Entertainment

Attorney Frank Cimler is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and where he was a member of the Dean’s List, the President’s List and the honorary society of Alpha Sigma Lamda; he received his Juris Doctor degree from the New England School of Law where he was a member of the Dean’s List and the Honor’s Moot Court team and where he was selected to be included in “Who’s Who of American Law Students”. Attorney Cimler also obtained an LLM degree, an advanced law degree, in Banking Law and Finance from the Morin Center for Banking Law Studies at Boston University School of Law. Among other courses, Mr. Cimler has taught entertainment law at the Massachusetts School of Law and The New England School of Law; and he has been a guest lecturer at Northeastern University and a guest lecturer at Western New England School of Law. Mr. Cimler has also appeared on various legal panels in Boston, Los Angeles and New York. Mr. Cimler began his legal career as in-house corporate counsel to Fortune 500 NYSE companies such as Compugraphic Corporation (Agfa) the world’s largest digital typesetting company and then later with Prime Computer a Massachusetts based producer of mini-computers, which later acquired Computervision Corporation in 1988, creating the 2nd largest producer of computers known as CAD/CAM systems. Attorney Cimler was later appointed assistant secretary at Computervision Corporation. Mr. Cimler has extensive blue-chip legal experience in high technology, information technology and the entertainment industry among other practice areas. His client's have ranged from Fortune 500 Companies to the television show The Bold and The Beautiful, the #1 soap opera in the world, to President Barack Obama’s inaugural poet Richard Blanco, to David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, to Eric Williams of the Boston Celtics, to male and female models, to various members of multi-platinum rock bands e.g. Aerosmith, the J. Geils Band, The Cars, Godsmack, Motley Crue, Poison, Extreme, The Rascals, Meatloaf, The Outlaws and actors and actresses and Grammy award winning producers for artists such as Celine Dion and many, many others. Mr. Cimler has also managed artists such as the band, The Cars and Reeve Carney (star of Spiderman-The Broadway play, Showtime’s ‘Penny Dreadful’ and the Rocky Horror Picture Show). Mr. Cimler has also represented clients in the gaming world, which has led to products such as: GI Joe, Boggle and the Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge, among others. In cooperation with Sir Bob Geldof, Mr. Cimler was instrumental in work which led to the 20th Anniversary Live Aid DVD, and the 2005 Live 8 concert in Barre, Ontario. In response to the Boston Marathon Bombings of 2013, Mr. Cimler was enlisted to be the TV Broadcast Producer and rights clearance attorney for The Boston Strong Concert telecast on ABC/WHEB. The concert featured dozen of artists, athletes, celebrities and comedians including Aerosmith, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Carole King, New Kids on the Block, the band Boston, Extreme, The Dropkick Murphy’s, Boyz to Men, Bel Biv Devoe, country sensation Jason Aldean, the J. Geils Band, Dane Cook, Lenny Clark, Steven Wright and Poet Richard Blanco, and many, many others. The concert and telecast were conceived to raise money for the One Fund Boston, the charity created to assist and benefit the victims of the horrible Boston Marathon Bombings. Mr. Cimler was engaged by Live Nation, the nation’s largest concert promoter, to oversee the television broadcast including all of the legal requirements such as synchronized music licensing, composition clearances, artist appearances and related matters. That work led to an unprecedented 4 hour commercial free concert telethon telecast all to raise funds for the One Fund Boston. The Boston Strong Concert was the largest contributor to the One Fund and was instrumental in helping to raise $66 million dollars in 100 days. Mr. Cimler has also been a consultant to, and officer of, various publicly traded and private entities such as a fresh salsa company, record labels, publishing companies, music video broadcasters, digital encryption technology companies, adaptive finger print technology companies and celebrity rights management companies. Mr. Cimler is also a co-founder of the Rockin’ & Roastin’ Coffee company, along with Joey Kramer, the drummer from the band Aerosmith. Mr. Cimler is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the New York based Foundation for Gender Equality http://www.foundationforgenderequality.org/executive-committee/and and the Rockin’ & Roastin’ Coffee company. http://www.rockinandroastin.com/ Mr. Cimler is the founder of the firm Cimler Law, PLLC, a New England based law firm. Previously, Mr. Cimler was associated with the prestigious Boston based law firm of Choate Hall and Stewart and prior to that with the largest law firm in the State of New Hampshire, McLane- Middleton based in Manchester, NH.

