Stubbs Alderton & Markiles attorneys Dan Rozansky, Cristy Jonelis and Celina Kirchner have been featured in the Daily Journal with their article "Pitfalls of proposed amendments to CDA Section 230."

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has come under fire once again due to Twitter's recent decision to block all access to two articles from the New York Post containing information and images allegedly obtained from Hunter Biden's hacked laptop. This was another in a series of actions Twitter has taken to enforce its terms of use, which began in May when Twitter flagged two tweets by President Donald Trump with the phrase "Get the facts..." and a link to articles providing a different perspective from that put forth by the president. In response, President Trump issued an executive order calling for government agencies to clarify and limit the scope of Section 230 protection. On Sept. 23, the attorney general submitted proposed amendments to Section 230 to Congress, along with a cover letter and a separate explanation of the intended meaning of the proposed amendments.

To read the full article click here.

SA&M Attorneys Published In Daily Journal

Daniel Rozansky is a Partner of the firm in the Business Litigation Practice. Clients engage Dan before disputes ever arise to advise on strategies to minimize litigation risk and to put clients in a position for a successful outcome if litigation does arise.  For example, he regularly reviews television pilots, screenplays and other material in development to assist those clients in identifying and avoiding potential liabilities; he advises clients, including Fortune 100 companies, on best practices for recording communications; he counsels clients on best practices to protect trade secrets and other confidential information; and he guides clients contemplating exiting unfavorable business relationships.  When disputes arise, Dan brings his decades of experience at AmLaw 100 and 200 firms and his relentless approach help achieve the best possible outcome for his clients.  This approach has led Dan to be recognized as an industry leader, including being listed as a top entertainment and media litigator in Chambers USA (2011-2019).  In 2013, 2014, and 2016, he was featured in Variety’s “Legal Impact Report,” which names the top attorneys who are making a significant impact in the entertainment industry.

Cristy Jonelis is Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Business Litigation Practice. Cristy is well-versed in all aspects of business and commercial litigation, having overseen numerous cases from inception to winning verdicts (and even the subsequent winning appeals).  However, her primary focus is in the area of entertainment and media litigation, with particular emphasis in the anti-SLAPP arena.

Cristy has represented a wide variety of clients on both the plaintiff and defense side, including television and motion picture producers, reality television production companies, radio stations, film financiers, banks, investment firms, transportation companies, and credit card companies.

Cristy takes pride in her ability to help clients reach their endgame in the most efficient way possible, without sacrificing the quality of work product.  Cristy is cognizant that cases often take left turns, and she is able to quickly adapt to respond to any obstacle that is thrown her way during the complex litigation process.

Celina Kirchner is an Associate in the Business Litigation Practice group.  Celina’s civil litigation practice focuses on all areas of business and commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on digital media, technology, internet, privacy, emerging companies, insurance, breach of contract, fraud, and complex business disputes.  In her practice, Celina works closely with business professionals of all levels in order to develop practical strategies for resolving their disputes.  She also advises businesses on formation, governance and contracting matters in the hope that they can avoid litigation altogether.  Having worked with clients of all sizes, Celina understands that every case is unique and, ultimately, comes down to people.  She focuses on the human element of her cases and communicates in an understandable, business manner.  In the end, Celina endeavors to make what can be a stressful time for her clients as smooth as possible.  Celina is a frequent speaker at events centered around digital media and the burgeoning Silicon Beach community.

For more information about our Business Litigation practice at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, contact Daniel Rozansky at

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is pleased to announce that eight lawyers have been named to the 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country. Lawyers are selected to a Super Lawyers list in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to the 2020 Super Lawyers list –

Greg Akselrud is a founder and Partner of the firm and a member of the firm’s executive committee. He Chairs the firm’s Internet, Digital Media and Entertainment Practice group. Greg advises clients across a wide range of industries, including companies in the entertainment, digital media, Internet, technology, software, mobile, venture capital and consumer electronics industries.

Scott Alderton is a founding partner of the Firm, Managing Partner, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.  Scott is co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Practice Group and chair’s the Firm’s Interactive Entertainment and Video Games Group. Scott advises both public and private clients across a number of industries, including technology, manufacturing and distribution of goods in commerce, finance, the Internet, interactive video games, and new media industries.

Heather A. Antoine is a Partner and Chair of the Firm’s Trademark & Brand Protection practice and Co-Chair of the Privacy & Data Security practice group. Heather’s practice focuses on protecting a company’s intellectual property; a fundamental feature of every business. Heather’s practice includes trademark clearance and selection, domestic and foreign trademark prosecution, enforcement, proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), licensing, trade secret protection, copyright, rights of publicity, domain names disputes, and general client counseling.

Kevin D. DeBré is the chair of the Firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Practice Group.  Kevin advises entrepreneurs and companies that use intellectual property to build their businesses.  Kevin has particular expertise in structuring and negotiating technology commercialization and patent licenses, strategic alliances, research and development collaborations, trademark licensing and brand merchandising agreements and manufacturing, distribution and marketing arrangements.  He also counsels clients on compliance with data security and privacy laws and regulations.

