The firm is pleased to announce that Karine Akopchikyan, Heather Antoine, John De La Merced, Neil Elan, and Celina Kirchner have been named to Thomson Reuters’ prestigious list of 2021 Southern California “Super Lawyers” Rising Stars. Additionally, Heather received enough votes to place her on the “Up-and-Coming 100: 2021 Southern California Rising Stars” and “Up-and-Coming 50: 2021 Women Southern California Rising Stars” lists.
Every year, “Super Lawyers” profiles attorneys in more than 70 different practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievements. The list selects the top lawyers in Southern California based on peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation. After the "Super Lawyers" research team has completed the screening process, only 2.5 percent of lawyers under the age of 40 years old are granted the title of Rising Stars.
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.
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, one of Southern California’s leading business law firms, today announced that three attorneys of the firm have been selected to the 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. SA&M attorneys Karine Akopchikyan, John De La Merced, and Neil Elan were honored for 2020. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
About Karine Akopchikyan Karine Akopchikyan is a Litigator in SA&M’s Business Litigation Practice group. Karine has extensive experience representing and advising plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of business and commercial disputes in state and federal courts. She focuses her practice on resolving complex contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes (including copyright, trademark, patent, right of publicity, and trade secret claims), cyber insurance coverage disputes, and disputes involving unfair competition, fraud, and other business torts. In large part, Karine’s success lies in her integrity, diligence, and ability to bring people together.
Outside of the office, Karine is committed to improving the academic and social outcomes for students in her community. With roots as a credentialed public school teacher, Karine helped create the Pasadena Bar Association’s Mentorship Committee, which connects law students with seasoned attorneys. In addition, she regularly volunteers as an attorney proctor for the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Teen Court Program, which focuses on the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Karine earned her law degree from USC Gould School of Law and presently serves as the Chair of the Los Angeles Chapter of the USC Gould Alumni Committee. While in law school, Karine was a Senior Executive Editor of USC’s Business Law Advisor, which is a student-run publication focused on advisory articles relevant to the intersection of business and law. She also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew of the United States District Court.
About John De La Merced John R. De La Merced is an attorney at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP and is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation group, representing clients in commercial, intellectual property, and real estate disputes in federal court, state court, and arbitration. His experience encompasses all aspects of the litigation process, including managing client matters, drafting operative pleadings and responses, law and motion practice, discovery, mediation, client counseling, and assisting in arbitration and trial.
Since joining the firm, John has served as co-trial counsel in various arbitration and court proceedings and has been instrumental in securing favorable results on behalf of the firm and its clients. Understanding that litigation is a team effort, John prides himself in ensuring that clients appreciate how the facts of their case intertwine with the relevant legal issues. John’s strong attention to detail and thoughtfulness in analyzing the law provide his clients with the confidence of knowing that they have an advocate in their corner who is truly looking out for their interests.
Prior to joining the firm, John was an associate at a large international law firm where he represented clients in complex trust and estate litigation and commercial litigation matters.
An active member of the community, John is the Chair of the Board and Immediate Past President of the Philippine American Bar Association, the oldest and largest local association of Filipino-American lawyers in the United States, a member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the alternate regional governor for the Central California region for the National Filipino American Lawyers Association. Previously, John served as a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County Board of Governors in 2018 and on the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2018. John also mentors current and future law students, as well as junior attorneys in the Southern California area.
About Neil Elan Neil Elan is an Associate in the Business Litigation Practice group. Neil’s civil litigation practice focuses on all areas of business and commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on business dissolution, buy-sell agreements, prosecution and defense of breach of contract and promissory note actions, business torts, unfair business practices, fraud, and Anti-SLAPP. In his civil litigation practice, Neil represents real estate developers, limited liability companies, closely held corporations, financial institutions, entertainment producers, commercial landlords and business owners.
On occasion, Neil also handles various civil and probate family-law cross-over matters, including those related to elder abuse and palimony actions.
Neil understands that each case is more than just a file–it is a story with moving parts, complicated personalities, and rapid needs. He strives to protect the fast-moving, cutting-edge business and interest needs of his clients and is committed to finding creative and effective solutions. He understands that litigation is not for the faint of heart and prides himself in ensuring that the client’s legal—and business—needs are well protected.
About Super Lawyers Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, 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 annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com
About Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. The firm’s clients represent the full spectrum of Southern California business with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. For more information on Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, visit www.stubbsalderton.com
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is pleased to announce that six lawyers have been named to the 2018 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 2018 Super Lawyers list –
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.
