Attorneys
Partner
David S. Blau
David S. Blau is the founding partner of the firm. Mr. Blau graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1989, and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in 1993. Mr. Blau has extensive transactional and litigation experience in various areas of law, including entertainment, intellectual property, insurance coverage, corporate and business formation, development and compliance, construction, employment, premises liability and personal injury. Mr. Blau is licensed to practice in the federal and state trial and appellate courts throughout California, and has engaged in all aspects of litigation, arbitration, mediation and trial.
Mr. Blau is a member of the State Bar of California, ASCAP, and the American Federation of Musicians. Mr. Blau is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Mesmer, Inc., a music production and artist management company, and is the Manager of CLDMJA, LLC, a real estate holding group.
Education
LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL
Juris Doctor, 1993
UCLA UNIVERSITY
B.A., Psychology, 1989
Activities & Affiliations
• State Bar of California, Member
• ASCAP, Member
• American Federation of Musicians
Bar Admissions
• California
Partner
Josh I. Keane
Josh I. Keane is a partner at the firm. Mr. Keane graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Law & Society from the University of Southern California in 1993 and a Juris Doctorate from Whittier School of Law in 1997. Mr. Keane has experience in the areas of real estate, construction, insurance coverage and defense, homeowners association matters, corporate compliance, toxic torts, entertainment, intellectual property and general business litigation. Mr. Keane is licensed to practice in the federal and state courts throughout California and Arizona as well as state courts throughout Texas.
Mr. Keane has earned recognition from his peers as a "Rising Star" attorney as showcased in Los Angeles Magazine for the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Mr. Keane has also presented seminars to various business professionals, insurance companies, law firms, contractors and third party administrators on topics such as corporate compliance and risk reduction, mold/toxic tort litigation, construction defect actions, insurance coverage and homeowner association matters. Mr. Keane is a member of the State Bars of California, Arizona, Texas and Washington.
Education
WHITTIER SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 1997
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
B.A., Political Science, 1993
Activities & Affiliations
• State Bar of California, Member
• State Bar of Arizona, Member
• State Bar of Texas, Member
• State Bar of Washington, Member
Bar Admissions
•California
•Arizona
•Texas
•Washington
OF COUNSEL
Angela J. Armitage
Angela J. Armitage is a senior associate of the firm. Ms. Armitage graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1990, and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in 1994. Ms. Armitage has extensive litigation experience in various areas of law, including medical malpractice, elder abuse, employment, serious personal injury and general negligence, and has conducted numerous jury trials.
Ms. Armitage has also presented seminars to various business professionals, insurance companies, and third party administrators on topics such as sexual harassment, employment litigation, and defending elder abuse and medical malpractice litigation. Ms. Armitage is licensed to practice in state and federal courts throughout California and is a member of the State Bar of California.
Activities & Affiliations
• State Bar of California, Member
Bar Admissions
•California
Education
LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL
Juris Doctor, 1994
UCLA UNIVERSITY
B.A., Psychology, 1990
oF cOUNSEL
Ron Nelson
Ron Nelson is of counsel at the firm. Mr. Nelson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Boston University in 1983 and a Juris Doctorate from Emory School of Law in 1987. He is licensed to practice in the federal and state trial and appellate courts throughout California, and has engaged in all aspects of litigation, arbitration, mediation and trial.
Mr. Nelson has extensive transactional and litigation experience in various areas of law, including insurance coverage, construction, and personal injury. He recently served as lead counsel in a subrogation trial which resulted in a $2M verdict in his client's favor. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Writers Guild of America, and the California Appellate Project, which provides legal services to indigent state prisoners.
Education
EMORY SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 1987
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
B.S., Communications, 1983
Activities & Affiliations
• State Bar of California, Member
• Writers Guild of America, Member
• California Appellate Project, Member
Bar Admissions
• California
Associate
Amanda Stewart
Amanda M. Stewart is an associate with the firm. Ms. Stewart graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2005, and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Boyd School of Law in 2008. Ms. Stewart has experience in the areas of insurance coverage and defense, and construction. Ms. Stewart is licensed to practice in the federal and state courts throughout Nevada, as well as the state courts throughout California.
Ms. Stewart has earned recognition from her peers as one of the “Legal Elite” attorneys as showcased in the Nevada Business Magazine in 2013. Ms. Stewart is a member of the State Bars of California and Nevada.
Education
WILLIAM S. BOYD SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA
B.A., English, 2005
Activities & Affiliations
• State Bar of California, Member
• State Bar of Nevada, Member
Bar Admissions
• California
• Nevada
Associate
Ryan J. Baker
Ryan J. Baker is an associate at the firm. Mr. Baker graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry from the University of Southern California in 2007. Following a decade of paralegal work at the firm, Mr. Baker entered law school earning his Juris Doctorate, summa cum laude, from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2023. Mr. Baker is licensed to practice in the state courts in California and is a member of the State Bar of California.
Mr. Baker is experienced in the areas of entertainment and general business law, corporate formation and compliance, and intellectual property, with an emphasis on trademark and copyright law. His history at the firm began in 2004 when he retained David Blau as legal counsel while working as a music producer and artist manager; during that time, he produced and developed several successful recording artists and earned a gold record. With an interest in law, he first joined the firm in 2009 as a paralegal, handling many elements of the firm’s transactional business.
Activities & Affiliations
• State Bar of California, Member
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
Bar Admissions
• California
Education
MITCHELL HAMLINE SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, 2023
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
B.S., Music Industry, 2007 / Minor in Business