David Yohai, senior partner in Weil’s nationwide Complex Commercial Litigation practice, has been featured as a Law360 Media & Entertainment MVP for 2025, one of just three attorneys in the U.S. to receive the honor. This is the second time David has been selected for this accolade.
Law360 highlighted David’s recent win in a closely watched privacy appeal for Paramount, where he persuaded the Sixth Circuit to break from the Second and Seventh circuits’ broader approach to the Video Privacy Protection Act. In an interview with Law360, David explained that the case highlights why courts should avoid expanding the statute beyond its intended boundaries. He emphasized that framing a routine newsletter subscription as conduct triggering the VPPA would invite lawsuits the law was never designed to address and ultimately misapply a statute focused on safeguarding audiovisual viewing data.
He said the past year required balancing the Paramount appeal with other major matters, including A&E Networks’ “Live PD” intellectual property fight and Warner Bros. Discovery’s NBA media-rights litigation.
David represented A&E in its suit accusing Reelz and the producers of “On Patrol: Live” of copying the format of “Live PD,” requiring detailed comparisons to show the alleged overlap. He also guided Warner Bros. Discovery in its dispute with the NBA, claiming the league breached its contract by excluding Turner from a $76.9 billion rights package. A November 2024 settlement resolved the conflict, preserved digital partnerships and ensured “Inside the NBA” will continue on ESPN and ABC.
David said his overall approach is rooted in staying close to clients and understanding their business well enough to anticipate how legal rulings affect what they create and distribute. He tells young lawyers that sound judgment begins with mastering the details.
“There’s no substitute for hard work,” he said, noting that attorneys who commit early to mastering the record are best positioned to develop judgment over time.
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