DLA Piper announced today the addition of Douglas Emhoff as a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice and its Media, Sport and Entertainment sector. Emhoff will be based in DLA Piper’s Los Angeles and Washington, DC, offices.

Emhoff joins from Venable, where he was the chief architect of its substantial West Coast expansion. He maintains a busy litigation practice from his dual offices in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, representing clients in a wide array of industries, including media and entertainment, digital media, sports, advertising, technology, hospitality and character licensing.

“Doug has served as litigation counsel and trusted advisor for some of the biggest names in Hollywood and across the entertainment, media and sports spectrum,” said Roger Meltzer, DLA Piper’s global co-chairman and co-chairman for the Americas. “His arrival is an important strategic move for us not just in Southern California, but for our wider global sector capabilities.”

The addition of Emhoff is also the latest move in DLA Piper’s ongoing West Coast expansion. In July 2017, the firm announced its merger with Liner LLP, a leading Los Angeles-based boutique that focuses on media and entertainment, litigation, real estate, business transactions and restructuring. The merger will take effect October 1, coinciding with Emhoff’s start date.

“Doug has built offices from the ground up in important markets like LA and San Francisco, and we look to take advantage of that experience in further building out our West Coast capabilities. He also has significant litigation experience in core subject matter areas that are important to the firm, so he’s a very attractive add on both those fronts,” said Jay Rains, DLA Piper’s global co-CEO and co-chairman for the Americas.

“I’m thrilled to be joining DLA Piper with my longtime close friend, Stuart Liner, and his firm. It’s an exciting opportunity to be a part of building something very special in California and throughout the firm,” said Emhoff. “The sophistication and scope of DLA Piper’s practice areas and overall global reach is extremely impressive. It will enable me to do more for current clients and to take advantage of other opportunities. I couldn’t be more impressed with Roger, Jay and the entire DLA Piper team, and we are looking forward to tremendous success in the future.”

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