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Chaz Rainey

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Chaz Rainey
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (B.A.)

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (J.D., MBA)

London School of Economics (LL.M.)
Occupation(s)Attorney, Entertainment Executive, Producer
Employer(s)Kartoon Studios, Rainey LLP
Known forEntertainment Law, Intellectual Property, Media Ventures
Notable workSawbones (Executive Producer)

Charles C. Rainey, commonly known as “Chaz Rainey,” is an American entertainment lawyer, executive, author, and film producer. His clients have included notable figures and companies such as Bill Nye the Science Guy[1] and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment. He is the Managing Director of Rainey LLP and the Head of Business and Legal Affairs for the publicly traded media company Kartoon Studios, Inc. (NYSE: TOON).[2] Rainey also serves as a director for the Stan Lee Universe and the Bill Nye Science Foundation.

Early Life and Education

Chaz Rainey was raised in Northern Virginia, where he attended Bishop O’Connell High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He then pursued his legal and business education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the William S. Boyd School of Law and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Lee Business School. He later completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the London School of Economics.

While at Berkeley, Rainey authored a novel titled The Money Shot.

Career

Chaz Rainey began his legal career at an AMLAW 25 firm before accepting an in house position as the first employee of Lucky’s Race and Sports, a sports gambling startup founded by former Skadden Arps lawyer and Cantor Fitzgerald executive, Joe Asher. Lucky’s Race and Sports went on to be acquired by the British gaming conglomerate William Hill in 2011,[3] and was further acquired by Caesars Entertainment in 2020 in an acquisition worth over $3.5 billion.[4][5]

After leaving Lucky’s, Rainey returned to private practice and later joined the Los Angeles-based law firm Hamrick & Evans, where he oversaw the entertainment transactions practice. During this time, he represented filmmakers, writers, and on-screen talent, and also served as outsourced General Counsel for Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment.[6][7][8]

Currently, Rainey oversees the legal and business affairs for Kartoon Studios, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Frederator, Mainframe Studios, and the Kartoon Channel.

Business Ventures

Rainey has founded businesses such as the independent record label Modern Dominion Records, the intellectual property development company Modern Dominion Media, and the online retailer Not So Ordinary Apparel. In 2021, he was announced as an executive producer for the films Carnival of Killers and Sawbones, to be directed by Russian film director Timur Bekmambetov.[9][10][11]

Wilson v. Lynch

Rainey represented Rowan Wilson in a challenge to federal laws prohibiting firearm sales to medical marijuana registry cardholders. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the restrictions, ruling they did not violate the Second Amendment or due process rights.[12][13][14]

J.C. Lee v. POW! Entertainment, Inc.

Rainey represented defendant POW! Entertainment in a lawsuit filed by Joan Celia "J.C." Lee, daughter of Stan Lee, alleging misappropriation of intellectual property rights. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the case with prejudice, finding the claims barred by res judicata, and imposed a $1 million sanction against J.C. Lee and her attorneys for filing a frivolous lawsuit. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal but reversed the $1 million sanction award. The case ended nearly two decades of litigation involving claims alleged by Stan Lee Media and Peter F. Paul.[15]

Stan Lee Entertainment, Inc. v. Joan Celia Lee

POW! Entertainment, represented by Rainey, successfully intervened in a case involving Stan Lee Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Stan Lee Media) and Joan Celia Lee, daughter of Stan Lee. The case sought to vacate a stipulated settlement that was alleged to have been procured through fraud. The California Superior Court initially denied the motion to intervene, but Rainey successfully appealed to the California Court of Appeal. The appellate court reversed the lower court's decision and ultimately set aside the settlement on the grounds of fraud.

Court and Bar Admissions

Rainey is admitted to the practice of law in California, New York, Nevada, Texas, and Washington, D.C. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for Nevada, California, New York, and Michigan, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.[16]

References

  1. ^ Cullins, Ashley (2017-08-24). "Bill Nye Says Disney Shorted Him Millions in New Fraud Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  2. ^ "Charles Rainey". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  3. ^ "Joe Asher | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  4. ^ "William Hill acquires parent of Lucky's race and sports books". www.casinocitytimes.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  5. ^ Denton, Jack. "Caesars Agrees $3.7 Billion Deal to Buy William Hill. It's A Good Bet for Investors". barrons. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  6. ^ "CHAZ RAINEY". Rainey LLP. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  7. ^ Cullins, Ashley (2020-01-28). "POW! Entertainment Asks Judge to Toss "Grossly Selfish" Lawsuit Filed by Stan Lee's Daughter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  8. ^ Addady, Michal. "Court Rules That Medical Marijuana Card Holders Can't Buy Firearms". Fortune. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  9. ^ "Chaz Rainey | Producer, Camera and Electrical Department, Executive". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  10. ^ "New Dominion Media". New Dominion Media. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2021-12-01). "Timur Bekmambetov & ZQ Entertainment Partner With POW! To Bring Stan Lee's Horror Universe To The Screen". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  12. ^ "Court upholds ban on gun sales to marijuana card holders". NBC News. 2016-09-01. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  13. ^ "U.S. court backs ban on sales of guns for having pot card - North". digitaledition.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  14. ^ "US Court Upholds Ban On Gun Sales to Marijuana Card Holders - CBS Baltimore". www.cbsnews.com. 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  15. ^ Blake., Brittain, (December 7, 2021). "Stan Lee's daughter ducks $1 mln sanction blow in POW! IP fight". Retrieved December 28, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Chaz Rainey - Executive Vice President, Head Of Business And Legal Affairs at Genius Brands International". THE ORG. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
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