Entertainment

With 25 years of experience, Tre Lovell practices in most areas of business law, corporate law, entertainment law, intellectual property law, employment law and general civil litigation. His clientele varies from individuals to high-profile companies in Los Angeles and beyond. Tre Lovell has been noted among the elite trial lawyers in the nation. He was named "Lawyer of the Year", Finalist, by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and was further honored by The National Law Journal as one of the Top 50 Litigation Trailblazers in the nation. Mr. Lovell has been recognized among the top 1% of attorneys in the country as a litigator through such esteemed organizations as America's Top 100 Attorneys, Distinguished Justice Advocates, National Academy of Jurisprudence, America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Rue's Best Attorneys of America. In addition, Tre Lovell was awarded the Litigator Award for two years in a row (2014-2015) by the Trial Lawyers Board of Regents for extraordinary litigation achievement, an award given to less that 1% of attorneys in the U.S. and to approximately only 12 firms per state each year. Mr. Lovell serves as Global Law Experts' exclusive representative expert from California for litigation, and has received additional accolades for business and entertainment law from such organizations as Corporate LiveWire, Acquisition International and Acquisition Finance Magazine. The Lovell Firm was further profiled in Forbes Magazine in September 2014, and has been featured on numerous television newscasts. Mr. Lovell's aggressive and relentless style of representation for his clients, in both their litigation and transactional interests, has garnered him an exceptional reputation within the legal and business communities. Mr. Lovell received his J.D. from McGeorge School of Law in 1992. He is licensed in both California and Nevada. In addition to practicing law, he is a national gold medal champion and former black belt instructor in the martial arts.

David K. McGill was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. McGill specializes in Entertainment Law, Business Affairs and Consulting. His global entertainment services include but not limited to record label development, artist development, drafting and negotiation of entertainment contracts, digital and mobile music content, copyright, and trademark. Mr. McGill has been active in the entertainment industry since 1996. Mr. McGill also focuses on foreclosure defense law and labor and employment law, stemming from race discrimination, race harassment, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination. Mr. McGill is a graduate of University of Miami Law School. During his law school years, Mr. McGill was a recipient of the Dean's Scholarship, served as VP of International Moot Court and was a member of the Entertainment Sports Law Society, and Black Law Student Association. Mr. McGill received his undergraduate degree from Thomas More College (B.A. Management Info Systems, Cum Laude) and his M.B.A. from Xavier University (Business Entrepreneurship) David McGill's professional affiliations include the Entertainment and Sports Law section of the Florida Bar, American Bar Association, Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association. Mr. McGill is also active in the community and volunteers as a mentor and legal consultant to inner city youth.

Deena R. Merlen is a Partner at the firm. She serves clients at both our New York and Stamford offices and heads the Connecticut practice. Her practice areas include intellectual property, employment and labor law, media and entertainment, general business law, commercial transactions and dispute resolution. In her employment practice, Ms. Merlen is a trusted “go to” problem solver and counsel to individuals, established name brand companies and startups alike. She has extensive experience representing clients in matters including general counseling, discrimination actions, mediations and dispute resolution, investigations by federal or state agencies, as well as wage and hour claims and other labor law matters. She also advises on and regularly negotiates employment and separation agreements, independent contractor arrangements and other services-related arrangements. Ms. Merlen also counsels clients on employment and business matters in response to a crisis or other unexpected business impact, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business closures, including continuity plans, employee furloughs, reductions in force and other critical measures. In her intellectual property practice, Ms. Merlen helps her clients with the development, acquisition and protection of their valuable brands and other vital intellectual property assets. She manages and grows trademark portfolios in the U.S. and internationally; negotiates licensing, assignment, distribution and branding agreements; prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations; enforces intellectual property rights; and provides strategic counsel to safeguard brand platforms and expand the value of her clients’ intellectual property assets. Ms. Merlen’s media practice encompasses the development and protection of creative works in the fields of music, film, television, theatre, publishing, literary arts, performing arts, design and technology. She ran her own business in the entertainment industry for over a decade and brings that business experience and acumen to her legal practice. In addition, Ms. Merlen provides general business counsel and represents clients in company and transactional matters such as partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, the purchase or sale of businesses, and a wide range of other corporate matters, including company formation, capitalization and governance, compliance and contracts. Representative clients include technology companies, schools and other academic institutions, personal care and beauty companies, fashion and design companies, media, arts and entertainment companies, wholesalers, retailers and more. Prior to her work with RPJ, Ms. Merlen served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Roger J. Miner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after which she joined Debevoise & Plimpton, where she practiced for over five years in the areas of corporate law and intellectual property. Ms. Merlen is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.

