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Early Sullivan Prevails in Bench Trial for Real Estate Client Patron Investments, LLC
Category: News, Results | Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 | Comments Off on Early Sullivan Prevails in Bench Trial for Real Estate Client Patron Investments, LLC
Scott Gizer and Brian Ritter prevailed on behalf of Early Sullivan client, Patron Investments, LLC in a quiet title and cancellation of instruments action following a bench trial in San Bernardino County.
Patron Investments, LLC acquired title to a property in Rancho Cucamonga from HSBC after it foreclosed on its deed of trust. Plaintiffs Thomas and Liu Quan Reece alleged that HSBC’s foreclosure was wrongful and should be set aside for multiple reasons, including that HSBC was not the proper beneficiary of the deed of trust, enforcement of the underlying debt was time barred and that HSBC could not foreclose on Liu Quan Reece’s 50% interest in the property based on California community property laws and because Liu Quan Reece did not sign HSBC’s deed of trust.
If Plaintiffs were to succeed on any of their theories, it would have invalidated the sale to Patron Investments, LLC. Mr. Gizer and Mr. Ritter put on evidence to establish that HSBC was the proper beneficiary of the deed of trust, the underlying debt was still enforceable and that Liu Quan Reece’s conveyance of her interest in the property to Thomas Reece was a valid transfer as between them and HSBC’s predecessor-in-interest Countrywide.
After a three-day bench trial, the trial court found in favor of Patron Investments, LLC quieting title in its name as the owner of the subject property free and clear of any claims by the Plaintiffs. The case is entitled Thomas F. Reece; Liu Jean Quan Reece v. Nationstar Mortgage, LLC, et. al., San Bernardino County Case No. CIVSB2106194.
Chambers and Partners Names Early Sullivan to Spotlight California 2026 Guide
Category: Awards, News | Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 | Comments Off on Chambers and Partners Names Early Sullivan to Spotlight California 2026 Guide
Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae is pleased to announce that the firm has been selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of the Chambers Spotlight California Guide. The firm received a spot on the Los Angeles list in the practice area of Media & Entertainment.
Chambers’ annual Spotlight California Guide is a prestigious and highly-regarded honor awarded to small and medium-sized law firms that demonstrate strong expertise in their respective practice areas, through a rigorous research and evaluation process. The Media & Entertainment subcategory highlights firms who represent high-profile industry clients across significant transactional and litigated matters related to film, television, music, and digital media.
Read the full list and the firm’s profile in Chambers.
Bryan Sullivan Speaks to IndieWire on the WGA’s New Tentative Deal with Studios
Category: News, Press | Friday, April 10th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Speaks to IndieWire on the WGA’s New Tentative Deal with Studios
Bryan Sullivan recently weighed in on the Writers Guild of America’s new tentative minimum bargaining agreement with studios in IndieWire. As of April 8, the WGA agreed to extend its contract term with the studios to four years rather than three, an increase from their 2023 deal.
The WGA’s terms also include a 10.5 percent minimum wage raise, improved residuals, and an increased bonus for writers of the top performing streaming shows, which Bryan notes as a major affirmation of the WGA’s wins three years ago.
“It reinforced the wins from 2023. The studios didn’t try to backtrack on any of the gains before,” Bryan explains. “It preserved the minimum staffing requirements and prohibitions on mini rooms and will further discourage free work from free rewrites and polishes that producers ask for and that writers should be paid for.”
Read the full article in IndieWire.
Devin McRae Named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 List of “Hollywood’s 100 Most Powerful Lawyers”
Category: Awards | Thursday, April 9th, 2026 | Comments Off on Devin McRae Named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 List of “Hollywood’s 100 Most Powerful Lawyers”
The firm is pleased to share that Devin McRae has secured a coveted spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of “Hollywood’s 100 Most Powerful Lawyers.” This prestigious THR feature profiles the top 100 dealmakers and litigators who have spearheaded the entertainment industry’s most high-profile and impactful matters over the past year.
In Devin’s profile, The Hollywood Reporter highlights his inimitable reputation for representing exploited authors; leading Hollywood publicity firms; and numerous prominent film and TV actors, writers, directors, and production companies in highly complex litigation matters. The feature specifically notes his successful representation of Copshop writer Kurt McLeod in a conflict-of-interest dispute over the Gerard Butler film, a case that was revived on appeal before settling this year. THR also outlines his current representation of Terrifier actress Catherine Corcoran in her profit participation suit against the franchise, and his representation of publicity firm MPRM in its legal battle against competitor 21West.
