1.
Lawyer’s name: Ronald J. Nessim
Firm: Bird Marella
Location: Los Angeles
Title: Principal
Practice Type: Litigation
Specialty: White collar
Law school and graduation date: University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, 1980
Phone number and email for the lawyer: (310) 201-2100, rjn@birdmarella.com
Phone number and email for any representative who wishes to be notified if the lawyer was selected
for the list: Megan Braverman, megan@berbay.com, 310-405-7343
Winning over 40 criminal cases, civil trials and arbitrations, Ron Nessim has been ranked on the list of
The Best Lawyers in America. With over three decades in high-profile civil and white collar criminal law
cases, Mr. Nessim has gained thorough experience representing clients in the entertainment, criminal
and healthcare fraud arena.
Mr. Nessim is indisputably one of the best lawyers in California, particularly in the entertainment
industry, representing clients like Barry Levinson and Tom Fantana, creator of Homicide: Life on the
Street. Other established clients include author Danielle Steele, producer Douglas Cramer, David Kohan
and Max Mutchnick, creators of Will & Grace.
In one of Ronald J. Nessim’s more recent cases, he represented Don Bellisario, creator of television
programs such as Magnum P.I., JAG and NCIS, in a contract dispute with CBS. Mr. Bellasario was
terminated by CBS while NCIS’s show runner and his successor created a spinoff, NCIS: Los Angeles. The
“spin off” rights in one or more of Bellisario’s prior Paramount/CBS term deals gave him “first
opportunity” rights to develop spinoffs of JAG and NCIS and share the profits. Mr. Nessim was able to
negotiate a confidential settlement for his client on the eve of the trial.
As a former board member of the Public Counsel, Ronald J. Nessim represented a state prisoner before
the United States Supreme Court in relation to the prisoner’s federal habeus corpus petition. He has
recently become one of the leading lawyers in the entertainment-industry, dealing with cases closely
connected to claims against studios relating to their entitlement to back-end profit participation.
Named Variety’s 2014 Legal Impact Report as a leading litigator, Mr. Nessim holds a remarkable
reputation. He can handle not only civil proceedings but criminal as well, both in a coordinated and cost
effective fashion. In matters relating to general business litigation, Mr. Nessim is well-known for
representing plaintiffs and defendants in corporate and partnership disputes.
It is Mr. Nessim’s extensive knowledge, eagerness to succeed and years of dedication to law that have
made him such a remarkable white collar lawyer.