Maribeth Annaguey

Partner
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 424.431.0078

Litigator and counselor Maribeth Annaguey advocates for businesses, entrepreneurs and prominent individuals when their companies are under threat, their reputations are at stake, and their livelihoods are at risk. Maribeth has fought for and protected clients as wide ranging as real estate companies, hip hop artists, shareholders in business divorces and entertainment industry professionals. Whether prosecuting breach of contract claims, resolving high-stakes partnership disputes, defending employment claims or working with the media, Maribeth uses her 20 years of litigation strength to customize strategies that resolve each client’s unique matter and concerns.

As a founding partner of Annaguey McCann, Maribeth provides clients with a plan of action that extends beyond the familiar litigation manual, often preventing lawsuits from ever being filed.

Her decades of experience at major California firms earned her a reputation as a litigator respected for her impact, civility and creative solutions. Maribeth is committed to upgrading the client-lawyer relationship. She invests time upfront with clients and emphasizes clear and frequent communication throughout her representation.

Many of Maribeth’s clients are entertainers and public figures. She has extensive experience with resolving disputes, allegations and claims, including defamation, commission disputes, and breach of nondisclosure agreements, that often arise for artists and creative entrepreneurs.

Clients gain assurance from Maribeth’s understanding of how the business operates, her ability to preserve critical working relationships, and her discreet handling of sensitive issues. To expedite resolution to conflict, she often turns to her productive professional network across Southern California.

In her legal leadership, Maribeth works to expand inclusiveness and diversity in the profession and community.

Access to education, especially for underrepresented youth, is one of her deeply held commitments. A Southern California native, born and raised in San Bernardino by immigrant parents who emphasized the importance of education, Maribeth is the first in her family to attend law school. One long-term contribution was Maribeth’s work as a founder of Extera Public Schools, which establishes and operates charter schools in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles.

Maribeth is currently focused on amplifying the work of the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality). She is a long-term supporter of HOPE’s leadership, advocacy, and education efforts to achieve political and economic parity for Latinas. After supporting and volunteering for HOPE for years, Maribeth joined its board of directors in 2022.

Maribeth earned her B.A. at UC Berkeley and her J.D. from University of Southern California, where she was editor-in-chief of the Southern California Law Review. In addition to years of recognition from Super Lawyers, Maribeth was named in 2022 among Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys” and Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Lawyers in America.”

She has recently been recognized in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Thriving in Their 40s” issue in 2023.

Practice Areas
Entertainment Litigation and Disputes
Real Estate
Employment Law
Trade Secrets

EXPERIENCE

Representative Matters

Represented a global real estate services company in defense of lawsuits arising from tenant-in-common real estate transactions.
Obtained several dismissals on the pleadings for a global real estate services company sued in class-action lawsuits claiming, collectively, more than $85 million in damages.
Prosecuted actions for breach of nondisclosure agreements and defamation on behalf of client Rob Lowe. In Lowe v. Gibson and Lowe v. Boyce, defeated anti-SLAPP motions where defendants attempted to invalidate nondisclosure agreements on First Amendment grounds.
Represented a financier and producer in a partnership dispute which resulted in an arbitration award granting all intellectual property rights at issue to the client.
Defended video game publisher, development studio, and the studio head against claims of misappropriation of a trade secret, breach of a developer agreement, and breach of a nondisclosure agreement.
Advised and defended an international producer and hip-hop artist in an action seeking millions of dollars for alleged breach of a personal services agreement filed in Australia.
Represented a high-profile actress in an action involving an alleged breach of a partnership agreement.
Represented a high-profile actress in a commissions dispute.
Successfully represented high-profile individuals in obtaining retractions from online and print entertainment news media.
Defended a broadcasting station sued for breach of a license agreement.
Represented individuals in a corporate ownership dispute in a bench trial that resulted in the clients securing complete control of the company that held significant intellectual property assets.
Represented minority shareholders in a derivative lawsuit resulting in multimillion-dollar judgment for the clients.

Publications and Presentations

“Empowering Entrepreneurial Spirit: Transforming Ideas into Reality,” co-panelist at HOPE’s Latina History Day
“Lies I tell you! How Do I Deal with Anonymous Negative Internet Posts About Me?” Speaker and Program Chair of Southern California Business Litigation Inn of Court
“Adapting to a Changing Workplace and Unlocking the Genius of the Creator Economy,” co-panelist at HOPE’s Latina History Day
University of California at Berkeley; Guest speaker on defamation at Boalt Hall and guest speaker on legal careers in the entertainment industry at Center for Law and Technology
USC Gould School of Law; Various guest speaker programs including its Topics In Entertainment Law, Motion Pictures Seminar

Media

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility – Trends, Updates & DEIA Leadership Forum Magazine, LA Times B2B Publishing, 2022

Recognitions

Selected to Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Women of Influence: Attorneys,” 2024
Nominated to Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Diversity, Equity + Inclusion” issue, 2024
Recognized in Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Thriving in Their 40s,” 2023
Featured in Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys,” 2022
Recognized in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Lawyers in America,” 2022
Named “Top Women Lawyer in California” by the Daily Journal, 2021
Received Comerica Bank’s Best of LA Women’s Business Awards for “Woman of Mentorship,” 2013
Selected to Super Lawyers list, 2019-2024; Rising Stars list, 2007-2008, 2010-2018

ORGANIZATIONS

Professional Leadership

Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), Board of directors, 2022-present
USC Latino Alumni Law Association, Former Steering Committee member
Philippine American Bar Association (PABA), Lifetime member

Community Involvement

Extera Public Schools, Founding board member of nonprofit organization operating charter schools in East LA, 2010-2019
Scholar Bridge, an arm of the Fulfillment Fund, Board of directors, 2017-2019
Asian Pacific Women’s Center, Board of directors, 2007-2008

CREDENTIALS

Education

University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, J.D.; Editor-in-chief, Southern California Law Review, 2003
University of California at Berkeley, B.A.

Admissions

State Bar of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States District Court, Central District of California