Beverly Hills Bar Honors Lawyers

By: Dick Goldberg - Daily Journal Staff Reporter

Periodical: Los Angeles Daily Journal

Date: January 18, 1990

The Beverly Hills Bar Association paid tribute last week to a pair of veteran entertainment lawyers who formed a partnership 32 years ago and saw it grow into one of the 50 largest firms in Los Angeles.

Marvin B. Meyer and Allen Susman were honored as Entertainment Lawyers Of The Year for their distinguished work in the creative community.  Over the years, the client list of Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman has included Walt Disney, Jack Benny, Groucho Marx, Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis, Billy Wilder, Julie Andrews, Jane Wyman, Loretta Young and Marlon Brando. 

Despite its impressive size -- the full-service firm employs 62 lawyers -- Susman doesn't want to see it grow too much larger.  "It's dangerous when a firm puts the emphasis on size," he said.  "It takes away the professionalism and you become just another company "

European Branches

Reminded that many entertainment law firms are opening branches in Rome and Paris to exploit new opportunities in the European Economic Community, Susman said, "The international firms will move in and give it a whirl.  But will it be income producing? I doubt it very much."

Susman said firms can effectively service clients from a central base and, when necessary, work in tandem with European firms.  "But size is not the answer.  I don't want to see us become another 400 member law firm."

Meyer, who said he has never had a serious disagreement with his partner in 32 years, replied that the size of a law firm "is controlled by other things than one person's wishes."

"Entertainment law is a challenge," said Meyer.  "It is always evolving, but not so fast that we can't keep up with it." And he said he values the clients, who are "creative, interesting and unpredictable."

Meyer said Groucho Marx once told a judge, "I have the best lawyer West of the Mississippi...as long as he wins this case."

Susman attended Harvard University and Harvard Law School.  He worked with Loeb & Loeb before joining the firm in 1957.  Meyer attended Pomona College, Harvard University and the Harvard Law School before going to work as an attorney for Paramount Pictures and the Music Corporation of America.  Both men are veterans of World War II. 

Meyer, who is 65, makes few concessions to age.  With more than 150 mostly young to middle-aged lawyers gathered in the dining room of the Bel Air hotel, Meyer was the only one wearing his hair in a pony tail. 

The keynote speaker, Justice Stanley Mosk of the California Supreme Court, praised both men for their legal skills and community service, but he used part of his allotted time to renew his call for a bifurcated Supreme Court. 

Mosk said he favors two high courts: one five-justice panel to hear civil cases and another five-justice panel for criminal cases.  "Too much of the court's time is taken up with criminal matters to the detriment of civil cases," Mosk said.  "The costs are high and it's a drain on the limited resources of the court."

Mosk admitted that the plan, which would require a constitutional amendment, has been slow to gain public favor, although many lawyers regard it as an intelligent way to modernize the courts. 

Meyer and Susman are recipients of the Beverly Hills bar's third annual Entertainment Lawyer Of The Year award.  In 1987, the award went to Edward Rubin; in 1988 to Leon Kaplin. 

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