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Month: July, 2026
Bryan Sullivan Weighs in on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s $150 Million Lawsuit in TheWrap
Category: News, Press | Thursday, July 30th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Weighs in on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s $150 Million Lawsuit in TheWrap
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke to TheWrap about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s new federal lawsuit against Jay Penske, Penske Media Corporation, the Golden Globe Foundation, and Golden Globe Foundation CEO Gregory Goeckner, which alleges the 2023 sale of the Golden Globes was tainted by fraud and anticompetitive conduct.
The article, titled “HFPA Sues Penske Over ‘Fraudulent’ Golden Globes Takeover, Shaking Up Awards Landscape,” explains that the HFPA contends that Penske’s media empire gives it immense influence over the Hollywood awards universe. HFPA asserts this results in monopolistic control over three key entertainment-industry markets: Hollywood trades, awards and advertising markets. The complaint seeks $150 million in damages and asks the court to void HFPA’s dissolution.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association dissolved in 2023 after corruption, lack of diversity, and ethical lapses among its members was exposed in a two-part Los Angeles Times report. After the release of this report, Hollywood turned against the Globes.
Bryan tells TheWrap that while the allegations fall under antitrust law, he believes the HFPA will be facing an uphill battle.
“HFPA alleges the 2023 sale was tainted by fraud, conflicts of interest and exclusionary conduct designed to eliminate independent press oversight, which does fit into antitrust law if the allegations are proven true,” he explains. “However, the HFPA appears to have a very difficult case because courts may view the organization’s past scandals and its own vote to restructure as undermining its claims, and they waited a few years after government approval of the deal.”
Read the full article in TheWrap (Subscription required).
Bryan Sullivan Discusses the Attendance of Epstein Survivors at Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Confirmation Hearing in The Guardian
Category: News, Press | Monday, July 27th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Discusses the Attendance of Epstein Survivors at Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Confirmation Hearing in The Guardian
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke with The Guardian about Todd Blanche’s attorney general confirmation hearing in light of Jeffrey Epstein survivors in attendance expressing concerns about his mishandling of the case. The article outlines the potential roadblocks survivors may face in their pursuit of justice under a Department of Justice led by Blanche.
While Blanche reportedly led the disclosure of documents as required by the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, the disclosure of survivors’ names, photos, and identifying information was explicitly shared, while the names of the accused abusers and enablers remain anonymous. Bryan tells The Guardian that he believes a Blanche confirmation would mean “more suppression and no active investigations” into Epstein’s sex trafficking.
“I think it’s because that’s what Trump wants. He wants this to go away,” he explains. “And that’s one of the reasons he fired [former attorney general Pam] Bondi, because she didn’t make it go away, in my opinion.”
Despite concerns that a Blanche-led DOJ could significantly hinder progress towards justice, Bryan cautions that other avenues for survivors to pursue legal action will also present an uphill battle.
“You could bombard them with [public records] requests, and then file a lawsuit for them not providing responses to the Foia [Freedom of Information Act] requests, but that alone is a long process,” he continues. “Bluntly, the problem with all of this is [that] all of it takes time. Courts are grossly underfunded [and] understaffed. It will take quite a while to go through that sort of legal process,” he concludes.
Read the full article in The Guardian.
Bryan Sullivan Discusses Nike’s Recent $7.5 Million Discrimination Case Verdict in Women’s Wear Daily and WWD’s Footwear News
Category: News, Press | Friday, July 24th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Discusses Nike’s Recent $7.5 Million Discrimination Case Verdict in Women’s Wear Daily and WWD’s Footwear News
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke with Women’s Wear Daily about Nike Inc.’s $7.5 million gender discrimination case verdict on July 22, 2026. In a subsequent article about Nike’s high-profile visibility, WWD’s Footwear News also published Bryan’s comments.
Both articles outline that jurors found Nike violated both federal and state laws by discriminating against a former engineer because of her gender. Bryan explains that this case illustrates how high-profile companies are experiencing a learning curve in balancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies with federal and state laws.
“This is a no-win situation for companies,” Bryan tells WWD and Footwear News. “The Trump administration may retaliate against a company for having strong DEI initiatives, but the Trump administration’s position on DEI doesn’t dictate what a jury will decide under separate state laws like Oregon, and companies will have to decide which risk they want to bear going forward.”
Bryan adds that while the “Trump administration only has two and a half years left, state laws will be around a lot longer.”
In February, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed an action for enforcement of an administrative subpoena against Nike, seeking documents in connection to a discrimination probe involving intentional race discrimination against White employees and job applicants. Nike signed a settlement agreement with the EEOC during the final weeks of Biden’s presidency, but it was withdrawn when Trump took office.
Both articles also note that Bryan previously spoke with Footwear News when the story initially broke in February, highlighting how high-profile brands can become an easy target.
