Michael Rhodes

Partner
Full contact info

I represent the world’s leading technology companies in the courtroom when they face new and unsettled issues found at the intersection of law and innovation.

Passions

Surfing

Motorcycles

Pinot noir

French bulldogs

Experience

Two Cooley Partners Named Among Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers

April 3, 2024

Cooley partners Michael Rhodes and Matt Hallinan were named to Billboard’s 2024 Top Music Lawyers list, which recognizes the “attorneys on the front lines of the music industry’s legal battles and deals.” Rhodes and Hallinan were noted for their representation of Justin Bieber in the $200 million sale of his music rights to Blackstone-backed Hipgnosis – the largest music rights acquisition by the company to date.

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Related contacts

Michael Rhodes
Partner, San Francisco
Matt Hallinan
Partner, Santa Monica

Related Practices & Industries

Justin Bieber to Sell Music Rights to Hipgnosis Songs for $200 Million

February 2, 2023

Cooley advised Justin Bieber in a $200 million deal to sell his music rights to Blackstone-backed Hipgnosis Songs Capital.

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Related contacts

Michael Rhodes
Partner, San Francisco
Matt Hallinan
Partner, Santa Monica
Matthew D. Silverman
Special Counsel, Santa Monica
Jason Savich
Partner, San Francisco
Edmond Lay
Associate, San Diego
Rachel F. Katz
Associate, New York
Harry Calkin
Associate, London
Calvin Lee
Associate, New York
Stephanie Gentile
Partner, New York
Chris Coulter
Partner, London
Aaron Pomeroy
Partner, Colorado
James Maton
Co-Partner in Charge – London, London
Leo Spicer-Phelps
Associate, London
Juan Nascimbene
Associate, London
Matthew S. Scarano
Associate, San Diego
Ellie Seber
Partner, Santa Monica

Cooley Protects Launch of Hailey Rhode Bieber’s Rhode Skin Care Line by Defeating Preliminary Injunction Motion

July 30, 2022

Cooley secured a product line-saving trademark victory for Hailey Rhode Bieber and her companies, Rhodedeodato and HRBeauty, on July 22 when the US District Court for the Southern District of New York denied Rhode NYC’s motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin Bieber from offering her recently launched skin care line under the RHODE mark. Lawyers Michael Rhodes, Brendan Hughes, and Rebecca Givner-Forbes are leading the Cooley team advising Bieber and her companies.

Related contacts

Michael Rhodes
Partner, San Francisco
Brendan Hughes
Partner, Washington, DC
Rebecca Givner-Forbes
Special Counsel , Washington, DC
Bobby Ghajar
Partner, Santa Monica
Judd Lauter
Special Counsel, San Francisco
Kayla Blaker
Associate, Colorado
Hilarie Laing
Paralegal Specialist, Washington, DC
Justin Royer
Paralegal Specialist, Reston

Related Practices & Industries

Cooley Secures Appellate Victory for Important ‘Sharing Economy’ Platform

July 2, 2022

Cooley secured a significant victory for Turo, an online, peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace that connects car owners with users seeking cars, providing an important legal precedent for other online platforms and “sharing economy” companies. The Cooley team was led by partner Matthew D. Brown, who argued the appeal, along with partners Benjamin Kleine and Bethany Lobo. Ashley Kemper Corkery was the lead associate on the appeal phase of the case, and partner Michael Rhodes and former partner, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, provided invaluable insights.

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Related contacts

Matthew D. Brown
Partner, San Francisco
Bethany Lobo
Partner, San Francisco
Ashley Kemper Corkery
Special Counsel, San Francisco
Michael Rhodes
Partner, San Francisco

Related Practices & Industries

Cooley Successfully Defends Kardashian-Jenner Family in Defamation, Contract Interference Lawsuit

May 9, 2022

Cooley won a high-profile jury trial in Los Angeles, successfully defending the Kardashian-Jenner family against claims brought by Blac Chyna, whose legal name is Angela White, for defamation and intentional interference with her E! network talent agreement. The plaintiff sought more than $100 million in damages. Partners Michael Rhodes and Michelle Doolin led the Cooley team.

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Related contacts

Michael Rhodes
Partner, San Francisco
Michelle Doolin
Partner, San Diego
Maximilian Sladek de la Cal
Associate, Santa Monica
Carrie Lebel
Associate, San Francisco

Related Practices & Industries

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Admissions and credentials

California

Rankings and accolades

Los Angeles Times: Entertainment Business Visionary (2024)

The American Lawyer: Litigator of the Week

Law360: Privacy & Consumer Protection MVP (2011-2017)

Daily Journal: Top IP Litigators in California

Billboard: Top Music Lawyers

Daily Journal: Top 100 Lawyers in California

National Law Journal: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Trailblazer

Chambers USA: Band 1 for Privacy & Data Security: Litigation – Nationwide (2023 – 2024)

Chambers USA: Privacy & Data Security: Litigation – Nationwide (2020 – 2022)

The American Lawyer: Litigator of the Year (2021)

Chambers USA: Litigation: General Commercial – California (2020 – 2024)

Chambers USA: Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation – California (2020 – 2024)

Legal 500: Hall of Fame, Leading Trial Lawyer, Cyber Law, Data Protection and Privacy

Benchmark Litigation Star

Managing Intellectual Property: IP Star

Intellectual Asset Management: IAM Patent 1000

The Recorder: Attorney of the Year (2010)

Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation; Derivative Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation

Southern California SuperLawyers: Business Litigation

Memberships and affiliations

American Bar Association (ABA)

San Diego County Bar Association