Mr. Movagar co-founded M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers with the goal of championing and defending the interests of individuals who have been physically injured or killed as a result of the negligence of another party. M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers elected to practice within this area of the law because personal injury victims are often the most vulnerable people who need legal representation the most. These victims have just undergone a serious injury and are not in a position to bring a personal injury claim and/or pursue a lawsuit. Also, because most people are unfamiliar with their rights in connection with a personal injury claim, the other side may take advantage of them by either denying their claim or offering to pay them much less than their claim is worth. This is where M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers steps into the case to ensure all of their clients’ rights are protected and that all clients get just and full compensation. Mr. Movagar presently represents wrongful death heirs and Plaintiff’s throughout the state of California that have been injured in every conceivable type of accident involving the negligence of another party. These include, but are not limited to, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, trucking accidents, premises liability cases, and animal attacks. Mr. Movagar works tirelessly to ensure each and every client gets just compensation and all necessary medical treatment so that they are made whole from the losses they sustained as result of the accident. Mr. Movagar has proudly recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients and has been recognized by numerous publications, such as National Trial Lawyers, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers magazine and the Los Angeles Magazine, for the results he has obtained on behalf of his clients. On five separate years, Mr. Movagar has been selected as a “Rising Star” on the Southern California Super Lawyers list – an award given to less than 2.5% of practicing attorneys. In 2016, Mr. Movagar was recognized as a Super Lawyer by the California Super Lawyers Magazine. Mr. Movagar has also been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Magazine as a top 100 trial lawyer in the country, and is also a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (which is a distinction for attorneys who have recovered $2 million or more on a single case). Prior to co-founding M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, Mr. Movagar worked at an elite law firm in west Los Angeles. While there, Mr. Movagar represented Hilton Hotels Worldwide, Inc. (the world’s largest hotel company), Apartment Investment and Management Company (one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of apartment communities), Anschutz Entertainment Group (one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world and the owner of the Staples Center), and Union Carbide Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company). Mr. Movagar received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in downtown Los Angeles in 2004 and graduated Cum Laude with Order of the Coif Honors. While at Loyola Law School, Mr. Movagar was an Editor on the Entertainment Law Review and volunteered at the Disability Rights Legal Center, an organization that champions the civil rights of people with disabilities through advocacy, education and litigation. While in law school, Mr. Movagar also served as an extern at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. In 2004, Mr. Movagar received the Commercial Law Student of the Year Award from the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Kevin C. Ambler served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010, representing House District 47 encompassing most of Northwest Hillsborough County. During his 4 consecutive terms in elected office, he served on over 47 legislative councils and committees, including serving as Chairman of the Health Appropriations Committee in which he was responsible for nearly $20 billion dollars in appropriations for more than 3 million Medicaid beneficiaries and 80,000 health care providers and 15,000 health care facilities. