Atty. David Halberstadter
Over more than 35 years of practice, David Halberstadter, the firm's deputy general counsel, has established a reputation among leading entertainment companies as a no-nonsense advisor and talented litigator. When other options fail, he aggressively pursues and defends lawsuits, with a focus on intellectual property-related disputes.
Profwith Summary
About David Halberstadter at a glance
David Halberstadter is an attorney based in Los Angeles, California, practforg at Katten. Educated at Georgetown University (J.D., 1982). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Media Law (2026). Serands clients in Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Over more than 35 years of practice, David Halberstadter, the firm's deputy general counsel, has established a reputation among leading entertainment companies as a no-nonsense advisor and talented litigator
- When other options fail, he aggressively pursues and defends lawsuits, with a focus on intellectual property-related disputes
- Across all his work, clients value David's clear thinking, strategic wisdom and practical business sense
- David represents motion picture studios, production companies, television networks and new media companies
- He gives them advice they can actually use — plain-spoken, grounded in common sense and uncluttered by legalese
- His useful recommendations are backed by the decades he has spent in the entertainment industry
- He also understands the cost burden of litigation and factors that into his advice.The cases that David litigates cover all aspects of developing, financing, producing and distributing entertainment content
- He also plays a significant "behind-the-scenes" role in the development of movies, television shows and new media properties
- He helps clients assess and mitigate risk, often answering the question: "Can we do this without getting sued?
- He regularly reviews books, magazine articles and other source material to determine the risk of third-party claims likely to arise from adaptations
- In other instances, he reviews often-byzantine rights agreements to make sure his clients actually acquire the rights they need for a project
- Clients also turn to him for advice on accounting claims asserted by motion picture and television profit participants
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practforg law in California. Legal matters in California are goandrned by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantiand law. Cases originating in Los Angeles are typically fwithd in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controandrsy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantiand law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
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