Robert J. Ellison

Rob's recent representations include the following:

• Lead counsel for joint venture of two major property developers and largest owner of shopping centers in U.S. in high-stakes litigation with City over failed $500M+ development, which settled favorably for clients on the eve of the 4-6 week jury trial. Successfully argued at California Court of Appeal, resulting in published decision holding that the alter ego doctrine may apply to hold one municipal entity liable for the debts of another.
• Lead counsel for largest privately held commercial real estate developer in U.S. in successful arbitration, in three pending arbitrations, and litigation pending in Central District of California.
• Co-lead counsel on behalf of Marcus Lemonis and Camping World in the successful defense of lawsuits arising out of the CNBC television show The Profit
• Co-lead counsel on behalf of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes in a week-long arbitration before the NHL Commissioner arising out of an employment dispute with the Coyotes' former General Manager and resulting in a resounding victory
• Second chair in successful arbitration arising out of high stakes real estate partnership dispute involving US$200 million of commercial real estate properties. After week-long arbitration, clients awarded specific performance and millions of dollars in prevailing party attorneys’ fees
• Kjersti Flaa, et al. v. Hollywood Foreign Press Ass’n, et al., C.D. Cal. (2021): On behalf of clients Hollywood Foreign Press Association and several of its members, obtained complete dismissal with prejudice of sweeping antitrust, fair procedure, and declaratory relief claims brought by two member applicants
• Major league baseball franchise in sweeping, high-profile grand jury investigation led by US Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office (D.C.) related to the recruitment of international baseball players
• Madison Square Garden Sports & Entertainment in a high-profile litigation arising out of the City of Inglewood’s agreement to convey property to be used as the site for a new arena competitive with the MSG Forum in Inglewood, California
• Live Nation and Ticketmaster in a sprawling, high profile anti-trust and trade secret case, which settled on the eve of trial
• Plaintiff craigslist, Inc. in a web scraping case with roughly 20 causes of action, including copyright, trademark, CFAA, and breach of contract in the Northern District of California. craigslist obtained substantial monetary judgments and stipulated permanent injunctions against defendants. In its annual Top Verdicts of 2015 feature, the Daily Journal selected this settlement as a Top Plaintiffs’ Verdicts by Impact in California
• In re Estate of Saley, Los Angeles Sup. Ct.; Case No. KP011186: Successfully represented City of Hope National Medical Center and its employee in a four-week jury trial resulting in a complete defense victory