LOPRESTI PLLC – LOPRESTI.ONE

August 18, 2026August 18, 2026

LOPRESTI PLLC Is Growing: Meet our newest team members, attorneys & consultants

LOPRESTI PLLC is growing.

We are pleased to announce several important additions to our team and capabilities as we continue building a different kind of law firm—one that combines sophisticated legal counsel with practical business insight, industry experience, and access to trusted professionals across multiple disciplines.

Nicholas R. Wallace — Of Counsel

Nico brings sophisticated corporate, governance and strategic counseling experience developed at leading international law firms, including Milbank and Jones Day. Nico advises businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations on corporate governance, transactions, emerging ventures and complex strategic matters, with experience spanning technology, sports, media, the arts and other industries.

Christian Rain Castañeda — Of Counsel

Rainy, a former prosecutor with the Brooklyn D.A.’s office, brings experience in investigation, litigation strategy, courtroom advocacy and trial preparation. Her addition strengthens LOPRESTI’s ability to represent businesses and individuals confronting complex disputes and other high-stakes matters.

Kevin Fox — Media & Entertainment Consultant

We are also delighted to welcome Kevin Fox as a consultant to our growing Media & Entertainment practice. Kevin brings decades of firsthand experience in film and television as a writer, producer, executive producer and showrunner. His career includes writing, producing and showrunning major film and television productions. Kevin’s addition reflects an important part of our approach to entertainment: creative clients benefit from advisors who understand not only the law, but also the business and creative realities of the industries in which they work.

READ Kevin’s latest article:
LOPRESTI PLLC Media & Entertainment Consulting: Why us? Why now?

Meet our Team

Expanding Our Resources Through HBK

LOPRESTI PLLC is also pleased to be working with our friends at HBK, a multidisciplinary financial services firm whose professionals provide tax, accounting, audit, business advisory, valuation, financial planning, wealth management and related services. The relationship expands our ability to help clients address business challenges that don’t stop at the boundaries of traditional legal advice.

More Capabilities. One Trusted Team.

With our expanded team and professional relationships, LOPRESTI PLLC can help clients across the lifecycle of a business or creative vision:

Business & Corporate

Corporate governance • Outside general counsel • Contracts • Transactions • Business formation and restructuring • Strategic counseling

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Commercial litigation • Business and ownership disputes • Arbitration • Investigations • Employment disputes • Trial and appellate matters

Brands & Intellectual Property

Trademarks • Brand protection • Licensing • Intellectual property disputes • USPTO and TTAB matters

Media & Entertainment

Film • Television • Publishing • Content development • Production • Talent • Licensing • Intellectual property • Entertainment transactions and disputes

Our philosophy remains simple: understand our client’s vision first, then assemble the people and resources necessary to achieve it.

Whether you are building a company, protecting a brand, negotiating an important transaction, developing creative content, planning your next stage of growth, or confronting a serious dispute, our team is ready to help.

Contact us now

Schedule a meeting for a free consult. Better yet, fly us out to your factory, studio, business or venture so we can see exactly “how the sausage is made” or what your vision is. The more we know, the better we can help. No charge unless and until we provide you with a strategy and you approve. Contact us to find out more.

Legal Strategy. Business Insight. Creative Vision.

LOPRESTI, PLLC publications should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only.

February 25, 2026

JK Shields, LLC v. Smyth Tavern, LLC, et al. – Case of Interest

LOPRESTI, PLLC defends Smyth Tavern Tribeca restaurant in trademark dispute.

New York / Chicago – Feb. 25, 2026 – LOPRESTI, PLLC has appeared for New York City neighborhood restaurant Smyth Tavern, located in the Smyth Tribeca hotel, in a trademark dispute filed by the owners of the restaurant Smyth, which operates in Chicago. The lawsuit (JK Shields, LLC v. Smyth Tavern, LLC, et al., 1:25-cv-14182 [JCD][BWJ]), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Lead counsel Anthony A. LoPresti appeared for the firm and filed the defendants’ Answer with Affirmative Defenses today (viewable here).

