David Halberstadter Named to The Daily Journal's Top IP Lawyers 2026 List

On May 20, Los Angeles Litigation Partner and Deputy General Counsel David Halberstadter was named to The Daily Journal's 2026 list of Top IP Lawyers. The annual list honors California's leading lawyers in the patent litigation, trademark and copyright fields. David has received this accolade consecutively each year since 2018 and is being recognized for the approximately 40 years he has devoted to intellectual property litigation, concentrated in copyright and trademark matters.

David told The Daily Journal that his path into entertainment law was not planned; rather, the career found him, beginning with his love for movies and television. "I spent a great deal of my time when I was younger in movie theaters and in front of a television set, so when I had the opportunity to work on some cases involving films and TV series, I lit up," he said. "So, my career found me, not the other way around."

The Daily Journal noted standouts from David's career, including for his client STX Films, which faced a lawsuit in connection with the marketing of a film featuring puppetry designed by Brian Henson. The show's tagline ("No Sesame. All Street.") prompted an application for a temporary restraining order from Sesame Workshop that alleged federal trademark infringement and unfair competition, among other things. "Our defense team had barely four days, working over Memorial Day weekend, to prepare our opposition; but we got it done," David explained. "The court denied the TRO, and within a matter of days, Sesame Workshop dismissed the action." More recently, David also represented the defendants in a matter in which a plaintiff claimed the Starz series "P-Valley" infringed upon her musical play, achieving a successful outcome for his client.

"When one of my entertainment and media clients finds itself in litigation, winning — and winning early — is the obvious goal," David said. "But there are additional considerations that help to define a successful outcome. What will it cost the client to pursue or defend a lawsuit to victory, in terms of the expense, the potential distraction to creators, other talent and company executives and the public's perception?"

David also shared the importance of mentorship with The Daily Journal, noting that the most instructive figure in his career has been Louis M. Meisinger, with whom he worked for 16 years at a prior firm. "I learned from him the importance of meticulous preparation and attention to detail, among many other things," he said.

"Top Intellectual Property Lawyers 2026," The Daily Journal, May 20, 2026.

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