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Rep. Ambler received numerous awards and accolades from professional organizations, boards, and foundations as the top legislator of the year for his outstanding accomplishments for championing numerous important legislative issues. Representative Ambler attended Cornell University on a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business Administration in 1983. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. In 1986, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California. Soon after, he was appointed as an Air Force judge advocate and assigned to the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he served on active duty for nearly 5 years in several positions including Chief of Claims, Chief of Legal Assistance, Chief of Military Justice and Chief of the Civil Law Divisions. During this same time, he also was appointed by the U.S. Attorney General as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and was responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in federal court against civilians arising on MacDill AFB. Later, his responsibilities expanded to defending the United States in federal court in medical malpractice and personal injury cases arising under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Representative Ambler entered private practice and transferred to the Air Force Reserves in 1991. During his first year as a reservist, he was awarded the Harmon Award by the Air Force Judge Advocate General as the Most Outstanding Reserve Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force. Representative Amblerʼs other military decorations include the Air Force Achievement Medal, two Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Services Medal. He continued to serve as a Judge Advocate in the reserves until 2005. Representative Ambler began his career in private practice as a litigation attorney in 1991. In 1996, Representative Ambler opened his own firm, the Ambler Law Group, focusing in the areas of medical malpractice, products liability, wrongful death and personal injury litigation in both state and federal courts. His firm also handles complex business litigation and transactional matters as well as entertainment and sports law. Representative Ambler is a member of the Florida, Georgia and D.C. Bars and the American Bar Association, Hillsborough County Bar Association and the American Justice Association. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Middle District Court of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. He previously served as the Chair of the Florida Bar Military Affairs Committee (2002-2003) and Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA) Military Liaison Committee (2002-2003). He has chaired the HCBA Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law Section (1999-2002) and he has been a regular and active participant in the HCBA “Ask A Lawyer” Pro Bono Program from 1995 to 2002. In 2002, he received the HCBA “Have a Heart” award for outstanding pro bono service. Representative Ambler and his firm hold an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory reflecting the highest possible rating for professional competence and ethical conduct. Representative Ambler served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Northdale Special Tax District for 7 years. He was Chairman of the Cornell University Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network Committee for West Central Florida as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the Cornell Club of the Suncoast for 5 years. For over 10 years, Representative Ambler served as president and a member of the Board of Directors of the Brentwood Park Homeownerʼs Association. In 2000, Representative Ambler was appointed to and served a one year term on the Hillsborough County Charter Review Board. In his youth, Representative Ambler served on the White House Conference for Children and Youth Task Force and was inducted into the American Academy of Achievement which awarded him the Golden Eagle Award of Excellence as the top student in the United States. Representative Ambler has been an adjunct law professor on the faculty for Stetson University College of Law for the past 8 years.

