Kate Gold

Kate Gold, a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP Los Angeles office, focuses on defending employers in the media and entertainment industry.

"Many of the cases I've handled in the past year have been publicity sensitive and were resolved behind the scenes," she said. "I am proud of a result we obtained in a publicly filed case for Billboard Magazine, in which a Billboard Pride editor who covered musical artists in the LGBTQ space had sued the company for allegedly terminating his employment based on his sexual orientation." Gold's client was focused on showing that was not the case.

The former editor was publicly accused of allegedly requesting nude photographs in exchange for press coverage and the magazine was prepared to battle his accusations in a courtroom. Crowley v. Billboard Magazine et al., 1:19-cv-07571 (S.D. N.Y., filed Aug. 13, 2019).

"We put a lot of energy and strategy into bringing the facts out to show that there was a reasonable and genuine reason that the plaintiff was fired from his job," Gold said. "The case was highly publicized in the press, and after two years of litigation, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment to Billboard on the sexual orientation discrimination claim, as well as on the claim that Billboard had defamed the plaintiff in the press."

Gold added: "The case is a good example of a client who did not shy away from publicly setting the record straight."

Gold also represents GrubMarket, an innovative and fast-growing farm-to-table food delivery service and produce distributor, in defense of a consolidated wage and hour class and PAGA action, which was favorably resolved and is pending court approval in Alameda Superior Court. Anaya v. Grubmarket, et. al., RG20052426. (Alameda Sup. Ct., filed Jan. 29, 2020).

Gold has over 25 years of experience representing clients in the entertainment industry, financial services, private equity and healthcare sectors, across many areas of employment law. Additionally, Gold mentors junior women lawyers through Proskauer's Women's Sponsorship Program.

- Douglas Saunders