To view the full list with Devin’s profile, click below.
Hollywood’s 100 Most Powerful Lawyers – The Hollywood Reporter
Bryan Sullivan Speaks to Axios About College Athletes Gaining Access to Luxury Housing Through NIL Income
Category: News, Press | Friday, March 27th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Speaks to Axios About College Athletes Gaining Access to Luxury Housing Through NIL Income
Bryan Sullivan recently weighed in on a new generation of college athletes affording luxury apartment buildings through NIL income in Axios. Several of Duke University’s Division I basketball players recently made headlines for living in Durham’s most high-end apartment building, which is possible through new NCAA guidelines that enable players to get paid for their name, image and likeness.
Bryan explains to Axios that NIL agreements are “no different than any other influencer agreement or endorsement agreement that I’ve done.”
The article adds that despite recent changes, there are still certain rules that student athletes must comply with, and any NIL deals that exceed $600 are subject to independent review.
“You can’t just use it to funnel money to an athlete in violation of the NCAA rules,” he concludes.
Read the full article in Axios.
Bryan Sullivan Analyzes the Potential Fallout from Alan Ritchson’s Altercation with Neighbor in Page Six
Category: News, Press | Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Analyzes the Potential Fallout from Alan Ritchson’s Altercation with Neighbor in Page Six
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke to Page Six about “Reacher” star Alan Ritchson’s recent altercation with his neighbor, weighing in on whether or not the actor could still face a lawsuit after the investigation was closed by authorities.
Bryan tells Page Six that he believes Ritchson and his neighbor may agree to mutual protective orders, but that a lawsuit from either party is not out of the question.
“In America, anyone can sue anyone for anything,” Bryan explains. “The neighbor can sue him for assault and battery, but, based on what I’ve read, Alan has a strong affirmative defense of self-defense and defending his children, and Alan could also sue the neighbor for assault and battery.”
Read the full article in Page Six.
Bryan Sullivan Speaks to Glossy on the Rise of Monobrand Perfume Stores
Category: News, Press | Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Speaks to Glossy on the Rise of Monobrand Perfume Stores
Bryan Sullivan recently weighed in on the rapid increase of monobrand perfume storefronts, both in New York City and across the globe, in Glossy. Estée Lauder Companies recently opened four storefronts for its perfume and beauty brands along Prince Street in Soho, joining the long list of monobrand perfume stores popping up in the city in recent months.
Bryan explains that new and established brands alike have an incentive to open up storefronts in high-end, iconic shopping areas in fashion hotspots like New York, Paris, London, and Berlin.
“After Covid, there’s this drive to be seen as having some level of brick-and-mortar that is in a high-end area,” Bryan tells Glossy. “Newer brands might be raising a lot of money and taking on debt in order to make that launch, so they have that cachet. And the more established brands look at it as kind of a crowning achievement, showing that they have made it to the elite luxury levels.”
The article adds that as high-end department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus face uncertain futures and online shopping becomes the default, opening a storefront offers a level of security in the fragrance world, where the vast majority of sales take place in person.
“If you want to be luxury, you have to look like luxury,” he concludes.
Read the full article in Glossy (subscription required).
The Daily Journal Covers Early Sullivan’s Representation of Pacific Palisades Homeowners in Ongoing Lawsuit Against State Farm
Category: News, Press, Results | Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 | Comments Off on The Daily Journal Covers Early Sullivan’s Representation of Pacific Palisades Homeowners in Ongoing Lawsuit Against State Farm
The Daily Journal recently covered a lawsuit filed on behalf of Pacific Palisades homeowners, represented by Devin McRae and Peter Scott of Early Sullivan, against State Farm after last year’s devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires. The suit alleges that the insurance company deliberately underestimated reconstruction costs and did not honor a full-coverage policy.
The piece notes that, in a rare result against an insurance company, Devin and Peter won a writ of attachment against State Farm on behalf of their clients, Robert and Stacy Berman, in November. Peter explains to the Daily Journal that after losing their home entirely, the family was nowhere close to receiving compensation for the policy limits from State Farm prior to filing.
