Cassandra Seto is an experienced and accomplished litigator with expertise in copyright and trademark issues, First Amendment law, complex contract disputes, and business torts. Her clients span an array of industries, and include leaders in the entertainment, media, music, technology, and energy spaces. These clients turn to Cassandra to represent them in high-stakes litigation, to conduct sensitive investigations, and to counsel them on strategic issues. Cassandra also advises companies on the impact of generative AI on their business, intellectual property rights, and risk management. Cassandra has been recognized as a leading litigator by Variety, Benchmark Litigation, The Legal 500, and Law360, and named among “Hollywood’s New Leaders” by Variety and the “Most Influential Minority Lawyers” in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Cassandra is a respected leader within the firm, and currently serves as a firmwide Ombud and Hiring Partner for the Century City office.
Cassandra maintains an active pro bono practice focused on First Amendment and social justice issues, and has proudly served on the board of the Warren Christopher Scholarship Foundation for many years.
- Defending a major broadcaster in high-profile lawsuits alleging purported “performance rights” in sound recordings made before 1972
- Representing a publishing company and entertainment studio in lawsuits seeking to recapture copyright and trademark rights in Superman
- Defending a major media conglomerate in state court, federal court, and administrative proceedings involving copyright and trademark rights in Winnie the Pooh
- Representing the producers and distributors of the James Bond motion pictures in a copyright infringement lawsuit
- Defending motion picture and television studios in various profit-participation disputes
- Representing a well-known boxer in proceedings before the California Athletic Commission and on appeal
- Representing an all-star baseball player in a complex partnership dispute
- Representing a leading energy company in various commercial litigation matters
- Representing a real estate consultant in a billion-dollar fiduciary duty lawsuit brought by a pension system
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Eleventh Circuit, and Federal Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
Education
- Stanford University, J.D.; Executive Editor, Stanford Law Review
- University of California at Berkeley, B.A., Psychology and Business Administration, summa cum laude
Honors & Awards
- Named a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation (2024-2025)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 US in Media & Entertainment: Litigation (2020, 2022)
- Named to Variety’s Legal Impact Report (2019, 2020)
- Named to the 40 & Under Hot List for General Commercial, Media & Entertainment by Benchmark Litigation (2018-2022)
- Named among “Hollywood’s New Leaders” by Variety (2017)
- Named a “Rising Star in Media & Entertainment Law” by Law360 (2017)
- “Most Influential Minority Lawyer,” Los Angeles Business Journal (2016)
- Member, Law360 Media & Entertainment Practice Group of the Year (2016)
Professional Activities
Speaker
- “How Litigation and Legislation Is Shaping the AI Future,” ABA's 2024 Forum on Entertainment and Sports Spring Meeting (April 2024)
Author
- “New Election, Same Tune,” (co-author Jordyn Ostroff), Daily Journal (August 14, 2020)
- “Keeping Private Arbitrations Private,” Los Angeles Lawyer (2008)
- “Formation of the Venture: Developing a Business Plan,” Representing Start-Up Companies, Lee R. Petillon & Robert Joe Hull eds. (2003)
Board Member
- Warren Christopher Scholarship Foundation
Fellow
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
Clinical Instructor
- UCLA School of Law, Appellate Advocacy Clinic