Firm’s West Coast Expansion Bolsters Litigation and Real Estate Practices

Blank Rome LLP today announced the Firm will open an office in Los Angeles, California with five new partners, Lawrence C. Hinkle, Andrew F. Kim, Warren A. Koshofer, Glen A. Rothstein and William S. Small. The attorneys bring more than 60 years of combined litigation and trial experience and more than 30 years of real estate experience to establishing Blank Rome’s Southern California presence. In addition to complementing the Firm’s corporate and commercial litigation, dispute resolution, product liability, toxic tort defense, environmental, insurance coverage, real estate, and labor and employment practices, this group’s extensive experience in entertainment law and new media greatly expands Blank Rome’s capabilities in these two areas.

“California is one of the most dynamic markets in the country. Our Los Angeles office will provide the initial launch for our West Coast growth strategy,  as well as natural synergy with our growing office in Hong Kong, as we continue to build our national and international platform,”  noted Carl M. Buchholz, Managing Partner and CEO. “Blank Rome is already serving more than 200 clients with a California presence, and we are pleased to welcome this team of exceptional lawyers to Blank Rome.  Their reputations and experience will add to the depth and breadth of our well-established national litigation and real estate practices, providing additional value and service to our clients across the Firm.”

Lawrence Hinkle is a trial lawyer focusing on entertainment and commercial litigation matters.  He represents high profile actors, writers, directors, producers, recording artists, talent agents and agencies, business and personal managers, musicians, models, production and distribution companies, entertainment guilds and gaming companies in the film, television, music, apparel and gaming industries. The types of matters he has handled include copyright and trademark infringement, idea submission, profit participation, breach of contract, business tort, defamation, first amendment, employment, right of privacy and right of publicity.  Mr. Hinkle has successfully represented clients in state, federal and appellate courts, in arbitrations, and before the California Labor Commissioner.  Mr. Hinkle is currently the Chair of the Litigation Division of the American Bar Association, Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries and President-elect of the John M. Langston Bar Association.

Andrew Kim focuses his practice on general commercial, intellectual property and entertainment litigation. He represents clients in complex breach of contract, business tort, trade secrets, copyright, trademark infringement and counterfeiting, idea submission, profits accounting, right of privacy and defamation cases, among others, and has extensive experience developing and administering worldwide anti-piracy enforcement programs for intellectual property rights holders, such as apparel manufacturers. He has successfully served as lead trial counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal trials and appeals, and in a wide array of dispute resolution procedures. Mr. Kim has long served a number of educational and charitable organizations in the Los Angeles area and is currently the President of Dispute Resolution Services, Inc., a non-profit organization under the auspices of the Los Angeles County Bar Association that helps youth and other community members resolve disputes peacefully.

Warren Koshofer focuses his practice in the areas of complex civil litigation and transactional matters. He has more than 20 years of experience representing clients in environmental, toxic tort, insurance coverage, real estate, construction, business and contractual matters. Mr. Koshofer has successfully represented clients at state and federal trial and appellate court levels, as well as before administrative law courts, regulatory agencies, and in alternative dispute resolution forums across the country. He has also been involved in several large transactions pertaining to the acquisition and disposition of businesses or real estate, particularly where complex due diligence and analyses pertaining to environmental or litigation risks were required. Mr. Koshofer is a member of the Bar of the states of California, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and has long been involved in serving a number of national charitable organizations and community youth sports leagues.

Glen Rothstein focuses his practice in the area of entertainment litigation, and has significant experience representing actors, writers, recording artists, video game developers, publishers, talent agents and agencies, talent and business managers, foreign sales agents and independent production and distribution companies. Mr. Rothstein represents clients in matters including breach of contract, commercial torts, labor and employment, copyright and intellectual property. He has experience representing clients in all phases of pre-litigation and litigation matters in state and federal courts and arbitration, and in front of the Independent Film & Television Alliance  and California Labor Commission Forums.

William Small focuses his practice on real property transactions, representing developers of residential, office, retail and industrial projects; landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions; and buyers and sellers in real property acquisitions, dispositions and environmental matters. He advises institutional lenders and borrowers in real estate and construction finance, loan restructurings, and workouts of problem real estate loans. Mr. Small has extensive experience in the development, financing, sale and leasing of all types of properties and land development projects. He has been involved in the documentation, origination or restructure of more than $1 billion in construction and permanent loans for commercial, industrial and residential projects.