LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Miller Barondess, LLP announced today that it is deepening its focus in the entertainment industry and that prominent entertainment lawyer, studio executive and film producer John Dellaverson has joined the Firm as Of Counsel.
"We are delighted to have John on board. His extensive expertise and relationships bring a new dimension to our Firm," said Miller Barondess senior partner Louis R. (Skip) Miller, who is considered one of the nation's foremost trial lawyers and recently was ranked among the Top 100 Lawyers in California.
Mr. Dellaverson added, "Miller Barondess has an impressive entertainment litigation practice. Skip Miller is a close friend and a great lawyer. I'm very excited to join the Firm."
Miller Barondess is a prominent boutique law firm specializing in high-profile, high-stakes litigation and trials, as well as providing strategic counsel to clients in business and transactional legal matters. Among its clientele are individuals including entertainers and politicians; public and private companies; governmental entities; and foreign corporations and nationals. Entertainment clients that Mr. Miller and his firm have handled include Rod Stewart, Larry King, Nick Nolte, Bob Dylan, Sean Connery, Lionel Richie and others including Don Felder (formerly a member of the Eagles) and bands such as Motley Crue.
Mr. Dellaverson was a partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP, one of the world's largest entertainment law firms, from 1983 to 2000. His practice concentrated on motion picture and television financing and talent representation. His clients included film and television producers, distributors and talent, such as Technicolor, Panavision, Warner Bros., Sony Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, RAI, Mediatrade, Sofia Loren and Roberto Benigni. He founded the firm's Rome office.
In 2001, Mr. Dellaverson joined Lions Gate Entertainment to lend his in-depth knowledge and experience of the entertainment industry as the Executive Vice President of Lions Gate and Chairman of Cinegate. In 2005 he entered into a producer's agreement with Lions Gate, and in 2006 he was the executive producer of "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and the producer of "In the Mix" starring Usher.
Born and raised in New Castle, Pennsylvania, he received his B.S. in Political Science from University of Pittsburgh in 1968 and was the Frances Perkins Fellow at Cornell University from 1970 to 1972. In 1977, he received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He is a member of the California and New York State Bars.
From 1977 to 1980, Mr. Dellaverson was an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in New York, New York.
Mr. Dellaverson has served as a panelist at the UCLA Law Symposium and has spoken for the Practicing Law Institute on a number of subjects. He wrote "The Director's Right of Final Cut -- How Final Is Final?" which was published in Entertainment and Sports Lawyer, a publication of the ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sport Industries. He also has lectured at USC, UCLA and Harvard Law School.
More information on the Firm is available at www.millerbarondess.com.