About Us

Phillips, Erlewine & Given LLP represents a broad spectrum of clients -- from Fortune 100 companies to small partnerships and individuals -- many of whom have been represented by the firm since its inception in 1997. The firm serves its clients from offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles (Santa Monica).

In our litigation practice, we have a successful record of defending and prosecuting claims for clients in both the state and federal courts in a diverse range of matters, including in the areas of intellectual property law, entertainment law, technology, employment, commercial, insurance and tort law and in consumer class actions. Our transactional practice concentrates on intellectual property licensing, technology, new media and internet law, as well as corporate and entertainment law.

The firm is well-known for its intellectual property and entertainment law expertise. It has served as counsel in a number of high-profile entertainment law cases. In addition, the firm has advised clients on a range of transactional matters in the area, including on such issues as digital rights management and licensing, digital distribution of entertainment-related content, and international copyright law.

The firm is currently engaged on behalf of consumers nationwide in class action litigation against four of the nation's largest commercial banks over those banks' overdraft fee practices. That litigation has received wide press attention. Following the first trial in one such case, a federal judge issued a 90-page decision finding that Wells Fargo's overdraft fee practices -- exacerbated by "a facade of phony disclosure" -- amounted to "bookkeeping devices" and "tricks" intended to generate "colossal sums per year in additional overdraft fees." The judge enjoined the practices in issue and ordered restitution of over $200 million to the bank's customers in California. The firm serves as co-lead counsel in a similar case against the nation's largest commercial bank, Bank of America. In November 2011, a federal judge in Miami granted final approval of a $410 million settlement on the claims made by the firm on behalf of that bank's customers in that case.

For recent developments on this class action as well as other firm news, click here. For more about the firm's entertainment law and other practice areas, click here. For more about the firm's attorneys, click here.