Robert S. Chapman, Senior Partner

Areas of Expertise

A Sampling of Robert Chapman's Cases:

  • With Greg Barchie, obtained $2.5 million arbitration award in favor of our celebrity client against his product licensee, including holding the corporation’s owner personally liable under an alter-ego theory.
  • After a 3-week trial, jury rendered $4 million verdict in favor of client, a tax lawyer, seeking recovery of outstanding fees.
  • Negotiated multimillion dollar settlement against an insurance company in a bad faith action based upon the insurance company’s failure to defend clients.
  • Obtained a defense award in an arbitration in favor of a law firm against its former client who sought the return of $750,000 in legal fees.

A Sampling of Robert Chapman's Cases:

  • After trial for actual and punitive damages, $1.5 million judgment obtained in a defamation action for actor Rip Torn against Dennis Hopper arising out of statements made on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
  • Represented George Harrison of the Beatles in a defamation action against the Globe tabloid resulting in a retraction, an apology, and a significant confidential monetary payment.
  • Obtained $80 million jury verdict for Francis Ford Coppola against Warner Bros.
  • Represented Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in a defamation action against The Sun tabloid concerning the movie Eyes Wide Shut resulting in a retraction, an apology, and a significant charitable payment.

A Sampling of Robert Chapman's Cases:

  • With Greg Barchie, obtained a judgment after trial in favor of our landlord client in a $16 million commercial lease dispute against one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States.
  • Obtained $5 million judgment after bench trial in a construction defect case involving one of the most iconic houses in Los Angeles.
  • Negotiated multi-million dollar settlement in a construction defect case involving one of the largest residential estates in the country, the Spelling Manor.

A Sampling of Robert Chapman's Cases:

  • Successfully defended numerous copyright infringement lawsuits, including cases concerning the motion pictures Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean.
  • In a copyright infringement case, defeated a request for a temporary restraining order seeking to prevent the distribution of a movie and obtained a dismissal of the case.
  • In a trademark action, defeated a preliminary injunction motion seeking to prevent our client from using a disputed name on his commercial clothing stores throughout Southern California.
  • In a theft of idea lawsuit, obtained a significant monetary settlement for our celebrity client who claimed her ideas were used, without permission, as the basis for a major motion picture.

A Sampling of Robert Chapman's Cases:

  • Obtained $250 million jury verdict for the City of New York against ExxonMobil, in a clean water case involving the gasoline additive MTBE, that was upheld on appeal by the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Served as co-counsel with Baron & Budd, in obtaining an $80 million settlement on behalf of our client, the City of Bakersfield, in a water pollution case involving the fumigant TCP.

A Sampling of Robert Chapman's Cases:

  • Drafted briefs and argued multiple matters before the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals of the United States.
  • In the Hawaii Supreme Court, obtained a reversal of a trial court judgment on behalf of client, George Harrison of the Beatles, after successfully petitioning twice for re-hearings of the matter.
  • Drafted briefs and argued multiple matters in the California Court of Appeal including, for example, obtaining a trial court reversal and order directing judgment in favor of client, Francis Ford Coppola, and obtaining affirmance of a defamation judgment in favor of client, Rip Torn.

Education and Prior Experience

  • University of California, Davis, J.D., Law Review
  • University of California, Berkeley, B.A. Phi Beta Kappa
  • Former equity partner, Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP

Leadership, Membership and Honors

  • Finalist, National Public Justice Foundation’s Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, 2010
  • Recognized as one of the Southern California Super Lawyers continuously since 2004.
  • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest level of professional excellence

Publications and Events

  • Author of Chapter on Defamation Law Entertainment Law Practice Guide, Oxford Press 2011
  • Lecturer on entertainment law at USC Gould School of Law
  • Speaker, Los Angeles Copyright Society
  • Speaker, Beverly Hills Bar Association, on contract and copyright issues
  • Speaker, Los Angeles County Bar Association, on entertainment and construction industry matters
  • Speaker, UCLA Entertainment Law Symposium

Community Service

  • Board of Directors, Public Counsel
  • Board of Directors, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
  • Little League and Maccabi baseball coach