Stephen Michael Kernan

About Stephen Michael Kernan

With over two decades of experience in the field of entertainment law, Michael Kernan is a seasoned professional. As the founder and managing partner of Kernan Law, established in 2008, Mr. Kernan's career trajectory has been marked by his association with renowned law firms and entertainment industry companies. His journey in entertainment law began as a litigator at Lavely & Singer in Los Angeles, a preeminent entertainment law firm nationally recognized. During his tenure there, he and his mentor, Marty Singer, achieved remarkable successes, including representing actor Jean Claude Van Damme in a televised Court TV jury trial that resulted in a unanimous verdict in Van Damme's favor. Additionally, Kernan and Mr. Singer successfully represented Arnold Schwarzenegger in a lawsuit against The Globe tabloid. Notably, Kernan secured a substantial arbitration award for actor Dana Carvey while at Lavely & Singer.

In 2008, Mr. Kernan founded the Kernan Law Firm, a boutique legal practice focusing on entertainment and digital media, situated on The Jim Henson Film Lot in West Hollywood, California. In the academic sphere, Kernan contributes to legal education as an Adjunct Professor of Law at The University of California, Hastings College of Law, where he has been teaching courses on Entertainment Law, including new media, and Social Media Law since 2007.

Recognized for his significant influence in the digital entertainment realm, Mr. Kernan earned a place on The Hollywood Reporter's "Digital Power 50" list, acknowledging him as one of the 50 most influential individuals in the digital entertainment sector.