Rollin A. Ransom

A Sidley Austin LLP partner, Rollin A. Ransom is co-leader of the firms global commercial litigation and disputes and entertainment, sports and media practices. He is also managing partner of the Los Angeles office and head of the greater Los Angeles Litigation group.

One of Ransom’s noteworthy cases involved the non-renewal of One America News by DIRECTV. Rollin’s leadership in this case was pivotal in achieving a series of legal victories. Herring Networks, Inc. v. DIRECTV, LLC, 37-2022-00008623-CU-BC-CTL (S.D. Sup. Ct., filed March 7, 2022).

His team successfully countered Herring Networks’ motion for a temporary restraining order and won an anti-SLAPP motion. This victory significantly limited the scope of Herring’s complaint against DIRECTV and resulted in the award of attorneys’ fees to DIRECTV.

“The Herring Networks v. DIRECTV case is significant, as it reflects the continuing utility of California’s anti-SLAPP statute to eliminate baseless claims that are designed to interfere with free speech and other public participation,” Ransom said.

Another significant case he led involved artists from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s seeking to take advantage of a provision of the Copyright Act for terminating copyright grants after 35 years. Waite v. UMG Recordings, Inc., 2:21-cv-04043 (C.D. Cal., filed May 13, 2021).

Representing UMG Recordings, Inc. and Capitol Records, Ransom managed to narrow the scope of the case, resulting in the effective dismissal of key plaintiffs, including the lead plaintiff John Waite.

Furthermore, Ransom secured summary judgment motions for UMG, finding no infringement for one plaintiff and ruling that another had committed copyright infringement.

“The Waite v. UMG case is significant because putative terminations under Section 203 of the Copyright Act are an ever-present and increasing reality for media companies, and the case addresses numerous cutting-edge issues in the field,” Ransom said.

His success in this case was further solidified when the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, and the Second Circuit Court rejected their request for immediate review.

“All of the cases have been hard-fought by capable opposing counsel. We’ve been pleased with the outcomes we have been able to obtain, even in the face of vigorous opponents,” Ransom said.

Apart from his litigation achievements, Ransom is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a co-chair of Sidley’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.