“The entire home was gone when they came back the next day, and State Farm wouldn’t even pay the policy limits,” Peter tells the Daily Journal. “They had to fight for seven months to even get them close to policy limits, and they were still hundreds of thousands of dollars away from policy limits before they had to file suit.”
Devin echoes Peter’s sentiment, adding that he believes State Farm knowingly and deliberately misrepresented the cost of reconstruction.
“The claim is that from the top of the company, it was well aware that its predictive modeling was undervaluing the claims or the cost of rebuilding, that the company knew that all of these folks that were insureds of it could be subject to not having enough insurance in the event of a catastrophe like the Palisades fire, and therefore there’s responsibility on their part for the under insurance,” Devin concludes.
In a separate article, the Daily Journal later covered a February 23 hearing, in which U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi oversaw oral arguments from Peter on behalf of the plaintiffs in the case. The article states that Peter told Judge Scarsi that claims against State Farm for mail and wire fraud do not require allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation.
“They just have to be used incident to the fraudulent scheme, which I think is alleged sufficiently here,” Peter stated at the hearing.
The article notes that Judge Scarsi stated that he will issue a ruling after reconsidering the issues presented by both parties at Monday’s hearing.
To learn more about the suit and read the rest of Devin and Peter’s comments, read the full articles in the Daily Journal below (subscription required).
Palisades homeowners sue State Farm over alleged underinsurance
Judge weighs RICO claims against State Farm in Palisades fire case
Bryan Sullivan Weighs in on Marion Jones Sentencing for Performance-Enhancing Drugs in A&E
Category: News, Press | Monday, February 23rd, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Weighs in on Marion Jones Sentencing for Performance-Enhancing Drugs in A&E
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke to A&E about the sentencing of former Olympian Marion Jones, who took home five medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and later admitted to involvement in a doping scandal as well as lying to federal agents during the investigation.
After the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency received an anonymous tip that a steroid was being distributed by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) in 2003, a grand jury investigation into BALCO launched, implicating several athletes including Jones and MLB star Barry Bonds. Several figures, including BALCO’s founder, a BALCO executive, a track coach, and Bonds’ personal trainer, were indicted on charges including fraud, money laundering, and possession and intent to distribute illegal steroids. Bonds himself was later charged with perjury.
When Jones admitted to lying to federal agents during the investigation in 2007, she was sentenced to six months in prison, two years of probation, and 800 hours of community service – a harsher punishment than the men orchestrating the scandal and Bonds, who received 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation, and 250 hours of community service.
“Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice and giving an evasive answer to questions under oath, which is lesser than lying under oath—and that was before a grand jury,” Bryan tells A&E.
He continues to note that while Jones admitted to lying to investigators, Bonds’ statements while under oath did not legally qualify as lies.
“The difference is that she pled guilty to lying to investigators, and I don’t think he technically lied to investigators,” Bryan explains. “He was not accused of lying to investigators, whereas she was. I’ve been through a couple investigations like that, and they always say, ‘You’re not under oath, but lying to us is a federal crime,’ and that’s just for witnesses that weren’t even targets.”
Bryan also reminds readers that Jones’ predicament began when she was subpoenaed as part of the BALCO investigations after an anonymous tip back in 2003, urging anyone who receives a subpoena to seek out legal counsel immediately.
“Call a lawyer as soon as you get the subpoena,” he concludes. “Don’t try to talk your way out of it, because you don’t know what they know that led them to sending you the subpoena.”
Bryan Sullivan and Devin McRae Named to Lawdragon’s 2026 “500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” Guide
Category: Awards, News | Friday, February 20th, 2026 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan and Devin McRae Named to Lawdragon’s 2026 “500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” Guide
The firm is pleased to announce that Bryan Sullivan and Devin McRae have been selected for inclusion in the second annual edition of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” guide. According to Lawdragon, the attorneys selected for the guide “are at the center of it all, protecting brands, advising on ownership rights and investments, and heading off legal and reputational risk for globally recognized individuals.”
Bryan and Devin were recognized for their work in the “Transactions, Litigation – Entertainment, Media, Sports” and the “Litigation – Entertainment, IP” categories, respectively.
Known for its rigorous selection process, Lawdragon draws on journalistic research, nominations, and discussion with peers and other knowledgeable sources to identify the best entertainment lawyers around the globe.
For more information, see below.
The 2026 Lawdragon “500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” | Lawdragon