Doron has worked for top law firms helping them to negotiate and draft contracts for start-up companies from the early stages of business formation to corporate maintenance, taxation and securities. He has represented entrepreneurs in different industries with different needs and potential. Doron has represented Directors, Producers, Actors, Musicians and others in the entertainment industry. Doron is a prolific writer with publications in various media outlets. He has also lectured on various legal issues including business and real estate law. Doron has interned for Judge Cynthia Dianne Steel in Las Vegas and Senator Ron Wyden in Washington DC. Doron currently is the President-Elect of Beverly Hills Bar Association, Barristers. Doron is also on the Beverly Hills Bar Association Senior Board of Governors, Co-Chairs the Real Estate section of Beverly Hills Bar Association and is an Executive Committee Member of Beverly Hills Bar Association Entertainment, Business, International Law and Conflict Resolution Sections. Doron has earned the highest level of prominence on Avvo.com. In addition, Beverly Hills Bar Association has bestowed upon Doron the "President's Award" for dedicated service in 2012-2013 Annual Installation and Awards Dinner at the Four Season's Hotel. Further, Beverly Hills Bar Association bestowed upon Doron the "Distinguished Service Award" for "Outstanding Leadership as Chairperson of the Real Estate Law Section 2010-2013" on September 24-2013.

Deena R. Merlen is a Partner at the firm. She serves clients at both our New York and Stamford offices and heads the Connecticut practice. Her practice areas include intellectual property, employment and labor law, media and entertainment, general business law, commercial transactions and dispute resolution. In her employment practice, Ms. Merlen is a trusted “go to” problem solver and counsel to individuals, established name brand companies and startups alike. She has extensive experience representing clients in matters including general counseling, discrimination actions, mediations and dispute resolution, investigations by federal or state agencies, as well as wage and hour claims and other labor law matters. She also advises on and regularly negotiates employment and separation agreements, independent contractor arrangements and other services-related arrangements. Ms. Merlen also counsels clients on employment and business matters in response to a crisis or other unexpected business impact, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business closures, including continuity plans, employee furloughs, reductions in force and other critical measures. In her intellectual property practice, Ms. Merlen helps her clients with the development, acquisition and protection of their valuable brands and other vital intellectual property assets. She manages and grows trademark portfolios in the U.S. and internationally; negotiates licensing, assignment, distribution and branding agreements; prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations; enforces intellectual property rights; and provides strategic counsel to safeguard brand platforms and expand the value of her clients’ intellectual property assets. Ms. Merlen’s media practice encompasses the development and protection of creative works in the fields of music, film, television, theatre, publishing, literary arts, performing arts, design and technology. She ran her own business in the entertainment industry for over a decade and brings that business experience and acumen to her legal practice. In addition, Ms. Merlen provides general business counsel and represents clients in company and transactional matters such as partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, the purchase or sale of businesses, and a wide range of other corporate matters, including company formation, capitalization and governance, compliance and contracts. Representative clients include technology companies, schools and other academic institutions, personal care and beauty companies, fashion and design companies, media, arts and entertainment companies, wholesalers, retailers and more. Prior to her work with RPJ, Ms. Merlen served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Roger J. Miner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after which she joined Debevoise & Plimpton, where she practiced for over five years in the areas of corporate law and intellectual property. Ms. Merlen is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.

Mr. Reynolds was educated at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, where he graduated with honors before attending law school at Columbia University in New York, one of the highest ranked programs in the country. After graduating law school, Mr. Reynolds went on to practice at some of the world's most prestigious international law firms including Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney (Pittsburgh), Dechert (Philadelphia), and most recently King & Spalding (Atlanta). His experience at these firms provided him with invaluable insight and deal flows totaling over $3 Billion dollars worth of transaction experience. In addition to his background in corporate law, Mr. Reynolds has also had the privilege of working with one of the most successful brands in the entertainment business, Universal Music Group, where he had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the music and film industry as a label executive of Global Icon Media, and distribution partner of Universal Music Group. Today, Mr. Reynolds is proud to have established his own firm dedicated to helping the clients he wants to work with, who need his help, and will benefit from his experience and passion for the law.