Gregory J. Tarone, Esq., has been active in the New York Bar since 1979, practicing in the fields of contracts, estates and trusts, wills, real estate, business, international transactions, and sports at all levels, with extensive experience representing both individuals and businesses as well as managing sim;e to complex cases across state boundaries and national boundaries.

A third-generation attorney, Steve has represented individuals, businesses and not-for-profits since 1983. He graduated from Hofstra University of Law in 1982 with a Certificate of Excellence in Commercial Paper and has since published over 200 legal related articles which have appeared in the New York Law Journal, Entertainment Law and Finance, as well as The Music Paper to which he has contributed the popular "Legal Licks" column monthly since 1984. Steve is an active commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and a much sought after public speaker on law related topics. He served on the Faculty Advisory Board of the Five Towns College for Music and is former counsel to the Long Beach Council for the Arts. He served multiple terms as Vice-President of the Nassau-Suffolk Horseman’s Association, an equine-based NY not-for-profit where he spearheaded legislative change on behalf of the equine industry.

Alan Sack is a Registered Patent Attorney and an experienced intellectual property attorney. A graduate of MIT and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Alan helps his clients protect their patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets in disputes before district courts across the United States, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (US PTO), as well as before the United States International Trade Commission (US ITC). He has served as lead and associate counsel in numerous patent, trademark, unfair competition, and copyright litigations and has also mediated intellectual property disputes. In the realm of patent law, Alan handles patent and design patent litigation matters before U.S. district courts, and inter partes matters before the US PTO, including patent appeals, reissues, reexaminations, and post-issue review proceedings. He also counsels clients on patent preparation and infringement matters and has extensive experience in the preparation, prosecution, and appeals of patent applications before the US PTO in a broad spectrum of technologies and designs. He is experienced in patent and copyright protection of technologies relating to computer sciences and business methods, as well as nanotechnology, biotechnology, medical devices, imaging, LED lighting, mechanical devices, energy storage, radiation detection, superconductors, computer sciences, signal processing, iontophoresis and chemical technologies, waste treatment, polymer molding and processing, chemical engineering, petroleum processing, films, fluid handling, and business methods. Alan also has successfully overseen opposition proceedings before the European and Japanese Patent Offices, and handles licensing negotiations and preparation of license agreements. Alan is experienced in trademark, unfair competition, and trade secret litigation in the U.S. district courts, and opposition and cancellation proceedings before the US PTO. He routinely counsels clients in adoption and clearance of trademarks and service marks and the protection of trade secrets, as well as U.S. and foreign trademark filing, prosecution, opposition, and appeals. His practice also encompasses counseling and negotiation of branding and advertising transactions. He advises clients regarding protection and use of trademarks in advertising and product packaging, advertising claims, and the use of appropriate marking of patents and registered trademarks on product packaging and brochures. Alan has extensive Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret & UC protection, Counseling, Licensing, and Litigation experience in the Apparel, Banking, Entertainment, Fabrics, Food, Footwear, Gaming, Music, & Restaurant industries. Alan has been a longtime member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and an active member of the Trade Name Subcommittee of the Trademark Enforcement Committee of INTA. Alan has also handled a variety of copyright and entertainment related litigation, registration and counseling matters, and has litigated software and television copyright infringement actions in U.S. district courts and before the US ITC. In a recent US ITC investigation, Alan and his team prevailed on summary determination in an investigation involving a children’s television show. The ITC’s Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found lack of substantial similarity between the accused television show and the copyrights asserted in the investigation. Alan has also handled matters related to copyright infringement actions in the music industry and been successful in taking down infringing content for music posted on various Internet websites under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. (DMCA). He has also successfully conducted arbitrations under ICANN’s Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution (UDRP) arbitration procedures. Alan is a member of the Federal Bar Association and is part of a team of three senior patent litigators that has taken on an initiative to provide the district courts designated to participate in the Patent Cases Pilot Program (PCPP) with a series of in-depth and interactive multi-session presentations on the relevant substantive and procedural aspects of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. The sessions look at the how the new patent act affects the conduct of patent litigations before the U.S. district courts and the interplay between district court litigation and the new post-registration proceedings before the USPTO. Alan and his colleagues have presented before the judges, magistrate-judges and law clerks of the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of New York and have contributed to the drafting of the local patent rules that are shared by these courts.

Welcome to Takehara & Stuart, LLP, a distinguished boutique law firm based in the beautiful City of Santa Monica and offering a diverse range of legal services in all of California. Our firm's mission is to provide exceptional legal representation across various practice areas, including personal injury litigation, auto accidents, entertainment law, aviation law, employment law and other areas of practice. With a deep commitment to excellence and a proven track record of success, we pride ourselves on delivering tailored, client-focused solutions that meet your unique needs. Whether you've been injured in an accident, require expert counsel in the entertainment industry, or seek specialized aviation legal services, our team of experienced attorneys is here to guide you through every step of your legal journey. Explore our website to learn more about our firm and the comprehensive legal expertise we bring to the table. Your legal needs, our passion for justice—Discover the Takehara & Stuart difference today.

