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Gabriella Nourafchan Ismaj

Partner - los angeles
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Experience

Legal Expertise

Gabriella’s practice focuses on Entertainment and Intellectual Property Litigation, representing many leading businesses and individuals in the music, film, fashion, hospitality and television industries, as well as emerging and established technology businesses.  Gabriella has significant experience litigating in both state and federal courts across the country, including multiple federal copyright infringement trials, with a concentration on copyright, trademark, and contract and commercial disputes.

Representative Matters

  • Represents record labels, music publishers, songwriters, producers, managers and artists in a variety of music industry disputes, including copyright and trademark/trade dress infringement, breach of contract, tortious interference, right of publicity, defamation and employment-related claims.
    • Member of trial team representing artists, producers, and various record labels and studios that obtained judgment as a matter of law on behalf of all Defendants at the close of evidence, and dismissed Plaintiff’s copyright infringement claim, which was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit on appeal.
    • Member of defense team representing songwriters, publishers, and record labels in recent copyright infringement trial in the Ninth Circuit, which obtained judgment as a matter of law on behalf of all Defendants following jury verdict in favor of Plaintiffs, which was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit on appeal.
    • Represented music administrator in high-profile copyright infringement case against an online content provider for unauthorized use of lyrics on online platform.
    • Represented songwriters and record label in copyright infringement case against clothing brand for unauthorized use of musical work in marketing campaign.
    • Obtained dismissal of copyright infringement action for music industry defendants at pleadings stage based on insufficient allegations of access and substantial similarity.
  • Represents clients from film, fashion, hospitality, technology, and television industries, as well as online content providers, in disputes involving copyright and trademark/trade dress infringement, defamation, breach of contract, tortious interference, employment and other business disputes.
    • Represented restaurant in defense against trademark infringement claims, resulting in favorable settlement for client.
    • Represents online stock photo websites and online publications in connection with copyright infringement cases.
    • Represents individuals and businesses in defamation and right of publicity actions.
    • Represented plaintiff fashion brand against competitor in trade dress infringement action, resulting in favorable settlement for client.
    • Member of litigation team that negotiated favorable settlement for international company in breach of contract dispute.

Honors & Awards

  • "Music Legal Elite," Variety (2025) 
  • "The Top 25 Media and Entertainment Attorneys of 2025," Attorney Intel (2025) 
  • "Legal Impact Report: Up Next," Variety (2024)
  • "Top Music Lawyers," Billboard (2023)

Other Career Experience

  • Judicial Extern to the Honorable Margaret M. Morrow, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • Legal Intern, Law Offices of Levy & Nourafchan LLP

Headlines

Publications

Admissions

  • California, 2014
  • U.S. District Court
  •   Central District of California, 2014
  •   Northern District of California, 2019
  •   Southern District of California, 2021
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
  •   Ninth Circuit, 2014

Education

University of California Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 2014

University of Pennsylvania, B.A., Communications, 2011; magna cum laude, Dean's List (2008 & 2010)

Languages

  • Farsi
  • Spanish
  • Italian
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