Alexander (Sasha) Frid

Reflecting his broad litigation experience and record of success, Sasha’s representative matters include:

• Represented Mötley Crüe for 20 years in entertainment, intellectual property, and litigation matters, including licensing, touring, merchandising, and the band’s biopic, The Dirt. Secured a complete victory in a three-year arbitration against former guitarist Mick Mars, prevailing on all claims, confirming the forfeiture of his touring revenue rights, upholding his removal for legal cause, requiring the sale of his ownership interest, and obtaining a substantial monetary award. Also successfully handled numerous copyright, trademark, trade secret, idea theft, and contract disputes, including obtaining summary judgment in an idea theft case and prevailing in four copyright infringement actions.
• Represented CriticalPoint Partners LLC, a leading investment bank, in multiple matters, including a high-stakes trade secret and unfair competition arbitration. Obtained a major arbitration award requiring former executives to disgorge substantial profits, imposing a five-year injunction against client solicitation and the misuse of confidential information, and authorizing forensic inspections of electronic devices to ensure compliance.
• Won a federal jury defense verdict representing Motown legend William “Smokey” Robinson against a former manager who sued the singer/songwriter for breach of contract, claiming that he was owed commissions on Smokey’s concerts and touring. The jury rejected the plaintiff’s entire claim for commissions worth over $3 million.
• Represented Zions Bancorporation, N.A. dba California Bank & Trust in a high-profile commercial lending action seeking recovery of more than $60 million arising from distressed mortgage loan credit facilities. Obtained prejudgment writs of attachment totaling approximately $60 million against the guarantors early in the litigation, securing a significant victory for the bank.
• Represented developer Atlas Capital Group against the Los Angeles Times in a dispute over the lease termination at the printing press building in downtown LA. Also obtained injunctive relief on behalf of Atlas against a commercial tenant and its principal for breach of a lease and personal guaranty.
• Won a jury defense verdict after a week-long federal trial representing Virtual Sonics, a cutting-edge music technology company that develops high-end digital music instruments used in films, video games, and other mediums, against former investors who sought millions of dollars in compensation. The jury verdict, delivered in less than an hour, wiped out the plaintiffs’ claims entirely.
• Secured a 689-day prison sentence in Tennessee state court for the stalker of Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx following convictions on 100 counts of criminal contempt for repeatedly violating a stay-away order through online harassment. The case established a significant Tennessee precedent by recognizing repeated digital conduct as the basis for criminal contempt.
• Represented Juanita’s Foods, the largest Mexican food producer/distributor in the U.S., against Dominguez Family Enterprises (DFE), an Oregon-based producer/distributor of food products, in a contentious, multi-million-dollar lawsuit for claims of trademark infringement and contractual breach in federal court. Sasha obtained an early preliminary injunction enjoining DFE from selling its products outside of specific geographic restrictions, which required DFE to pull its products from its shelves. The lawsuit was favorably resolved.
• Represented Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in a highly publicized sexual assault lawsuit, obtaining dismissal on demurrer. After the action was refiled under changes to California law, led the defense that uncovered exculpatory evidence countering plaintiff’s allegations.
• Defended Miss Me, a leading denim apparel manufacturer, against trademark infringement claims brought by True Religion concerning the back-pocket designs featured on its jeans.
• Represented The Peninsula Beverly Hills in a trade secret misappropriation action against the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills involving claims exceeding $50 million. The Peninsula alleged that Waldorf’s managing director solicited a Peninsula employee during his employment and used him to obtain confidential information, including customer lists and guest preferences, before later hiring him. Following extensive and hard-fought litigation involving multiple defendants and law firms, the matter settled shortly before trial.
• Won a $46 million jury verdict for Pou Chen Corporation, one of the largest international conglomerates, following a two-month jury trial and the testimony of over 25 witnesses. The dispute involved a failed business venture to sell electronic products to Wal-Mart. The jury deliberated for nine days before returning its verdict (Daily Journal Top 10 Plaintiff’s Verdict in California).
• Won summary judgment in a California state court case, wiping out a $9 million claim in an insurance dispute brought by a receiver of a failed insurance company (Ullico) who sued a group of Windsor skilled care facilities, claiming that they owed deductibles on policies they purchased with the carrier through an elaborate captive insurance structure. The trial judge threw out the receiver’s case after Sasha and his team obtained exculpatory evidence and case-ending deposition testimony in discovery that confirmed Windsor’s interpretation of the insurance policies.
• Represented a former executive of Patrón Tequila in litigation against the company and its co-founder, John Paul DeJoria, arising out of the alleged failure to pay an equity bonus exceeding $50 million. The matter involved claims that the client was terminated based on purported misconduct following the company’s refusal to pay the bonus. After substitution of counsel on appeal, the case was reversed and proceeded to trial, and was ultimately resolved shortly before jury deliberations.
• Vacated an $11.2 million judgment in Las Vegas against R&B artist Trey Songz arising from an alleged incident at The Cosmopolitan in November 2021, and subsequently resolved the matter in full.
