Our groundbreaking lawsuit recently filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleges that filmmaker James Cameron used actress Q’orianka Kilcher’s likeness without authorization as the foundation for the appearance of Neytiri, the iconic blue-skinned warrior princess featured in the multibillion-dollar “Avatar” film franchise.
Accountability, Disability Rights, and Unequal Treatment in Professional Sports: Representing Isaiah Carranza
Peter Law Group
Date: February 10, 2026
Peter Law Group is proud to be representing Isaiah Carranza, a former Chicago White Sox pitching prospect, in a case that raises serious and long-overdue questions about accountability, disability rights, and unequal treatment of workers in professional sports.
At its core, this case is about what happens when powerful institutions impose rigid policies on individuals with little leverage, then refuse to take responsibility when those policies cause real and permanent harm. These are issues that California wrongful termination lawyers, wage and hour class action attorneys in Los Angeles, and advocates for worker protections confront every day in different industries.
A Cautionary Tale: AI, Intellectual Property, and What California Employment Law Has to Do With It
Peter Law Group
Date: January 30, 2026
Audience: California employment lawyers, IP and AI counsel, creative industry leaders, and compliance teams
There’s a new kind of dispute sweeping through courts, studios, and startups alike—one that’s not just about creativity, but about accountability.
In a recent Deadline Hollywood article titled “When AI Plunders IP, Who Is to Blame?”, journalist Dominic Patten unpacks the mounting tensions between generative AI companies and the creators whose work these tools are trained on. The problem is simple, and yet incredibly complex: AI models are learning to write, illustrate, and compose by consuming copyrighted content—without permission or compensation.
For artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers, this feels all too familiar. Their intellectual property is being repackaged by machines, and the companies behind those machines are profiting from the results. But the tension doesn’t stop with artists or Hollywood studios. In fact, this kind of dispute should raise red flags for anyone working in labor law or employee rights—especially in California.
Red Tape, Stage Left: California’s 10 New Laws Take Center Stage
(And Drag the Entertainment Lawyers with Them)
Peter Law Group
Date: January 24, 2026
Audience: Entertainment and media lawyers, in-house legal teams, production executives, business affairs professionals, and compliance leads
Lights dim, drum roll… enter the California Legislature, throwing new laws around like confetti. An entertainment lawyer (yours truly) looks on, coffee in one hand, stack of legal briefs in the other, with a weary smile.
Welcome to the 2025 edition of “What Fresh Legal Hell Is This?” As a jaded self-proclaimed industry insider, I’m here to walk you through 10 new California laws that are about to make our lives in showbiz law even more exciting (read: complicated). From AI clones of actors to kidfluencer piggy banks, Sacramento has been busy. Grab some popcorn (and maybe a stress ball), and let’s dive into this legal circus—with a dash of humor to stay sane.
How California’s Brand Spanking New Tax Credit Program Actually Works
(Or: Why the State Might Pay for Half Your Movie)
Peter Law Group
Date: January 23, 2026
Audience: Entertainment and media lawyers, in-house legal teams, production executives, business affairs professionals, and compliance leads
Let’s be honest: “tax credit” isn’t the sexiest phrase in the film business. It’s not the stuff of dream sequences or final acts. It sounds like something your line producer whispers between bites of breakfast burrito while spreadsheet tabs multiply like rabbits. But behind all the eye-glazing legalese is one of the most powerful tools a producer can wield—and thanks to California’s newly expanded program under AB 1138, that tool just got a major upgrade.
Client Alert: Top 10 New California Employment Laws for 2026 Impacting Entertainment and Media Employers
Peter Law Group | California Employment Law
Date: January 6, 2026
Audience: In-house counsel, HR leaders, production executives, and business affairs teams
California enters 2026 with new employment-law requirements that intersect directly with how entertainment and media businesses hire, onboard, staff productions, manage union dynamics, and structure incentives for talent and key executives. Because the industry relies on a mix of long-term employees and project-based crews, compliance issues can arise quickly if templates and practices are not refreshed at the start of the year.
From AI to Equity Audits: The Employment Law Fault Lines Defining California in 2026
By Arnold P. Peter, Managing Partner, Peter Law Group
If recent years were about expansion, 2026 will be about enforcement.
California has laid much of the statutory groundwork for a forward-thinking approach to employment law. The next phase is testing how those laws operate in real workplaces, with regulators and private litigants pressing employers to demonstrate that compliance is more than theoretical.
Top 25 New California Employment Laws for 2026: What Employers Need to Know
California’s legislature and regulators have introduced numerous changes affecting employers in 2026. Business owners and HR professionals must update their policies to comply with new requirements on wages, workplace notices, leave entitlements, and more.
Sarah Coogle Pregnancy Discrimination Case – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Arnold Peter represented correctional officer Sarah Coogle in a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, after she lost her unborn child when denied light-duty reassignment; the case settled for $1.7 million in 2018.
L.A. County Probation Department Disability Class Action – Gutierrez v. LACPD
In 2024, Peter Law Group filed suit on behalf of injured probation officers, including Raul Gutierrez, alleging that L.A. County unlawfully forced medically restricted officers into dangerous juvenile hall roles—a violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act gaining national attention.
Palm Dessert Dentist Accused of Using Unsanitary Instruments
May 30, 2018 (PALM DESERT, CA) – A Palm Desert dentist on trial for multiple claims of discrimination and wrongful termination, is also accused of using un-sanitized tools and risking the health and safety of his patients. The case is expected to be heard in California Superior Court in Palm Springs on Friday, May 4, … Read more
Entertainment Recognition – Variety (Antalya Film Festival, 2016)
Variety recognized Arnold Peter as one of several international entertainment law professionals invited to the Antalya Film Festival in Turkey, highlighting his global industry prominence.
Pearson-Kardashian Defamation Case
Peter Law Group represented Ellen Pearson Kardashian in a defamation suit against the Kardashian family, which survived early dismissal and garnered widespread coverage.
LAUSD Whistleblower Case – Miramonte Scandal
Arnold Peter represented a former LAUSD risk manager in a whistleblower suit alleging retaliation for exposing corruption in handling Miramonte Elementary abuse settlements—warning of vast legal consequences.
Daily Journal Feature – Bridging Hollywood & Bollywood (2025)
In the Daily Journal profile “Meet the Man Connecting Hollywood and Bollywood,” Arnold P. Peter is noted for expanding U.S.–Indian entertainment law practice at Peter Law Group.
Ansel Adams “Lost Negatives” Controversy
Arnold Peter represented Rick Norsigian in a legal battle over 65 alleged Ansel Adams negatives bought at a garage sale, resulting in a confidential settlement restricting use of Adams’s name in future sales amid ongoing attribution debate.