“High-visibility companies with well-publicized DEI commitments are more likely to become test cases, regardless of whether their practices are meaningfully different from peers,” Bryan tells Footwear News. “In that sense, Nike may be less of an outlier and more of a bellwether for how these issues are being examined right now.”
Read the full article in Women’s Wear Daily.
Read the full article in WDD’s Footwear News.
Bryan Sullivan Discusses the Potential Delay in the Paramount-Warner Bros. $110 Billion Merger Due to State Antitrust Suit in TheWrap
Category: News, Press | Tuesday, July 14th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Discusses the Potential Delay in the Paramount-Warner Bros. $110 Billion Merger Due to State Antitrust Suit in TheWrap
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke with TheWrap about the long-awaited Paramount deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which could potentially be delayed due to 12 state attorneys general filing a lawsuit challenging the $110 billion merger.
The article, titled “Paramount-Warner Bros. May Face Devastating Delay With State Antitrust Suit | Analysis,” outlines the lawsuit’s allegation that the deal would reduce competition, giving the combined company ultimate power.
A federal judge temporarily halted the transaction, and if a restraining order is granted, could alter Paramount’s self-imposed September 30, 2026 deadline, leaving them responsible to pay a daily “ticketing fee” to shareholders. This would amount to roughly $650 million each quarter. Paramount argues that the lawsuit fundamentally exposes flawed application of antitrust laws. However, the states may have a high probability of obtaining the restraining order.
Bryan tells TheWrap that he can see the merits of the arguments on both sides, but agrees the states likely have enough to warrant an injunction.
“The court typically looks at the potential harms on both sides, and the ticketing fee would be a factor,” Bryan explains.
He goes on to validate Paramount’s argument regarding the threat of big tech, while maintaining that the case will come down to a statistical analysis of the harms in each of the states that are suing.
“Given the whole nature of the entertainment industry being upended in the last several years, this is a case where both sides have good arguments to make,” he concludes.
Read the full article in TheWrap (Subscription required).
Los Angeles Business Journal Names Scott Gizer to its 2026 “Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys” List
Category: Awards, News | Monday, July 13th, 2026 | Comments Off on Los Angeles Business Journal Names Scott Gizer to its 2026 “Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys” List
The firm is pleased to announce that Scott Gizer has been recognized in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys” list for 2026. The annual issue honors the most sought-after trial attorneys in the Los Angeles region, selected through a rigorous editorial process based on a demonstration of impact on both the profession and the greater community.
Describing this year’s honorees, the Business Journal notes “There is a special breed or attorney that needs to transcend expert comprehension of the legal system – the litigator. Lawyers who go to the proverbial mat to fight for their clients before judges and jury
have their own unique sets of skills.”
Scott’s profile highlights his stellar results for his clients, including as “the go-to coverage counsel for all of the major title insurers in the United States,” noting that he has tried over 30 cases as a first chair during his 23 year career.
Read Scott’s profile and the full list in the Los Angeles Business Journal:
Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys – Los Angeles Business Journal
Bryan Sullivan Speaks to The Guardian on the Ordered Release of $5.8 Million in Trump Judgment
Category: News, Press | Thursday, July 9th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Speaks to The Guardian on the Ordered Release of $5.8 Million in Trump Judgment
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke with The Guardian about a U.S. judge’s ruling ordering Donald Trump to release 5.8 million dollars to E. Jean Carroll following his loss of Carroll’s sexual abuse and defamation trial against him in 2023. The article, titled “US judge orders release of $5.8m Trump owes E. Jean Carroll after court loss,” delves into Trump’s ordered distribution of the jury award and how he seeks to combat the release.
The payment stems from the 2023 defamation and sexual abuse lawsuit, which E. Jean Carroll won against Trump. The court then ordered a five-million-dollar jury award, but due to Trump’s decision to appeal the ruling, he deposited the award at an 11% interest rate, ultimately accumulating to 5.8 million dollars. The Supreme Court denied Trump’s appeal on June 29, allowing the Manhattan judge to order the release of the jury award. On June 30, Carroll’s legal team, led by Roberta Kaplan, stressed that it’s time for the case to end, and on July 1, requested that the disbursement of money be expedited. The Judge granted the request, causing Trump’s team to quickly compile a thorough argument against the release of the funds, and asked the Supreme Court to rehear his request for review.
Bryan weighs in on the Supreme Court’s decision to potentially rehear Trump’s request, sharing with The Guardian, “I think that would be a really tough argument.” He goes on to agree with Carroll’s lead attorney, emphasizing that the case has reached its end and states, “I think Roberta Kaplan said it best: he’s at the end of the line here.”
He continues on to share why he doubts the Supreme Court would reconsider its denial, noting that the Supreme Court rarely ever considers cases to begin with. He continues to highlight to The Guardian that the success on initial requests is “slim to none, on average,” and that the case would not have a severe impact on U.S. law in ways others might.
Read the full article in The Guardian.