
- A unanimous jury verdict and judgment of over $90 million following a multi-week trial against Sony.
- The representation of reality TV series pioneer Mark Burnett in connection with the television shows Survivor, The Apprentice, The Contender, and Rock Star.
- Summary judgment against the Sharper Image Corporation, in which the federal court determined that Sharper Image had no protectible trade dress in its ionic air purifiers.
- The representation of Wynn Resorts in an initial public offering, the issuance of high-yield bonds, and the bank financing arrangements for the design, development and construction of Wynn Las Vegas, a $2.4 billion hotel and casino in Nevada.
- The representation of MTV Networks on television programming such as Punk’d, Wildboyz, and other MTV, VH1, Spike and LOGO programs.
- The representation of the owner of Del Taco LLC, the nation’s second largest quick-service Mexican restaurant chain, in its sale to a consortium of private equity investors.
- Representations involving the purchase or sale of major sports franchises such as the California Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, and Mighty Ducks.
- Representations of private equity firms, including private equity funds co-formed by GFI Energy Ventures LLC and Oaktree Capital Management LLC, in the purchase and sale of portfolio companies.
- Pro bono representation of two high school students resulting in a federal court injunction under the Equal Access Act allowing them to form a gay-straight alliance.
