ENTERTAINMENT, TRIAL AND BUSINESS ATTORNEYS
We are a boutique law firm, based in Los Angeles, providing the highest quality legal services in a cost-efficient manner to creative and business professionals.
ENTERTAINMENT, TRIAL AND BUSINESS ATTORNEYS
We are a boutique law firm, based in Los Angeles, providing the highest quality legal services in a cost-efficient manner to creative and business professionals.
ABOUT US
The attorneys of CostaLaw bring over thirty-years of varied legal experience and expertise to their clients. They have counseled major corporate, studio and agency clients, as well as individuals and prides itself on an individualized approach to all client representation.
The firm is committed to the highest level of legal practice in a relaxed and approachable setting. Representative past and present clients of the firm include: The Gersh Agency, Agency for the Performing Arts (“APA”), Talentworks, Innovative Artists, Paradigm Talent Agency, the Estate of Bob Marley, Daphne Guinness, the Black Eyed Peas, Lucy Liu, Judd Hirsch, Christopher Lloyd, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Debra Winger, Holland Taylor, Rick Salomon, Bron Pictures, Savvier Fitness Companies, Here Media, Cybill Shepherd, and Wesley Snipes.
CostaLaw
“I have very old fashioned views about the practice of law. It is a profession that must involve knowledge, compassion and respect. We are counselors in the truest sense of the word. I strive to think of myself as a confidant on all matters to my clients and usually share years of a close working relationship with them. Sometimes my clients face very exciting opportunities, other times, very serious challenges, but my clients should know that I will promise to approach each matter with emotion and conviction and always look to accomplish what I believe to be in the best interests of my clients.”
-Joseph Costa
CostaLaw
“I have very old fashioned views about the practice of law. It is a profession that must involve knowledge, compassion and respect. We are counselors in the truest sense of the word. I strive to think of myself as a confidant on all matters to my clients and usually share years of a close working relationship with them. Sometimes my clients face very exciting opportunities, other times, very serious challenges, but my clients should know that I will promise to approach each matter with emotion and conviction and always look to accomplish what I believe to be in the best interests of my clients.”
-Joseph Costa
Joseph P. Costa
PARtNER
Joseph P. Costa brings approximately 30 years of litigation and transactional experience to the firm. He worked in the litigation departments of Finley, Kumble, Wagner; Ervin, Cohen & Jessup and Leopold, Petrich & Smith before opening up his own firm.
Since opening his own firm in 1994, Mr. Costa has enjoyed a litigation practice that equally balances plaintiff and defense representation. In addition to his wide-ranging entertainment, employment, and general business litigation work, Mr. Costa works with an array of entertainment and media clients in the capacity of general counsel, specifically advising companies on employment and business related matters. He has represented talent and production companies in contract drafting and negotiations and has extensive transactional experience when representing these clients. Specifically, Mr. Costa has an expertise in matters relating to copyright infringement, trademark infringement, employment (including sexual harassment), Internet law, rights of publicity, transactional and litigation services relating to the direct response industry, licensing agreements, real estate litigation and general business litigation and transactional matters.
Mr. Costa has performed legal services for clients that have included, Lucy Liu, Christopher Lloyd, Deborah Winger, Bob Marley LLC, ATT, Foote Cone & Belding, The Gersh Agency, Paradigm, Savvier, and the Perfect Pushup.
Joseph Costa grew up on Long Island, New York, before attending the University of California, Los Angeles, where he majored in English literature. He attended law school at the National Law Center, George Washington University, where he served as the President and Editor in Chief of the Moot Court Board. He has lectured extensively and taught classes at UCLA, through the Beverly Hills Bar Association, before the Association of Talent Agencies and at the Sundance Film Festival.
Joseph Costa has been chosen as a Super Lawyer in each of the last twenty years.
2022 Joseph Costa Selected as LA’s Top 10 Attorneys by Power Agent Directory.
2023 Joseph Costa launches esugarnews.com, an entertainment legal video series. Here, we can include a link to esugarnews.com and also your description of esugarnews.
ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT
The firm's entertainment and media practice focuses on music, motion picture/television, media and advertising. Specifically, the management and protection of copyrights, trademarks, and rights of publicity and privacy. Part of the firm's practice includes planning through the earliest stages of intellectual property development and rights clearances.
TRIAL
TRIAL
TRIAL
The firm's trial lawyers are experienced and confident when presenting cases to juries, judges, arbitrators, or hearing officers. Its attorneys have successfully participated in multi-million dollar trials; however, will also work with clients to efficiently try cases that have less money at stake. Representative cases include copyright and trademark litigation, partnership and real estate disputes, employment disputes, false advertising cases brought by individual and government entities, and agency cases before AFTRA arbitrators and labor commissioner officers.
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
Although many of the firm's cases may have an underlying entertainment or media component to it, at the heart of what the firm does is counsel about ongoing business matters. The firm's attorneys are well suited to serve as outside general counsel to numerous small and large companies in areas such as employment, corporate formation and maintenance, privacy procedures, and the like. We like to think of ourselves as the one call that a business can make to handle and coordinate most of its legal needs.