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.
Jeff Gersh is a Partner of the Firm. 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.
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.
Joe Stubbs is a founding partner of the Firm, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He is co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Practice Group, and of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. Joe practices in the areas of corporate and securities law, emphasizing the corporate representation of both publicly-held and privately-held emerging growth and middle-market companies, venture capital and private equity firms, angel investment groups and investment banks.
The official Super Lawyers 2018 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, LLP is pleased to announce that six lawyers have been named to the 2017 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 2017 Super Lawyers list -
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.
Joe Stubbs is a founding partner of the Firm, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He is co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Practice Group, and of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. Joe practices in the areas of corporate and securities law, emphasizing the corporate representation of both publicly-held and privately-held emerging growth and middle-market companies, venture capital and private equity firms, angel investment groups and investment banks.
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.
Jeffrey F. Gersh is a Partner of the Firm. 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.
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.
The official Super Lawyers 2017 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, LLP is proud to announce that four of their attorneys have been listed in the 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers edition. Congratulations to Scott Alderton, Joe Stubbs, Kevin DeBré, and Michael Sherman.
What is 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 selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. To view the digital publication, click here.
A little bit more about the attorneys:
Scott Alderton - 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.
Joe Stubbs - Joe Stubbs is a founding partner of the Firm, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He is co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Practice Group, and of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. Joe practices in the areas of corporate and securities law, emphasizing the corporate representation of both publicly-held and privately-held emerging growth and middle-market companies, venture capital and private equity firms, angel investment groups and investment banks. He acts as outside general counsel to numerous emerging growth and technology companies, advising on a wide range of legal and strategic issues at all stages of their evolutionary path. He particularly concentrates on advising companies in preparing for and successfully completing their angel, venture capital, private equity and debt financing transactions, their merger, acquisition and divestiture transactions and their initial and follow-on public offerings. He also serves as outside general counsel to various publicly-held companies, providing advice on all aspects of their business activities, including securities law compliance and corporate governance matters. His experience also includes corporate partnerships, restructurings and technology licensing.
Kevin DeBré - 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. Kevin is a business lawyer, a registered patent lawyer and a former engineer. He focuses on representing software companies, semiconductor design firms, mobile commerce businesses, e-commerce enterprises, electronics and hardware manufacturers, media companies, content developers and publishers, biotechnology companies and medical device manufacturers both in the United States and abroad.
Michael Sherman - Michael Sherman is a Partner of the Firm and Chair of the Business Litigation practice group. Michael 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. Michael’s trial skills and courtroom success resulted in his being named several years ago to the “Top 100 Lawyers” in California list, published by the Daily Journal newspaper chain. He has consistently been named to “Best Lawyers in America”. Michael has been recognized as a leading trial lawyer by his peers and featured in the press for some of his significant victories on behalf of clients. He is a recent past president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. He is a frequent speaker and writer on business litigation and trial advocacy.
For more information about Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, contact Heidi Hubbeling at or (310) 746-9803.
Congratulations to SAM Partner Scott Alderton who has been named to Southern California Super Lawyers 2013. Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Super Lawyers magazine is published in all 50 states and reaches more than 13 million readers.
Partner Scott Alderton named to Southern California Super Lawyers 2012. Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. Super Lawyers magazine is published in all 50 states and reaches more than 13 million readers.
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Scott Alderton - 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.
Joe Stubbs
Kevin DeBré - 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. Kevin is a business lawyer, a registered patent lawyer and a former engineer. He focuses on representing software companies, semiconductor design firms, mobile commerce businesses, e-commerce enterprises, electronics and hardware manufacturers, media companies, content developers and publishers, biotechnology companies and medical device manufacturers both in the United States and abroad.
Michael Sherman - Michael Sherman is a Partner of the Firm and Chair of the Business Litigation practice group. Michael 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. Michael’s trial skills and courtroom success resulted in his being named several years ago to the “Top 100 Lawyers” in California list, published by the Daily Journal newspaper chain. He has consistently been named to “Best Lawyers in America”. Michael has been recognized as a leading trial lawyer by his peers and featured in the press for some of his significant victories on behalf of clients. He is a recent past president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. He is a frequent speaker and writer on business litigation and trial advocacy.
Congratulations to SAM Partner Scott Alderton who has been named to