About Jerry Rappaport

Jerry Rappaport has more than 40 years’ experience in business, commercial, real estate, intellectual property and employment law transactions, litigation and mediation. In addition to his legal education and background, he has been an entrepreneur serving as President of an entertainment licensing firm with rights to some of the most recognizable and merchandisable properties in the United States.

Jerry’s transactional experience includes representing clients in the negotiation and drafting of a wide range of business agreements. These have included business acquisition and sale transactions, credit and financing transactions, intellectual property licensing of brands, images, software, and marks, and strategic partnering agreements. Jerry has also represented clients in a variety of real estate transactions including acquisition, financing and workout agreements.

Adding to his business counseling and transactional experience, Jerry has significant business litigation experience that has included state and federal trials and appeals in a wide range of business, employment and real estate matters. These have included such diverse matters as performance under the terms of a contract for custom developed financial management software developed for governmental agencies, and Fortune 1000 companies, major financial institutions, to disputes regarding merchandising rights to the name and likeness of various celebrities including late Tupac Shakur and Michael Jackson. Jerry has also represented clients in various trade secret, unfair competition and employment disputes. 

In 2006, his work earned him the distinction as a Super Lawyer™ in a survey conducted by Los Angeles Magazine. This litigation experience enhances Jerry’s ability to provide valuable counsel to clients entering or trying to determine how to exit a business transaction.

Jerry also has hands-on business operation experience, serving as president of a 400-employee company that generated more than $30 million annually in entertainment licensing and garment manufacturing. He has also been a member of the Board of a Savings and Loan and served as president of the Los Angeles County Regional Center, a state chartered non-profit corporation established for the administration of State of California funds for the developmentally disabled.