HARDER STONEROCK LLP is based in Los Angeles with offices in New York and Washington DC. We specialize in reputation protection and business litigation, with a focus on media, entertainment, intellectual property, defamation, privacy and First Amendment matters.
Our clients have included numerous Fortune 500 companies, ultra high net worth individuals, A-list motion picture and television actors, major entertainment producers, professional sports figures and political officials including multiple US Senators and the President and First Lady of the United States.
Some of our recent clients have included:
- The world’s largest e-commerce company
- The world's largest brokerage firm
- The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange
- The world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer
- The world’s second largest entertainment company
- America’s largest oil and gas company, and
- America’s largest mortgage lender
Our founding partner Charles Harder was named “California Lawyer of the Year” in Media in 2017 (the CLAY Award) by California Lawyer magazine, and also has been listed repeatedly in the Top 100 “Power Lawyers” in America (one of only 30 litigators) by The Hollywood Reporter, in the “Top 100 Lawyers in California” by the Daily Journal legal news publication, in Best Lawyers, and named a “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters and an “IP Star” by Euromoney, in each of the past nine consecutive years.
Mr. Harder also serves as Editor and Co-Author of ENTERTAINMENT LAW & LITIGATION (LexisNexis 2011-2025) (Matthew Bender). Many legal experts consider the book a definitive treatise on the subject and it has been used as the textbook for law school classes.
Our managing partner Ryan Stonerock has been selected a Southern California “Super Lawyer” for the past five consecutive years, and prior to that, was named a Super Lawyer “Rising Star” for ten years. Mr. Stonerock is admitted to practice in California, New York and the District of Columbia, and has litigated cases on behalf of high-profile clients in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Our firm obtained a $140 million jury verdict for Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) in a right of privacy action against Gawker Media, which caused the company to file for bankruptcy and sell its assets in a bankruptcy auction. We also obtained a multi-million dollar settlement payment and full retraction and apology for the First Lady in a defamation suit against the Daily Mail. We also obtained several federal court defense verdicts on behalf of the President.
In 2025, HARDER STONEROCK was selected as one of only eight boutique law firms in California by Chambers and Partners (the world’s top legal ranking company) in its California Spotlight Guide 2025 in Media & Entertainment. HARDER STONEROCK also is recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® for intellectual property litigation.
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