UTA Vs. Michael Kassan Battle Over As Parties Reach Agreement In Messy Employment Contract Dispute
'UTA and Michael Kassan have agreed to amicably end their dispute,' said a spokesperson for the Beverly Hills agency and Kassan's top lawyer Sanford Michelman. 'The parties are not at liberty to comment further.'
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Neither side offered any details of the settlement that occurred during arbitration of Kassan's employment contract with UTA and allegations of wild spending and more. However, all the signs had indicated for the past few weeks that this was coming to an amicable end. At the same time, it looks like Kassan will not be returning to work for the agency or his MediaLink banner, I hear.
With much hoopla, UTA acquired MediaLink in 2021 for $125 million.
In March of last year, Kassan and then UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer took their dust-up public with the latter claiming the former was fired, and the consulting exec insisting he resigned — and was due a payout.
Kassan, who founded the insider oriented MediaLink, was made a partner at UTA after the deal and continued to oversee the consulting practice. Earlier this year, however, a major rift in the relationship went public, with the parties suing each other, trading allegations of fraud and breach of contract. The primary case, which was punctuated by barbs, legal and otherwise, between the opponents, ended up going to arbitration. A $125 million defamation case against UTA's outside attorney Bryan Freedman was tossed out last May.
Today's announcement comes five months after Zimmer, the main proponent of the MediaLink deal and Kassan's foil according to court filings, stepped aside as UTA CEO. A new MediaLink leadership team was named by UTA in April 2024.
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Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
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UTA and MediaLink founder end legal fight over acquisition
United Talent Agency and MediaLink founder Michael Kassan agreed to drop their lawsuits against each other, after battling over problems related to a 2021 acquisition. 'UTA and Michael Kassan have agreed to amicably end their dispute. The parties are not at liberty to comment further,' representatives for UTA and Kassan said in a joint statement on Thursday. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. UTA in 2021 agreed to buy Kassan's strategic advisory firm MediaLink in a $125 million deal. The Beverly Hills-based talent agency had hoped the acquisition would help expand its branding business. But problems later arose, with both sides accusing each other of breaching a contract. UTA alleged Kassan's spending was out of control and accused him of 'wasting millions of UTA's dollars on his lavish personal lifestyle.' Kassan said that UTA was well aware of his spending habits and that his firm has continued to be profitable during its tenure within UTA. He alleged that UTA did not follow the terms of the deal, such as a promise that UTA's marketing group would report to him. Kassan's attorney alleged that while UTA was benefiting from MediaLink by getting free media consulting and introductions, MediaLink was not benefiting from the relationship. UTA, in legal filings and public statements, denied Kassan's allegations. In 2024, Kassan filed a defamation lawsuit against UTA's legal counsel that a judge later dismissed. Kassan launched L.A. consulting firm 3C Ventures in 2024.
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UTA Vs. Michael Kassan Battle Over As Parties Reach Agreement In Messy Employment Contract Dispute
After a year and more of fighting in court, the press & behind closed doors, UTA and Michael Kassan have buried the hatchet. 'UTA and Michael Kassan have agreed to amicably end their dispute,' said a spokesperson for the Beverly Hills agency and Kassan's top lawyer Sanford Michelman. 'The parties are not at liberty to comment further.' More from Deadline Resigned! Fired!: Michael Kassan & UTA Scorch Each Other With Competing Suits Of Fraud, Breach Of Contract & Jeremy Zimmer's Role In Agency Partner's Exit Should He Stay Or Should He Go? UTA & Michael Kassan Clash Over Scheme To Keep Exec On For $3M After Accusations Of Broken Contracts, Theft – Update Sherri Shepherd Signs With UTA Neither side offered any details of the settlement that occurred during arbitration of Kassan's employment contract with UTA and allegations of wild spending and more. However, all the signs had indicated for the past few weeks that this was coming to an amicable end. At the same time, it looks like Kassan will not be returning to work for the agency or his MediaLink banner, I hear. With much hoopla, UTA acquired MediaLink in 2021 for $125 million. In March of last year, Kassan and then UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer took their dust-up public with the latter claiming the former was fired, and the consulting exec insisting he resigned — and was due a payout. Kassan, who founded the insider oriented MediaLink, was made a partner at UTA after the deal and continued to oversee the consulting practice. Earlier this year, however, a major rift in the relationship went public, with the parties suing each other, trading allegations of fraud and breach of contract. The primary case, which was punctuated by barbs, legal and otherwise, between the opponents, ended up going to arbitration. A $125 million defamation case against UTA's outside attorney Bryan Freedman was tossed out last May. Today's announcement comes five months after Zimmer, the main proponent of the MediaLink deal and Kassan's foil according to court filings, stepped aside as UTA CEO. A new MediaLink leadership team was named by UTA in April 2024. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About The 'Heartstopper' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'Emily In Paris' Season 5 So Far
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