Michael Rhodes

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.

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

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.

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.

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.