Barnes & Thornburg Adds Experienced Litigation and Entertainment Partner in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS – Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that Lee A. Hutton III has joined the firm’s Minneapolis office as a partner in the Litigation Department and the Entertainment, Media and Sports Practice Group. Hutton, who adds to the deep bench of the firm’s national entertainment practice, is also an experienced trial attorney who is known for handling high-stakes litigation within the entertainment and media, sports, construction, and business sectors.

He advises corporate and individual clients on various aspects of brand protection and extortion matters. In addition, he provides counsel on complex commercial litigation and has been lead counsel in legal cases related to defense of corporations and individuals. Hutton previously served as chair of the entertainment practice group at Zelle LLP.

“We are delighted to have Lee join the firm’s litigation and entertainment groups, as he brings a tremendous wealth of experience,” said Connie Lahn, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Minneapolis office. “Lee’s outstanding litigation knowledge and skillset, coupled with his deep industry relationships, will make an immediate impact on the services we provide and will be a great boost to our firm’s presence in the Midwest.”

Hutton’s most recent work includes a high-stakes celebrity divorce, an appellate victory in California defending an accusation of negligent transmission of a sexually transmitted disease, successful resolution of a whistleblower claim, and a complete defense verdict in a products liability case.

Hutton’s diverse practice experience further includes representing celebrities, athletes, entertainers, and artistic entities in various business and transactional matters, including player performance agreements, endorsements and contract negotiations. He is a frequent guest speaker and considered to be a foremost authority on high-profile entertainment, sports and litigation subject matter. Hutton has received several accolades and recognitions, including a Minnesota Lawyer “2010 Attorney of the Year” and a 2009 “40 Under Forty” selection by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

Hutton joins a growing national entertainment practice at Barnes & Thornburg with attorneys across the U.S. handling a wide range of matters for clients in this fast-moving, dynamic industry.

“Lee is an extremely well-respected and recognized trial attorney in the entertainment industry,” said Jason Karlov, chair of the Entertainment, Media and Sports Group at Barnes & Thornburg. “With strong transactional and institutional knowledge, he will be a great addition to our practice and our litigation efforts on behalf of our clients. Lee coming on board is a strategic addition in the continued growth of our team as his practice is very complementary to the talented lawyers we have.”

Hutton received his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and his B.A. from the University of Minnesota. He is admitted to practice in the state courts of Minnesota and New York and before the U.S. District Court of Minnesota.

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 13 offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.