Power Lawyers 2012

Harder often reps celebrities when their names and likenesses are being used to sell products they haven't agreed to endorse. He recently sued on behalf of George Clooney and Julia Roberts against a home entertainment system company and brought a claim for Sandra Bullock against a watchmaker. "A lot of folks I represent don't do ads, period, or do ads if there's a lot of money involved and they have control over what the ad looks like," says Harder. He sued a furniture company for Clint Eastwood that was selling two lines called "Clint" and "Eastwood." And in addition to co-writing the recent Entertainment Litigation treatise, Harder defended Cecchi Gori Pictures against a suit brought by former exec Gianni Nunnari. "A judge awarded us $18 million and dismissed all his claims," he boasts. "That's the irony: He brought a lawsuit first for $3.5 million, and we counterclaimed and the judge gave us basically everything we asked for."

➻ Worst thing ever said to me "During a deposition about six years ago, my opposing counsel leapt to his feet, cocked his fist back and said he was going to hit me. I remained composed and told him to sit down and stop shouting. Four months later, an arbitrator ruled entirely against his client. It was very satisfying to beat the pants off that particular attorney."

LIST: THR's Power Lawyers 2012

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