A native of New York City, Litigation Partner Joie Marie Gallo has been with Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro, LLP since she began practicing law in 1995. A cum laude graduate of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Ms. Gallo was awarded the Order of the Coif, was named Executive Editor of Loyola Law Review, and received the American Jurisprudence Award for both Trial Advocacy and Appellate Advocacy. During law school she served as judicial extern to nationally recognized United States District Judge Laughlin E. Waters and worked for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office making appearances on its behalf in preliminary hearings.

Since joining the Firm, Ms. Gallo has participated in numerous jury trials, achieving a favorable result in every one of them. Her work has involved preparing every aspect of her cases for trial, handling motion and discovery practice, examining witnesses at trial and in deposition, and opposing the other side's appeals. She has represented clients in virtually every type of significant business dispute, including:

• Advising a major motion picture studio in its dispute with an intellectual property licensor regarding the exploitation of character rights generating in excess of $1 billion;
• Representing a high-profile entrepreneur in litigation over rights and profits in connection with an international chain of branded restaurants and a related hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada;
• Defending a major television network and motion picture studio over a claim of rights to a theatrical film based upon a seminal television series;
• Prosecuting trade secret, conversion and breach of fiduciary duty claims in connection with the theft of computerized designs for the manufacture of mass-produced goods;
• Defending a major motion picture studio in connection with claims of wrongful termination, gender discrimination, breach of contract and fraud;
• Litigating over the profit participation, credit, and other ancillary and contractual rights relating to a major motion picture;
• Representing the acquirer in litigation over the attempted purchase of a Las Vegas hotel and casino;
• Representing a high-profile private equity vehicle in litigation over the attempted purchase of a mid-west grocery chain;
• Prosecuting claims on behalf of a former member of a world-renowned rock band in litigation against his former bandmates and manager.

During her undergraduate years at New York University (where she was awarded the Founders Day Award for Academic Excellence and Dean's Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement), Ms. Gallo indulged her love of the arts, became a member of SAG, Equity and AFTRA, and appeared Off-Broadway and in National Touring Companies of well-known plays and musicals. Before attending law school in Los Angeles, Ms. Gallo spent 9 years in New York City as a working actress and garment industry executive.

Ms. Gallo lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan Meyerson, and their son.