Paul Blechner returned to Greenberg Glusker in 2014 after a multi-year period during which he served as Vice President, General Counsel and Head of Business Affairs for one of the top talent agencies.

The primary focus of Paul’s practice continues to be in litigation and arbitration, where he has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of subject matters, including entertainment, employment, general business, and contract-based disputes.

Paul also regularly handles select non-litigation matters. He has counseled clients on a number of employment-related policy matters, handled countless employment agreements, participated in the negotiation and drafting of numerous entertainment transactional matters, and advised on various corporate matters. Paul also has extensive experience with California’s Talent Agencies Act.

With prior experience as a judicial clerk in the Southern District of California and as in-house counsel, Paul brings a unique understanding of both the court’s and the client’s perspective to each matter.

Bar Admissions

  • California

Court Admissions

  • United States District Court for the Central District of California

Education

  • New York University School of Law  (J.D., 1991)
  • Occidental College  (B.A., 1988)

Representative Experience

A sample of representative litigation related matters include:

  • Co-chaired successful defense of multi-week arbitration involving contract, fraud and RICO claims seeking hundreds of millions of dollars from Fortune 500 client
  • Arbitrated to final award multiple claims seeking unpaid commissions owed to client
  • Filed contract and trademark claims on behalf of major studio to protect merchandising rights emanating from motion pictures in dispute that included issues over the whether grant of rights extended to new media and technologies
  • Defended film distribution company against production company claiming movie rights in dispute involving whether short form agreement constituted binding option agreement
  • Represented employers in the resolution and defense of actions brought by former employees, including claims of alleging wrongful termination, constructive termination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and discrimination
  • Defeated music group’s fraud and related claims against record company that improperly sought to use “parol evidence” to plead around contract provisions
  • Relied on anti-SLAPP laws to secure early dismissal and attorneys’ fees award in baseless action seeking to interfere with attorney-client relationship in underlying wage and hour claim
  • Obtained reversal from Court of Appeals by way of writ proceeding of dismissal of contempt proceeding brought on behalf of client seeking contempt findings against neighbor for multiple acts of violating a restraining order; upon remand, prosecuted multi-day court trial, obtaining contempt findings and an award of penalties that include jail time
  • Obtained findings of contempt and award of monetary fines in collateral civil proceeding based on defendant’s violation of order freezing disputed funds
  • Conducted multiple pre-trial investigations for employers, with matters ranging from sexual harassment and hostile workplace environment claims to embezzlement or kickback schemes, culminating in advice and recommendations to clients and evidence used to pursue or resolve claims
  • Used discovery and prejudgment remedies to locate and preserve funds ultimately recovered in embezzlement actions against employees