The lawsuit gained some media attention recently, via Eater and the NY Post.

The Complaint can be found here.

Follow this space for updates.

LOPRESTI, PLLC publications should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only.

June 1, 2023February 25, 2026

Curt Meltzer v. Kentucky High-Tech Greenhouses, et al. – Case of Interest

Curt Meltzer v. Kentucky High-Tech Greenhouses lawsuit

LOPRESTI, PLLC successfully opposes motion for summary judgment by former executive seeking over $1M in alleged compensation.

LOPRESTI, PLLC has successfully opposed a motion for summary judgment filed by Curt Meltzer, a former executive at Kentucky Fresh Harvest, LLC and Kentucky High-Tech Greenhouses, LLC, companies that build and operate high tech commercial greenhouses in Kentucky. Meltzer, a New York attorney, claimed he is owed over $1M in deferred compensation earned prior to his resignation, and that the greenhouse companies breached their agreement by refusing to pay him. Meltzer filed his action in New York Supreme Court, New York County. [Curt Meltzer v. Kentucky High-Tech Greenhouses, et al., Index No. 652396/2022].

In opposition to the motion the defendant companies submitted 11 affidavits refuting Meltzer’s claims, which “shed light on Meltzer’s malfeasance, waste, mismanagement and sheer ineptitude”. Witnesses allege that representations and promises made by Meltzer “to effectively, efficiently and cost-effectively design, build and operate a successful greenhouse facility” were “pure BS”. Witnesses also claim that Meltzer was either a party to a scam that cost the defendants tens of millions of dollars, or that he “enabled it, and/or that he willingly or recklessly turned a blind eye to it.” According to papers filed, “Plaintiffs cannot avoid the fact that Meltzer’s abysmal performance, if any, was reckless, wasteful, and fraudulent, that it cost the Defendants millions of dollars, and that in just about every way, Meltzer materially breached any agreement.”

The defendants have counterclaimed against Meltzer alleging claims sounding in Breach of Contract, Breach of Implied Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, Gross Negligence and Wanton and Reckless Misconduct, and Breach of Fiduciary Duty.

Click here to view a copy of the Decision + Order

Click here to view a copy of the Defendants’ Memorandum of Law in Opposition

Click here to view a copy of the Defendants’ Answer with Counterclaims

Kentucky Fresh Harvest, LLC and Kentucky High-Tech Greenhouses, LLC are represented by lead counsel Anthony A. LoPresti of LOPRESTI, PLLC who also argued the motion.

John Sjoholm, LOPRESTI, PLLC head of Logistics and Investigation, assisted in the investigation of this matter.

LOPRESTI, PLLC publications should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only.

May 10, 2022February 25, 2026

NY Whistleblower Claim – Duffy v. Monroe Free Library, et al.

Plaintiff seeks relief under New York’s whistleblower law (NY Labor Law § 740) alleging retaliation for reporting health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.

LOPRESTI, PLLC has filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court (Orange County) on behalf of an employee against the Monroe Free Library, the Board of Trustees of the Monroe Free Library, and individual defendants Marilyn J. McIntosh, Patricia C. Shanley and Carol Bezkorowajny, alleging that the defendants (i) violated N.Y. Lab. Law § 740’s prohibition against retaliation for disclosing an illegal practice of an employer that presents a substantial and significant danger to the public health (NY Whistleblower Law); (ii) violated New York State Human Rights Law prohibitions against age discrimination; (iii) engaged in, enabled and/or conspired to disseminate malicious and defamatory statements about the plaintiff; and (iv) breached rights of employment, contract and duties of care, and failed to comply with governing procedures and applicable federal and state statutes. Click here to view a copy of the Complaint.

UPDATE 10/6/2022: Decision and Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants’ motion to dismiss.

LOPRESTI, PLLC publications should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only.