Douglas Mirell
Doug Mirell is a nationally recognized attorney with over four decades of experience at the forefront of First Amendment, media, and entertainment law.
Known for his skillful representation of clients in groundbreaking legal matters, Doug has been instrumental in shaping legal standards around the rights of performers and controlling the misuse of artificial intelligence. His practice spans litigation, clearance work, and strategic counseling for a wide range of entertainment and media properties.
Client roster includes:
A-list actors
Industry-leading entertainment companies
Independent producers and production companies
SAG-AFTRA
Emerging technology companies navigating AI & digital rights
Doug’s work focuses on:
First Amendment and Defamation Law: Doug represents both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes cases involving defamation, invasion of privacy, and publicity rights. He has successfully navigated matters against major media entities and publishers, securing retractions and favorable settlements for clients.
Deepfakes and AI: As a trusted advisor to SAG-AFTRA and a key contributor to AI legislation such as California’s deepfake laws, Doug has been at the vanguard of combating unauthorized digital likenesses and protecting the rights of both living and deceased performers in this evolving media landscape.
Entertainment Clearance Work: Doug provides comprehensive clearance reviews for major television and film productions, ensuring compliance across copyright, trademark, defamation, and privacy law. He regularly reviews numerous reality television episodes and documentary projects.
Digital Media and Technology: Doug advises on innovative uses of intellectual property, helping clients adapt to new challenges in immersive media, virtual productions, and the metaverse.
An Advocate for Innovation and Integrity: Doug’s practice is rooted in a commitment to advancing the creative industries while safeguarding his clients’ rights. His nuanced understanding of both traditional and emerging media enables him to provide tailored strategies that align with his clients’ business objectives. Whether addressing complex litigation or advising on cutting-edge technologies, Doug’s practical and results-oriented approach ensures his clients remain protected in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
Leadership in Civil Rights and Equal Justice: Doug’s dedication to civil rights is exemplified by his decades-long involvement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, including service as President of the organization’s Foundation. During his tenure, Doug spearheaded efforts to protect immigrant rights, challenge discriminatory redistricting plans, ensure church/state separation, and uphold the principles of free speech and government transparency. His leadership in these areas has left an enduring impact on the legal and civic landscape, further showcasing his unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
Driving Legislative Change: Doug has been a pivotal figure in providing the legal analysis that advanced legislative protections for the rights of performers and the entertainment community. His contributions include:
Assembly Bill 1836 (2024): Expanded California’s postmortem right of publicity to preclude unauthorized digital replicas of deceased personalities in expressive works.
Assembly Bill 602 (2019): Created a private right of action against unauthorized sexually explicit deepfakes.
Senate Bill 606 (2013): Strengthened criminal penalties and created a civil remedy against paparazzi harassment of celebrity children.
Senate Bill 771 (2007): Clarified and confirmed postmortem publicity rights for celebrities who predeceased the statute’s original 1985 enactment date.
These legislative achievements highlight Doug’s deep commitment to protecting individual rights and shaping the legal framework for emerging challenges in the entertainment industry.
Bar Admissions:
California
Court Admissions:
United States Supreme Court
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
California Supreme Court
All California District Courts
Education:
University of California, Davis School of Law
Claremont McKenna College
"On a high-risk doc, weather and access changed by the hour. My job was to redesign the risk profile overnight—align the field team, insurer, and network—so we protected people and still kept the cameras rolling."
"A good lawyer should be a concierge to the production—answer the question, fix the problem, keep the show moving."
"Great production legal doesn’t take the air out of a story; it finds the safest path to yes and protects the film you set out to make."
representative matters
Secured the retraction of an entire 6,500-word article in The Atlantic that was accompanied by an 800-word editor’s note of apology.
Represented Hulk Hogan at pre-trial depositions that helped secure a $140.1 million jury verdict in an invasion of privacy lawsuit against Gawker.
Worked with major publishers and production companies to resolve disputes involving unauthorized uses of celebrity likenesses, including securing charitable donations in lieu of litigation.
Testified on multiple occasions before the California Legislature on behalf of SAG-AFTRA to advocate for performer protections against AI misuse.
Successfully defended The Franklin Mint in a publicity rights, false advertising, and false endorsement case brought by the memorial fund and estate of the late Princess Diana.
Provided ongoing legal counsel and fair use analyses that helped procure errors and omissions insurance for various entertainment projects.
Authored publicity rights amicus curiae briefs in various appellate courts for the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. and represented all of the MPAA’s member companies in nationwide litigation against computer users who were illegally trafficking in those studios’ copyrighted motion pictures on “peer-to-peer” file-sharing networks.