Attorney Bruce Kaye’s claim to fame was being selected to work as a law clerk to the legendary trial attorney Joe Jamail (Pennzoil v. Texaco, Top 10 Trial Attorney in the USA). Prior to law school, Bruce played the keyboards professionally all over Houston. Some key parties included President Bill Clinton, former Houston Mayors Bob Lanier and Annise Parker, Ambassador Arthur Schechter, and many different judges’ campaigns (both criminal and civil). Upon graduation from law school in Houston, Texas in 1992, Bruce opened up his own practice concentrating primarily on Criminal Law (trial and appeals for Federal and State courts), Entertainment Law and Non-Subscriber Work Place Injuries. Not satisfied to “study” law in a soulless environment provided by a large law firm, Bruce began trying serious felony cases right out of school and has never looked back. “I’m one of those people who learn best by experience,” admits Kaye. With Houston being a center for hip hop music, it was a natural evolution for Bruce to represent artists, managers, producers and small record labels in Entertainment issues. Finally, the decision to represent those individuals who have suffered terrible injuries due to non-subscriber workplace injuries stems back to the basic concepts of social justice or what is morally right and wrong. “The way employers treat their injured workers is just wrong,” says Kaye, “and I’ve made it my mission to set things right.” One of the best things about retaining Mr. Kaye as your attorney is the fact that your calls will be personally returned by him. Mr. Kaye also utilizes email, texting, and Facebook. This one-on-one contact provides for representation with the utmost care placed on two things: personal service and obtaining a favorable outcome. Bruce is admitted to practice law by the State of Texas, the Southern District of Texas, The Northern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Texas, and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also a member of the Dallas Bar Association (where he serves on the Criminal Law section) and the Dallas County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He has served on the District 3G Grievance Committee and is active in the Litigation and Sports and Entertainment Sections of the Texas State Bar.

Cory A. Santos, Sr., Esq. is the owner/manager of Santos Law, PLLC. Attorney Santos has a long and distinguished history of helping clients throughout Nevada by equalizing the playing field for his clients. Practicing mainly in Workers’ Compensation, Entertainment Law, Personal Injury, and Criminal Law, he has helped thousands of clients over the last two decades. Mr. Santos has litigated several cases up to the Nevada Supreme Court. He was successful in a major precedent setting case in workers’ compensation. In Flamingo Hilton v. Gilbert, 122 Nev. 1279, 148 P.3d 738 (2006), the treating physician stated that the injured worker required ongoing medications to maintain maximum medical improvement (MMI), however, then inappropriately stated that the injured worker needed to pay for the medications with his own private insurance once the case closed after he took his Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) settlement. After several appeals, the Nevada Supreme Court agreed with Attorney Santos’ argument and now injured workers are able to accept their PPD and the insurance company has to provide ongoing medical maintenance if the physician recommends it to maintain MMI status. This case opened the door for injured workers to finally not have to utilize their PPD settlement or their own private health insurance to pay for maintenance that the workers compensation insurer is responsible for. Additionally, the Court held that when a doctor provides an opinion which goes beyond a medical opinion but becomes a legal conclusion, it is an improper opinion (in Gilbert, the treating physician stated Mr. Gilbert should use his private health insurance to provide for his medications). Lastly, the Court clarified that when an insurance company issues several determinations regarding a subject (in Gilbert it was claim closure) in a certain time frame, an injured worker need only appeal the last in time determination to perfect an appeal. This decision was a big win for injured workers in Nevada. In another case in which Attorney Santos represented an injured worker before the Nevada Supreme Court, CCSD v. Marshall, (Supreme Court No. 41374 (2005)), the injured worker had surgery on his shoulder and eventually was sent for a PPD evaluation. The first PPD doctor stated that Marshall was entitled to a 10% PPD award. The 10% PPD award was denied by the self-insured CCSD and it had another doctor review the information. The second doctor agreed with the first doctor and stated Marshall should get a 10% award. However, CCSD still refused to pay the 10% award and had a third doctor review the file. The third doctor stated Marshall should only get a 5% PPD award which CCSD then offered to him. Attorney Santos stood behind his client and argued to the Nevada Supreme Court that his client deserved the full 10% PPD award based on the first two doctors’ opinions. The Nevada Supreme Court agreed in an unpublished decision ruling for Marshall. At the forefront of Nevada Workers’ Compensation policy, Attorney Santos has testified before the Nevada Legislature regarding workers’ compensation issues and has written on Nevada Workers’ Compensation law in the Nevada Justice Association magazine, “Advocate”. Attorney Santos has had success in other areas of law for his clients. For example, in the area of Personal Injury, he successfully represented a person injured in the nationally covered infamous Mizpah Hotel Fire in Reno, Nevada obtaining a settlement for his client after a battle with the insurance company. In the area of Entertainment Law, he has been legal counsel for 2 feature films (1 Interrogation, Project: Puppies for Christmas), represented entertainers, producers, directors, musicians, athletes, and well known casting director Marilee Lear of Lear Entertainment. He has a background in acting, having worked in commercials and on several films (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8435386/) which augments his courtroom representation of his clients. In the area of Criminal Law, he has represented individuals charged with misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors and felonies. Charges have ranged from battery, assault, domestic violence and driving violations. He has also represented clients with traffic tickets all across Nevada (Goldfield, Tonopah, Hawthorne, Fernley, Searchlight, Las Vegas, Reno). Attorney Santos’ legal career started out as a law clerk for several law offices in Reno and Las Vegas. The son of Jeannette Santos and legendary trial attorney and Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Herbert J. Santos, Sr., Esq., he learned trial techniques and tactics at a young age watching his father in the courtroom. During law school, he was fortunate to law clerk for several experienced litigation firms. At one firm, he worked on the infamous Equinox pyramid scheme lawsuit. At another firm, he worked on motor vehicle accidents, trip/slip and falls, and premises liability. He also clerked at an insurance defense firm. While at these positions, he learned from some of the most experienced attorneys in southern Nevada. He took this valuable knowledge with him when he was admitted to the Nevada and Utah state Bars, respectively. In 2002, he made the choice to represent injured workers when he accepted a position as a Deputy Attorney for the State of Nevada at Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers where he worked in the Las Vegas office until 2008. He then litigated cases with his brother Joel for ten years. In 2018, he opened Santos Law, PLLC. where he now represents clients in northern and southern Nevada. A native Nevadan, Attorney Santos is proud to be a member of the prestigious charter class of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) William S. Boyd School of Law. At Boyd, he received several scholarships, most notably, the Nevada Trial Lawyers Scholarship and the Boyd School of Law Community Service Scholarship. Prior to receiving his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Boyd, he received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Nevada, where he received several academic scholarships in history. Graduating on the Dean’s List, he majored in history with a minor in criminal justice. At the University of Nevada, he was a member of the Nevada Boxing Team from 1993-1996, wrote for the university newspaper, and was a member of several university organizations. Prior to that, he graduated from Robert McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada in 1993 where he participated on the football and track teams. Attorney Santos is married to an attorney and has four children. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Prospectors' Club in Reno and the FBI InfraGard. Over the years he has been active in various non-profit activities such as serving on the Board of Governors for Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nevada, the Board of Directors for the UNLV Interfaith Student Center, and on the Child Abuse Prevention Council for Olive Crest Homes a

