Jonathan Louis Handel

I practice transactional entertainment and technology law and was a also a journalist at The Hollywood Reporter from 2010-20, where I covered entertainment labor, law and business. A former computer scientist, I was also active in local politics for over a decade.

A preeminent expert on Hollywood unions and guilds, I'm the author of several books on the subject. I'm also an adjunct professor at USC and Southwestern law schools, and previously at UCLA Law School, and a non-resident research fellow at Rutgers University. I've worked as a talent lawyer; guild attorney; and as a litigator.

I've been a member of the Television Academy (the group that awards the primetime Emmys), and was named by the Daily Journal as one of the top 100 lawyers in California in 2008. I have been profiled in books, print media and online. I'm also a member of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights and an associate member of the Dramatists Guild and the Society of Composers & Lyricists.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College in applied math and computer science, I worked in tech before, during and after college. I was also involved in local politics as an elected delegate and Democratic party committee member and in gay politics; and initiated, drafted, lobbied for and helped enforce the Cambridge, Mass. human rights (civil rights) ordinance.

I then attended Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude in 1990, and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals. During 1992-1993, I served as a federal Associate Independent Counsel (special prosecutor) investigating alleged misconduct in the George H.W. Bush administration.

I've written over 1,400 articles for The Hollywood Reporter and other pubs and have appeared over 1,100 times as a commentator in/on almost all major national (and many international and local) television, radio, print and online outlets. I've also written academic articles, moderated panels and written poetry, stories and scripts.

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California

Since 1990

Harvard Law School

J.D. (1990)

1987 - 1990

Honors: cum laude

Harvard University

B.A. (1982) | Applied Math / Computer Science

1978 - 1982

Honors: magna cum laude

Television Academy

Member

Current

California State Bar  # 150126

Member

1990 - Current