ROBERT NAU received a Finance degree with honors from the Indiana University School of Business in 1972, and graduated from the University of Southern California School of Law with honors in 1977. From 1977 through 1987, he was an associate at Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn & Rossi and an associate and partner at Silverberg, Rosen, Leon & Behr, focusing primarily on the litigation of entertainment disputes. In 1987, he entered solo practice, and in 1990 he and Wayne Alexander founded what is now Alexander, Nau, Lawrence, Frumes & Labowitz, LLP. He has previously served as a trustee of the Los Angeles Copyright Society.
With the firm, he is extensively involved in transactions relating to the development, financing, production and distribution of theatrical motion pictures and network and cable television programming in the United States and on an international basis. He represents studios, television networks, domestic and international distribution companies, producers and production companies, directors, writers and actors. He has been involved in the production and distribution of numerous studio and independent motion pictures and television programs. He has had considerable experience in the development and licensing of other intellectual property, including home video rights, television commercials, trademarks, copyrights, merchandising, computer software, and the licensing and acquisition of content for exhibition over the internet and wireless technologies. Before focusing primarily on transactional matters, he had extensive experience as an advocate in large, complex, multi-jurisdictional entertainment industry litigation.
He is also active as an arbitrator in entertainment related disputes, and serves on the panel of arbitrators for the Independent Film and Television Alliance (“IFTA”), the American Arbitration Association and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. As an arbitrator, he has been a neutral arbitrator in numerous cases, including without limitation matters involving the US and international distribution of motion pictures, home video and television programming, music distribution, merchandising rights, talent agencies, television commercials, motion picture finance, corporate finance, banking and loan agreements, corporate acquisitions, corporate and partnership dissolutions, accounting and royalty payments.
He has also been involved in numerous arbitrations as an advocate in entertainment related disputes, including arbitrations before IFTA, the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.