Biography
Joel M. Grossman, Esq. has been exclusively devoted to mediation and arbitration since 2004, following his 25-year legal career as a litigator, labor negotiator, and in-house counsel overseeing complex entertainment disputes.
Mr. Grossman has presided over more than 1500 mediations and arbitrations and developed a stellar reputation for fairness. Sought after by both plaintiffs’ and defense counsel, he has resolved extremely complex disputes with a combination of excellent problem-solving skills and a wonderful sense of humor.
Mr. Grossman has been a full-time neutral since January 2004 and has mediated or arbitrated over 1500 cases. Drawing on his fifteen years as head of the Litigation Department of a major motion picture studio, he has broad experience in entertainment-related claims including, but not limited to: copyright and trademark infringement, idea submission, and profit participation claims.
Additionally, Mr. Grossman has mediated and arbitrated several disputes between actors and their agencies, and disputes between two agencies. Serving on the Writers Guild of America—Producers arbitration panel, he has arbitrated a number of entertainment cases including cases on complex issues such as separated rights.
He has been named to the Daily Journal’s list of the top neutrals in California for three consecutive years.
Representative Entertainment Matters
- Copyright Infringement Claims
- Mediated claims that musical compositions had been appropriated by online service providers in breach of performers’ copyrights
- Mediated claim that motion picture infringed copyright of a novel
- Mediated claim that television series infringed copyright of earlier television series produced in a foreign country
- Mediated claim by writer that a film in development at a major studio was based on his screenplay which he had submitted to the studio
- Agent-Client Claims
- Mediated dispute over which agency should get commissions when actor left one agency and was represented by a second agency
- Arbitrated dispute between actor and agency over commissions
- Arbitrated dispute between performer and manager over unpaid commisions
- Mediated race discrimination claim by general manager of NBA team
- Writers Guild – Producer Disputes
- As a member of the arbitration panel in the WGA-Producers Minimum Basic Agreement, arbitrated claims including claims of unpaid writing fees, merchandising rights, and separated rights
- Profit Participation Claims
- Arbitrated audit claim on major motion picture brought by participant
- Idea Submission Claims
- Mediated several cases regarding various submissions for television shows and feature films
- Additional IP Disputes
- Handled several matters involving creditors and debtors in connection with entertainment/intellectual property rights
- Mediated claims by franchisees against a franchisor who sold investigative agency franchises
- Mediated claims by garment producers that competitor’s garments infringed copyright
- Arbitrated 50+ domain name disputes in which trademark holder claimed that domain name infringed its trademark
- Recognized as one of California’s Top Neutrals, Daily Journal, 2007-2009 and 2012
- Selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2007-2011, 2013, 2019-2022
- Selected as entertainment law “Power Mediator,” Hollywood Reporter Esq.
- Member, Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations Labor and Employment Law Executive Committee
- Associate Member, California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA)
- Contributing Writer, Alternative Dispute Resolution for the California Labor and Employment Law Review, published by the State Bar of California Labor and Employment Law Section
- Co-author, Modern Law of Employment Contracts, a leading treatise on the law of wrongful termination and other aspects of employment law
- Received comprehensive training in JAMS in-house Entertainment Law workshops including, but not limited to:
- "Net Profits and New Media: The Future of Entertainment Litigation"
- "Legal Issues and Developments in Video Game Law"
- Full-time Mediator and Arbitrator, 2004-present
- Senior Vice President, Head of Labor And Litigation Divisions, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 1989-2003
- Partner, Selvin and Weiner, 1985-1989
- Associate, O’Melveny & Myers, 1980-1984
- Law Clerk, Hon. Eugene A. Wright, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1979-1980
- J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1979, Order of the Coif
- M.A., University of California Santa Barbara, 1976
- B.A., with honors, University of Pennsylvania, 1972
Counsel Comments
- “Joel is one of our top choices to mediate wage and hour class actions in Los Angeles. Although he comes out of the defense world, he is able to see the case law for what it says, help the parties to evaluate their risks, and he is a consummate professional. Great mediator.”
- “This was an unusual and challenging mediation and Mr. Grossman was tireless and diligent in trying to see a way forward. I am still astonished that he was able to resolve my case and its corresponding class action!”
- In a breach of contract matter, “[Joel] took time to understand and communicate the respective positions of the parties and provided a realistic framework for settlement discussions.”
- “[Joel] did a good job of highlighted the risks to each side and settled a potentially difficult case in a half day.”
- “Joel did an unbelievable job. I don't know how he worked his magic, but he delivered.”
- “Joel is an experienced neutral who thinks outside of the box.”
- “Joel was completely prepared, incredibly effective, and managed the opposing party and her counsel very well.”
- “Arbitrator Grossman digested an extremely voluminous arbitration record in the time he promised and delivered a well-reasoned and thorough written award. His interim decisions on motions and the like were timely and thorough and he gave all parties an opportunity to present their positions and advocate for their interests. His decisions always were based on the facts presented to him and the law governing the case.”
- “Persistent, very knowledgeable about labor code issues and potential damages, adept with difficult personalities, personable, useful sense of humor, principled and made clients feel understood and good about the result. He was also very helpful with the insurance counsel. Everyone on our side left thankful and impressed. Joel Grossman did an amazing job in a complicated two stage negotiation.”
- “Mr. Grossman is a highly knowledgeable arbitrator who was also always courteous and professional.”
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- Arbitration
- Business/Commercial
- Employment
- Entertainment and Sports
- Intellectual Property
- Real Property
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