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Hayes F. Michel

Hayes Michel focuses his practice on all aspects of intellectual property and related business litigation. He has extensive experience representing recording artists, motion picture directors and production companies, talent management companies, television networks, record companies and publishing companies in disputes involving copyright, trademark, royalties, libel, privacy, employment and contract disputes.

Mr. Michel has significant experience in accounting and royalty disputes (representing both licensees and licensors); labor commission disputes (representing both artists and talent managers); and “idea theft” cases (representing both plaintiffs and defendants). Recent matters include:

• The representation of musical group in copyright dispute: jury verdict for client;
• The representation of partners against manager of real estate investment partnership: two arbitration verdicts for client;
• The representation of musical group against former band member: summary judgment for client;
• The representation of medical supply company in Lanham Act litigation: permanent injunction entered for client; and
• The representation of publicly traded art distribution company and artist against licensee: arbitration verdict for client.

Some of Mr. Michel’s reported decisions include:

• Diamond v. Gillis, 357 F.Supp. 2d 1003 (E.D. Mich. 2005) (granting in part motion to dismiss in copyright action);
• Burkitt v. Flawless Records, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9198, May 5, 2005 (E.D. La. 2005) (granting summary judgment in trademark and copyright action);
• Morrill v. Smashing Pumpkins, 157 F.Supp. 2d 1120 (C.D. Cal. 2001) (granting summary judgment in copyright action); and
• Gould v. Harris, 929 F.Supp. 353 (C.D. Cal. 1996) (granting motion to dismiss in securities fraud action).

Mr. Michel presented “Navigating the New Risks in Mobile Technology, Social Media, Electronic Records and Privacy,” at the Practicing Law Institute’s (PLI) Information Technology Law Institute 2011 seminar, which took place in San Francisco in May 2011.