Practice Areas
- Entertainment Litigation
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
Honors & Awards
- Named a "Rising Star" by Southern California Super Lawyers, 2020 - 2023, 2026
- Voted "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America" for her "exceptional work in Communications Law, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, and Entertainment and Sports Law."
- Best Lawyers in America: ONES TO WATCH™, Recognized in Communications Law, Entertainment and Sports Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Litigation – Intellectual Property (2021-2024)
- Pro Bono Publico Award, Legal Aid Society (2017, 2021)
Education
- Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York
- J.D. - 2016
- University of California, Berkeley, California
- B.A. - 2012
Bar Admissions
- California, 2024
- New York, 2017
Biography
Cesie Alvarez is an experienced entertainment litigator, dedicated to advising talent, creators, and companies through the wide range of legal challenges they may face, both in court and through alternative dispute resolution.
Cesie’s work spans contract disputes, copyright and trademark litigation, First Amendment issues, right of publicity, media and reputational matters, unfair competition, privacy issues, general corporate matters, and employment issues. She frequently represents clients in high-profile and high-stakes matters that demand both strategic legal precision and careful public-facing considerations. Cesie has worked with a diverse range of clients—including entertainers, creators, startups, and media companies—and regularly handles cases at the intersection of free speech, reputation, and creative expression.
She received her J.D. from Cornell Law School in 2016 and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012 where she majored in Psychology and Legal Studies. Prior to joining Singer Weinsten Wolf & Jonelis LLP, Cesie worked in a large, international law firm where her practice concentrated on copyright and trademark litigation.
Representative Cases
- Represented artists in a highly publicized trial on their trade dress and misappropriation claims against billion-dollar toy corporation, MGA Entertainment, Inc.
- Defended media company in a multi-billion dollar case that the New York Times said was “one of the most consequential First Amendment cases in a generation.”
- Secured the dismissal of key copyright and trademark infringement claims brought by Roblox Corporation on behalf of a well-known toy and robotics company.
- Defended four separate internet and media corporations against claims of secondary copyright infringement brought by the nation’s top record companies and music publishers.
- Member of case team responsible for securing important wins for website that provided access to a large collection of historic concert recordings in a copyright infringement case brought by the nation’s top music publishers.
- Represented a multinational toy and board game company and its subsidiary in a putative class action alleging breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and negligence. Obtained dismissal of all claims on a motion to dismiss.
- Assisted with successfully defending a copyright infringement summary judgment decision in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on behalf of a collector of concert memorabilia.
- Secured favorable settlement on behalf of Texas real estate giant in their claims of direct copyright infringement against competing real estate company.