Jay S. Handlin | Attorney

Jay Handlin is partner in the firm's Honolulu and Los Angeles offices and is a member of the Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group. Since 1985, he has practiced complex commercial litigation in New York, California and Hawaii, in a career ranging from one of the nation's premiere law firms to a Fortune 100 entertainment conglomerate. His experience in both law firm and in-house counsel settings gives Mr. Handlin a unique perspective into the business aspects of litigation and the real-world needs of clients.

Representative Matters

• Obtained summary judgment in favor of government property owner and private managerial employees, and obtained dismissal of appeal, in multi-case toxic tort litigation involving Honolulu International Airport facility

• Represented world-renowned rock 'n' roll band in defense of class action lawsuit resulting from cancellation of Maui concert, and negotiated resolution of claims through unique settlement centered on makeup concert

• Represented production company of hit television series filmed in Hawaii in defending and favorably settling employment claims
  Represented shipping line in defense and successful resolution of claims alleging violation of procurement laws in connection with acquisition and use of gantry cranes

• Represented real estate developer in successful resolution of contract and easement disputes involving property on Rodeo Drive and other high-profile projects in Beverly Hills

• Obtained preliminary injunction on behalf of real estate developer, preventing adjacent landowner from harming client's interest in shopping center property

• Represented hospital company in successful resolution of multi-million dollar dispute with landlord regarding responsibility for costs of renovating hospital building

• Represented communications company in successfully resolved antitrust litigation

• Represent owner of iconic toy property in complex licensing and intellectual property disputes and in negotiation of motion picture and merchandise deals

• Assisted entertainment conglomerate's defense of contract claims involving billion-dollar licensing property, which claims were ultimately dismissed based on the plaintiff's discovery abuses

• Represented motion picture studio in successful defense of copyright infringement claim against hit movie

• Represented radio station and legendary DJ in successful defense of idea theft claim relating to popular song

• Represented music company in successful defense of claims by heirs of songwriter for royalties on videocassettes and CDs

• Represented entertainment conglomerate in responding to Federal Trade Commission's investigation into the marketing of violent motion pictures to children

Prior Work Experience

After law school, Mr. Handlin clerked for the Hon. Jon O. Newman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He began practicing law with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York, where he handled complex commercial litigation in such areas as securities law, banking, environmental, antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, insurance, telecommunications and bankruptcy, and also maintained an extensive appellate practice.

In 1996, Mr. Handlin moved to Southern California to become in-house litigation counsel for The Walt Disney Company. During his seven years at Disney, Mr. Handlin was responsible for cases in all aspects of Disney's litigation portfolio, with particular emphasis on large complex cases, as well as entertainment and intellectual property-related litigation. At Disney, he handled matters ranging from shareholder derivative lawsuits and complex contract and licensing litigation to cases involving copyright, trademark, idea misappropriation, trade secret, patent, unfair competition, libel and slander, and licensing. He also provided substantial non-litigation advice relating to consumer products, retail and theme park operations, motion picture and television production, marketing and distribution. While at Disney, Mr. Handlin served as a credited technical advisor on the filming of the motion picture "A Civil Action."

After leaving Disney, Mr. Handlin became a partner at a national law firm, then became a partner at Los Angeles litigation firm Glaser, Weil, where he continued his complex commercial litigation practice with disputes involving real property, antitrust, employment and other contract issues, as well as a variety of cases involving entertainment and intellectual property. He has represented real estate developers, communications companies, hospitals, motion picture studios, television networks, radio stations, talent management companies, producers and actors in a wide variety of disputes.

Distinctions

• Highest "AV" Professional Rating, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory
• Contributing writer to such publications as Daily Variety, Billboard, and the Los Angeles Daily Journal on issues such as copyright, idea protection, and other entertainment-law issues
• Editor, Harvard Law Review
• Winner of 1985 H.L.S. Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition for Best Paper on Copyright

Affiliations

• Hawaii State Bar Association
• California State Bar Association