Jeffrey Gersh is a Partner of the Firm in the Business Litigation Practice. He has litigated, arbitrated, or mediated complex business and commercial matters, for both plaintiffs and defendants, whether individuals, public or private corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and/or its members, shareholders and partners, involving various types of disputes, including contract matters, trade secrets, intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights and trade dress) negligence and fraud, employment, real estate, license agreements, the apparel and garment industry, and general business matters.

Crystal Jonelis is Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Business Litigation Practice. Crystal is well-versed in all aspects of business and commercial litigation, having overseen numerous cases from inception to winning verdicts (and even the subsequent winning appeals).  However, her primary focus is in the area of entertainment and media litigation, with particular emphasis in the anti-SLAPP arena.

Daniel Rozansky is a Partner of the Firm in the Business Litigation Practice. Dan concentrates his practice on entertainment, privacy, First Amendment and complex business and real estate disputes. Dan’s areas of focus are entertainment finance, anti-SLAPP motions, unfair competition, trade secrets, intellectual property, surreptitious tape recording, reality television, profit participation, rights of privacy and publicity, real estate, partnership disputes and First Amendment issues. He represents clients both at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal court on a wide array of issues.

Michael Sherman is an accomplished trial lawyer in high-stakes, “bet-the-company” litigation, and has represented both large and early-stage companies as well as entrepreneurs in all facets of business and complex commercial litigation. He has evenly split his litigation practice on both the plaintiff and defense side of cases, has first-chaired numerous trials in complex matters in industries as varied as energy, securities, healthcare, environmental, consumer products, technology, project development/finance, advertising, real estate and apparel, and is highly skilled in class actions and unfair competition law.

The official Super Lawyers 2020 publication can be read in its entirety here.

For more information about Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, contact Heidi Hubbeling at or (310) 746-9803.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles is pleased to announce that Daniel Rozansky has been ranked in the 2019 edition of Chambers and Partners for Litigation: Media & Entertainment. He has received this honor for the past 8 years consecutively. Chambers and Partners rank individual lawyers in their practice area(s) on the basis of their legal knowledge and experience, their ability, their effectiveness, and their client-service. The rankings are determined by 150 editors and researchers who talk to lawyers and clients year-round, conducting in-depth phone interviews.

Daniel Rozansky is a Partner of the firm in the Business Litigation Practice. Clients engage Dan before disputes ever arise to advise on strategies to minimize litigation risk and to put clients in a position for a successful outcome if litigation does arise.  For example, he regularly reviews television pilots, screenplays and other material in development to assist those clients in identifying and avoiding potential liabilities; he advises clients, including Fortune 100 companies, on best practices for recording communications; he counsels clients on best practices to protect trade secrets and other confidential information; and he guides clients contemplating exiting unfavorable business relationships.  When disputes arise, Dan brings his decades of experience at AmLaw 100 and 200 firms and his relentless approach help achieve the best possible outcome for his clients.  This approach has led Dan to be recognized as an industry leader, including being listed as a top entertainment and media litigator in Chambers USA (2011-2018).  In 2013, 2014, and 2016, he was featured in Variety’s “Legal Impact Report,” which names the top attorneys who are making a significant impact in the entertainment industry.

In areas of entertainment and media litigation, Dan represents clients across multiple platforms including film, television, music, concerts and touring, and digital media.  As a result of his well-recognized skills, Dan has prevailed in a number of high-stakes entertainment cases, including some of Hollywood’s most significant cases in the areas of copyright, trademark, First amendment, profit participation, reality television, right of publicity, rights of privacy and breach of implied contract.

Dan’s achievements are not limited to the entertainment industry.  He has successfully represented clients in the real estate, toy, banking, insurance, restaurant, clothing, luxury goods, and travel industries, in such areas as trade secrets, partnership, contract, and unfair competition disputes. While Dan is known for his willingness to “take it all the way”, Dan’s goal is to design a strategy to put his clients in the best position for early dismissal including through motions to dismiss, anti-SLAPP motions, summary judgment motions, and favorable settlements.  As a result, not only has Dan achieved early dismissal of multiple claims and actions, but he has also prevailed in cases short of trial, resulting in significant recoveries.  When cases do go to trial, Dan has achieved great success at the state, federal and appellate levels.  In all instances when his clients prevail, Dan looks for opportunities to recover their attorneys’ fees and has, in fact, recovered millions of dollars in fees for his clients.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles' Partner Dan Rozansky was featured in the Hollywood Reporter in a roundup of Hollywood law firm promotions and hires.

To read the full article visit here.

Dan concentrates his practice on entertainment, privacy, First Amendment and complex business and real estate disputes. In addition to his diverse litigation experience, Dan also counsels a broad array of clients on developing the best strategies to avoid disputes. For entertainment clients, he regularly reviews television pilots, screenplays and other material in development to assist those clients in identifying and avoiding potential liabilities. Dan’s areas of focus are entertainment finance, anti-SLAPP motions, unfair competition, trade secrets, intellectual property, surreptitious tape recording, reality television, profit participation, rights of privacy and publicity, real estate, partnership disputes and First Amendment issues. He represents clients both at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal court on a wide array of issues.

For more information on our Litigation Practice, contact Dan Rozansky at