Bradley Skafish has been practicing law, specifically in the realm of personal injury and civil litigation, since 2002. He is admitted to practice in Illinois (2002), the Northern District of Illinois (2002), Indiana (2004), the Northern District of Indiana (2004), the Southern District of Indiana (2004), the Southern District of Illinois (2012), and the Central District of Illinois (2014). Brad became a partner at Deutschman & Skafish in January 2019. He was admitted to the seventh circuit court of appeals in 2018. Brad is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Prior to joining Deutschman & Skafish, Brad operated the Law Offices of Bradley A. Skafish from 2003-2007, focusing primarily on personal injury litigation. Brad has tried more than 50 jury trials. He received his law degree (J.D.) as well as a B.S. in Marketing from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and remains an avid Indiana Hoosiers fan. Brad is married with two daughters, and devotes much of his free time to attending his girls’ activities, including gymnastics and dance. Brad is also the author of the Bad Cats children’s book series. Additionally, Brad sings, writes music, and plays guitar for local rock band, the Figbeats. Author: “Smut on the Small Screen: The Future of Cable-Based Adult Entertainment Following United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group,” 54 Federal Communications Law Journal 319, 2002.

Trusted Florida attorney dedicated to protecting the rights of accident victims and helping families through life’s most difficult challenges. At Katz & Associates, we focus on personal injury and accident cases, ensuring our clients receive full compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Beyond injury law, our firm also provides comprehensive counsel in estate planning, business law, and real estate law. With offices across South Florida, we are committed to accessibility, clear communication, and aggressive advocacy. Every case is handled with personal attention, from initial consultation through resolution. Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, need guidance on a business transaction, or require estate planning services, our mission is simple: deliver results, restore peace of mind, and protect your future. Legal insight for peace of mind.