Patricia L. Glaser

Los Angeles

Litigation

As head of the 40-plus attorney litigation department at Glaser Weil Fink Howard Jordan & Shapiro LLP, lead name partner Patricia L. Glaser often takes over cases when clients represented by firms hit roadblocks.

Glaser has been with the firm since 1988. "One of our strengths is that we're known as trial lawyers, not just litigators," she said.

"Of course, we have some very loyal long-term clients," she emphasized. Her firm credits that to her tenacious litigation style, a high level of personal attention to those she represents and her effectiveness at training and managing her teams.

Still, "It's not uncommon to get a call when people are dissatisfied with the results elsewhere," she said. "For example, once a lawyer who is inexperienced at trying cases loses a summary judgment motion, there is panic and they suddenly want to settle the matter they were originally gung-ho about. Then maybe the client calls us. The chief problem then is that we didn't get to make the strategic decisions from the get-go. But we truly like trying cases."

Glaser is currently preparing for a December trial after substituting for another firm in a case over the attempted purchase of the assets of The Weinstein Co. by The Yucaipa Companies LLC, businessman Ronald Burkle's private equity firm. Burkle and Yucaipa are longtime Glaser clients.

Her amended complaint alleges that the defendants acquired Weinstein's assets in bankruptcy through false promises to Yucaipa and the breach of a contractual agreement. The Yucaipa Companies LLC et al., v. Lantern Asset Management GP LLC et al., BC713894 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed July 16, 2018).

"I'm proud to represent them. Ron is a delightful man to work with," Glaser said of her clients.

Separately, Glaser newly represents Bill Nye (the Science Guy), who starred in a nationally syndicated educational TV series in the 1990s and who claims in long-running litigation that he has been underpaid by millions of dollars for streaming services reruns in what his complaint called, "Hollywood accounting."

"We took over a year ago after the judge reduced the upside of what we think we're entitled to," Glaser said. "Respectfully, we think he's wrong." William S. Nye et al., v. The Walt Disney Co., et al., BC673736 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Aug. 24, 2017).

"I've conferred with him. He's dissatisfied with his prior representation," she added. "He wears bow ties in the real world, too."

--John Roemer