John Vukmanovic is the co–founder and a partner of Delman Vukmanovic LLP. John is highly regarded among his peers in the legal communities of Los Angeles and Orange counties. His highly aggressive, yet sensible approach to civil litigation routinely yields successful outcomes for his new and returning clients. Top Civil Litigation Lawyer in Los Angeles and Orange County As a “bulldog” litigator and consummate trial attorney, John’s comprehensive background in civil litigation comprises a long string of successful outcomes for clients facing complex business and real estate litigation, as well as employment, professional liability and intellectual property disputes. While each case is different, John approaches all civil disputes the same way: striving for maximum effectiveness and leverage in civil litigation while maintaining efficiency. Large Firm Litigation Experience John acquired his early legal experience in the insurance industry, subsequently rising to prominence as an attorney with the large national law firm of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, and later with the high–profile business and entertainment litigation firm of Freedman & Taitelman, LLP. His experience makes him uniquely qualified to understand his clients’ challenges, and to achieve their ultimate goals. Community Involvement John proactively dedicates a significant amount of time assisting individuals of limited means in pro bono matters and devotes energy to a range of charitable organizations in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Recognized for Superlative Results and Service as Business Litigation Attorney Among his achievements, John has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation as a “Litigation Star” and named by Los Angeles Magazine as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation. “Super Lawyers,” a peer–designated honor, is bestowed upon only the top five percent of lawyers practicing in California. In addition, John has been awarded Martindale–Hubbell’s Client Distinction Award, an honor conferred by his clients in appreciation of John’s value in quality of service, communication skills, and professional diligence.

David McKibbin is a Florida transactional business lawyer with over three decades of experience in equine, real estate, and business law. He is AV-Rated Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell. David works diligently to implement creative solutions to complex problems. David is a member of the Florida Bar’s sections for Sports and Entertainment Law and Animal Law, where he serves on the Equine Law Committee. He has been a speaker, lecturer, and moderator at numerous equine seminars such as The Breeders' Cup Seminar at Gulfstream Park, the National Business Institute’s Equine Seminar, and the New Owner’s Seminar at Saratoga Race Course. He is a longtime member of the American Horse Council and the New York Breeders Association. David holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hofstra University.

For nearly three decades, Maurice has represented corporate and individual clients in numerous high profile, sophisticated intellectual property matters relating to business transactions and commercial litigation. He works with clients to develop intellectual property strategies, including strategies for the procurement, licensing and enforcement of copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Maurice also advises clients on a wide range of issues relating to internet law and social media, including issues concerning rights of privacy, rights of publicity and defamation. Maurice is also an experienced and well-known trial lawyer. He has served as lead trial and appellate counsel in high-stakes patent and intellectual property litigation involving companies in a wide array of industries, from pharmaceutical and biotechnology to media and entertainment. Maurice routinely handles trademark and copyright matters for clients in the fashion, music, media, entertainment, computer and software industries. Although he focuses his practice in the area of intellectual property, Maurice has also served as trial counsel in complex securities, RICO, lender liability, antitrust cases, and he has extensive experience representing corporate executives and other individuals in white collar criminal defense matters, often relating to intellectual property. Maurice also has frequently been called upon to advise clients regarding the risks and benefits of proposed mergers, acquisitions and other transactions, particularly as such transactions involve transfers and licensing of intellectual property rights. Maurice is also recognized as an expert on disputes relating to the attorney-client privilege and work product immunity, and he has been counsel of record in landmark decisions in this area. More recently, Maurice has advised domestic and international clients concerning how to successfully and efficiently address the challenges and burdens imposed by electronic discovery and social media, including the use of social media postings as evidence in complex litigation. Maurice has published frequently in the areas of intellectual property, patent law, media and internet law, and the attorney-client privilege. Maurice has long been a proponent for using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for efficient resolution of complex business disputes, at both the trial and appellate levels. Further, given the economic realities and costs of conducting complex intellectual property and commercial litigation, Maurice encourages his clients from the earliest stages of litigation to attempt to aggressively pursue settlement. By the same token, Maurice has long advocated aggressive use of the pre-trial discovery process to improve his clients’ likelihood of success at trial, and in recent years he has focused extensively on how to use emerging technologies to make the pre-trial discovery process more efficient and cost-effective. Maurice has appeared in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the District of New Jersey, the District of Colorado and the Northern District of California, and he has argued appeals in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal, Second and Fifth Circuits, as well as State Courts in New York. Prior to joining Barton LLP, Maurice was a shareholder with Budd Larner and practiced at Clifford Chance and Sullivan and Cromwell.