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US: California talent agency hit with antitrust lawsuit for poaching clients

By  |  February 19, 2015

United Talent Agency and International Creative Management Partners threaten the existence of smaller agencies by luring talent with lucrative package deals, their competitor Lenhoff & Lenhoff claims in a federal antitrust complaint.

Lenhoff & Lenhoff claims that through package deals, the big four “uber” agencies UTA, ICM and nonparties WilliamMorris/Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency receive a lucrative stake in film and television projects. This makes the big agencies de facto producers or employers, rather than talent agencies.

Seeking monetary damages, Lenhoff & Lenhoff also proposes a permanent injunction to prohibit UTA and ICM from poaching clients from other agencies that represent television clients. The agency is being represented by attorney Philip Kaplan.

Full Content: The Hollywood Reporter

 

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