Jeffery McFarland

Jeff is a veteran litigator who represents entertainment clients in their high-profile, high-stakes business disputes. For nearly three decades, he has served as a dedicated advocate for clients on the talent side, including actors, producers, directors, and screenwriters, as well as studios, production companies, television networks, and video game publishers.

In addition to his entertainment litigation practice, Jeff has represented technology companies in significant class action matters and secured groundbreaking courtroom victories for a broad range of financial services clients.

Prior to joining Eisner, LLP, Jeff practiced at Am Law 200 firms and served as the co-chair of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan’s national media and entertainment practice.

Selected representative matters include:

• Successfully represented the cast of a top-rated sitcom in a case to void their contracts that resulted in new contracts with large increases in per episode salaries and the granting of profit participations in the series.*
• Won a dismissal with prejudice of class action claims at the pleading stage in a case alleging unfair business practices associated with computer hardware servicing.*
• Obtained a settlement against a motion picture exhibitor providing a production company client with record film rental for a major independent release.*
• Represented a partner in one of the largest land development companies in California in a dispute with a former partner, obtaining a settlement in excess of $50 million.*
• Won a summary judgment of claims alleging lender liability claims for a major California home lender.*
• Successfully represented the co-creator/showrunner of a popular, multi-season streaming drama against claims brought by co-creator/pilot director of the series for a portion of client’s writing/showrunning compensation.*
• Won summary judgment for a major video game publisher of Lanham Act claims brought by a musical act claiming the publisher misappropriated the band’s unique sound in a popular music related video game.*
• Successfully represented a financial institution in the recovery of over $100 million in fraudulent loans purchased from a correspondent lender.

* Matters handled prior to joining the Firm.

Practice Focus

• Litigation

Admitted

• District of Columbia Bar
• California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

Education

• University of Utah, 1991, J.D.
• Loyola Marymount University, 1986, B.A.