Jonathan Segal
Partner
Chair, Office DEI Committee (Los Angeles)
Jonathan Segal is an attorney with a passion for digital and traditional media, who has worked on award-winning productions in film, television, and the interactive space. His practice naturally focuses on intellectual property, communications, First Amendment, and other issues that affect the companies and technologies that make what we watch, amuse and delight us, and inform all of our worldviews. Jonathan fights for content creators if things go awry, defending against the full array of claims that arise from content production and distribution.
Accordingly, clients retain him to focus on high-risk content including docudramas ("Spotlight," "The Looming Tower"); docuseries ("Surviving R. Kelly," "Who Killed Tupac?"); documentaries ("13th," "Quincy"), and comedy/variety programs with heavy emphases on fair use ("@Midnight;" "The Joel McHale Show").
Jonathan believes in your work. He helps content creators get their creative vision onto the screen, while minimizing legal risk. He’s provided counseling for feature films and for programming produced or distributed by HBO, Legendary Television, Netflix, Seeso, Funny or Die, CNBC, E!, USA Networks, AETN, ABC, Comedy Central, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Participant Media, MTV, VH1, Adult Swim, IFC, TruTV, Showtime Networks, PBS, Discovery Communications, SuperDeluxe, Crackle, and YouTube, with an emphasis on programming with intensive social-media engagement, documentaries, and content that is based on true events. He also advises print publications, including US Weekly and The Hollywood Reporter.
Practice Highlights
Defending content creators
Docudramas and biopics
Holding government accountable
Admitted to Practice
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California, 2009
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California Superior Court
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U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
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U.S. District Court, Central District of California
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Education
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J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, 2008
- Executive Editor, UCLA Law Review
- Senior Articles Editor, UCLA Entertainment Law Review
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M.A., American Civilization, Brown University, 2002
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B.A., Journalism, International Relations, University of Wisconsin, 1999
Professional Recognition
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- Selected to the "Legal Impact Report: Top Entertainment Attorneys," Variety, 2024
- Listed as "Up and Coming" by Chambers USA in Media & Entertainment: Litigation (California), 2023-2024
Background
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- Associate, Irell & Manella LLP, Los Angeles, 2009-2011
- Judicial Clerk, Hon. Cormac J. Carney, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, Calif., 2008-2009