About Gary Wax

Gary Wax, an appellate lawyer, represents a wide range of clients in civil appeals and in writ proceedings, including business owners, property owners, insurers, employers, public entities, film finance lenders, film producers, bankruptcy creditors, and trademark holders.

Gary also regularly provides assistance to trial counsel in proposing jury instructions and verdict forms and drafting dispositive motions and oppositions—all with a keen eye toward helping preserve the record for any future appeal. Gary takes pleasure in drafting targeted motions in limine that eliminate entire issues or experts from an adversary’s case.

Before joining GMSR as an appellate lawyer, Gary worked in the film industry as a creative executive, where he acquired distribution rights for feature films such as the Oscar-nominated City of God. Gary now uses his appreciation for effective storytelling to deliver persuasive briefs and arguments for clients seeking to uphold or reverse their trial court judgments in California state or federal appellate courts.

Gary’s top five favorite legal films of all time: 12 Angry Men, A Few Good Men, The Verdict, True Believer, and Primal Fear. Ask Gary about the rest of his top 500 movie rankings.

Education
J.D., Loyola Law School of Los Angeles (2009); Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review (Chief Note and Comment Editor); Scott Moot Court (Best Brief).
B.F.A., New York University (1994) (Tisch School of the Arts, Film/TV).

Honors
Southern California Super Lawyers, Appellate (2024)
Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2015 – 2019)

Bar Admissions
California
U.S. Court of Appeals: Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals: Second Circuit
U.S. District Courts: Central District of California