Our story

Michael Holtz is one of the preeminent entertainment litigation attorneys in the United States and the founder and managing partner of The Holtz Firm.  During his 34-year legal career, Mr. Holtz has handled matters throughout the country and has litigated cases from California to New York to Florida, in state and federal court, in the appellate courts, in numerous arbitration tribunals including the American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS, the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) formerly known as the American Film Marketing Association (AFMA), the Hollywood guilds (WGA, DGA, SAG), and with the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plan (MPIPHP), and in administrative proceedings with the California Labor Commission.  With expertise in sexual assault, employment (harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination), entertainment and media law, breach of contract, fraud and interference, right of publicity and privacy, idea theft, partnership and rights disputes, and business law, Mr. Holtz represents a wide range of clients from victims of sexual assault or workplace harassment to world renowned athletes, actors, musicians and entertainers to producers, writers and directors to executives, entrepreneurs and independent companies in the entertainment industry and in the business sector.  Mr. Holtz has served as lead counsel in over 100 cases and has successfully adjudicated hundreds of matters for his clients, either by trial, arbitration, mediation or settlement.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree with high honors from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the mid-1980s, Mr. Holtz was accepted to one of the top law schools in the country, New York University School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctorate degree in 1990.  That same year, after being born and raised in New York, Mr. Holtz moved to California to pursue his ambition of representing talent in the sports, music and entertainment fields.  Mr. Holtz was admitted to the California bar in 1990 and joined the power-house entertainment litigation boutique firm of Lavely & Singer P.C. in 1999, gaining invaluable experience as a trial lawyer and senior partner practicing alongside entertainment litigation legends Jay Lavely and Marty Singer.  In February 2018, Mr. Holtz achieved another life-long goal of owning his own business when he started The Holtz Firm, where he continued to represent top talent while expanding his practice to represent victims of sexual assault and workplace harassment.

Mr. Holtz has been recognized for his achievements by numerous publications and has been the recipient of multiple distinctions and awards.  He has obtained an “AV Preeminent” rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible for legal ability and ethical standards.  He has been selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer consistently over the past twenty years by Thomas Reuters Super Lawyers magazine, an honor reserved for the top 5% of attorneys practicing in Southern California.  His successful results have been reported in numerous publications worldwide, including The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, TMZ, The LA Times, Business Insider, ABC News, Radar Online and The Wrap, among others.