• Represented the developer of the “Circa” luxury apartment skyscraper towers, across from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, in a major construction dispute against Lendlease, a multinational builder.
• Represented LA-based developer Jamison Services in multiple real estate matters. Successfully obtained a temporary restraining order within 72 hours of case intake against a supermarket chain tenant that refused to vacate and attempted to misappropriate fixtures. Secured a preliminary injunction in a separate easement dispute, promptly resolving the case in the client’s favor.
• Represented AMIRI, a leading luxury fashion brand, since its inception. Advised the company and its ownership on a wide range of fashion industry matters and successfully represented them in numerous trademark, copyright, and breach of contract disputes, including actions to protect the company’s intellectual property and innovative designs.
• Represented the Estate of Tupac Shakur in high-stakes litigation against Morgan Creek Productions concerning the rights to a biopic based on Shakur’s life, which was ultimately released as the film All Eyez on Me.
• Represented the band Five Finger Death Punch in a contract dispute with the label, Prospect Park, and its owner, Jeff Kwatinetz, over the release of an album. Sasha successfully resolved the case, enabling the band to tour and record music.
• Represented Neal Schon, founder of the iconic rock band Journey, in a dispute concerning ownership of the band’s name and alleged breaches of fiduciary duty by other band members. The matter was successfully resolved, with Schon securing the rights to the valuable Journey name.
• Represented legendary artist Nile Rodgers in a lawsuit against a former manager for breaches of fiduciary duty and other claims related to the manager’s professional responsibilities.
• Represented the Backstreet Boys in connection with breach of contract claims asserted by a concert promoter. The matter was favorably resolved without litigation.
• Obtained summary judgment against an insurer who denied insurance coverage in a multi-million dollar real estate dispute and settled bad faith claims against the carrier for a multi-million dollar recovery.
• Represented rapper and songwriter Logic in an insurance bad-faith dispute with his carrier over the improper denial of coverage for an incident at a concert, as well as copyright infringement claims in connection with a sample in one of Logic’s tracks.
• Represented iconic frontman Axl Rose in a dispute against Frontline Management concerning management-related issues, and in litigation against Activision involving the licensing of songs and images for the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
• Obtained a favorable settlement on the eve of trial for boxing legend Roy Jones, Jr., in an accounting negligence action against his former accountants and financial advisors.
• Represented a real estate developer and hotel owner in a breach of fiduciary duty dispute over a failed joint venture. The case settled on the “courthouse steps” with Sasha’s client recovering every penny he was seeking in a confidential high-seven-figure settlement.
• Obtained complete summary judgment in federal court on behalf of Universal Music Group against claims of trademark infringement, dilution, and false designation of origin brought by a former band manager seeking millions of dollars in royalties.
• Obtained a favorable settlement for record executive and manager Kevin Liles in a dispute over unpaid commissions against rapper Ty Dolla $ign.
• Secured a complete dismissal of all class action claims against California Bank & Trust arising from the bank’s takeover of failed assets from the FDIC. All class action claims were dismissed on the eve of a class certification hearing. Sasha then obtained summary judgment on the remaining claims.
• Represented a former CEO of one of the largest Middle East energy companies in the world against his former employer in a major unlawful termination and whistleblower action in Michigan District Court. After the former CEO was fired, he was forced to flee the Middle Eastern country after the company threatened him and his family with imprisonment. The case was resolved.
• Successfully represented the manufacturer of Bosch and Thermador appliances in various business, commercial, intellectual property, and product liability matters.
• Won a unanimous defense jury verdict as lead counsel on behalf of a Fortune 500 company in a consumer credit reporting case.
• Obtained a successful settlement for SunCal, a major land developer, in a 60 million dollar dispute after a three-week jury trial. The case involved claims for breach of contract and fraud relating to an 800-acre real estate development in the Coachella Valley. Sasha tried the case in 2009 in Palm Springs, an area that was particularly hit hard by the global recession.

• Billboard Top Music Lawyers 2018-2026
• Business magazine, LA Times Studios, Legal Visionaries 2026
• Los Angeles Business Journal, Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys 2023, 2026
• The Envelope magazine, LA Times Studios, Entertainment Business Visionaries 2024-2026
• Daily Journal, Leading Commercial Litigators 2024
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Intellectual Property Litigation 2019-2024
• Century City Bar Association, 2023 Music Lawyer of the Year
• Los Angeles Business Journal, 2022 Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40’s
• Southern California Super Lawyers® 2019-2025; Rising Stars® 2009-2016
• Variety Legal Impact Report: Top Entertainment Lawyers 2018, 2021

• Member of the Recording Academy® and a voting member of the GRAMMY Awards.
• Provides pro bono services with local organizations.
• Serves on a charitable foundation raising money for cancer research.
• Previously served on the Board of Directors of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which provides education to underprivileged youth.
• Published author of numerous articles in various legal and academic fields, including database security legislation compliance, financial fraud, money laundering, foreign relations, cultural property protection, repatriation, and international law.