Streisand began his legal career litigating entertainment cases. On behalf of his clients,
Beastie Boys and
Capitol Records, Streisand won the first digital sampling case in the
U.S. Courts of Appeals, Newton v. Diamond, et al.[30][31] Streisand won a palimony case for comedian
Bill Maher brought by former girlfriend, Coco Johnson.[32][33] Streisand achieved a significant settlement against
Faye Dunaway,
Terrence McNally and others over the film rights to the stage play Master Class for producer
Lester Persky.[34] Streisand successfully defended
Diana Ross in a copyright infringement action by photographer
Art Shay. He successfully litigated a copyright infringement action for BMG Music Publishing against
Melissa Etheridge. Streisand represented
Quincy Jones, the key witness in the defamation trial by
Steve Wynn against "Girls Gone Wild" creator
Joe Francis, in which the jury returned a $40 million verdict.[35] Streisand obtained an injunction for
Jacques Cousteau against the use of the Cousteau name in connection with a Fiji resort against
Jean-Michel Cousteau and others.
Britney Spears retained Streisand in connection with the petition to establish a conservatorship over the singer.[36][37][38][39] Streisand successfully represented
Kobe Bryant in a defamation action.
Estate litigation
Streisand transitioned from entertainment litigation to trust and estate litigation, becoming well known for success in celebrity estate cases.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] He has been recognized for achievements in traditional or non-celebrity estate cases.[48][49][50] Streisand has been widely acknowledged as a leading American trial attorney, particularly in the field of trust and estate litigation.[3][51][52][53][54] Streisand is noted as one of the best trial attorneys in the country and for his strategic vision. Streisand is well known as the architect of the strategy to rely on an arcane provision of the California probate code, section 1310b, and resulting trial victory for
Steve Ballmer resulting in his $2 billion purchase of the
Los Angeles Clippers.[55] Given Streisand's well acknowledged expertise, he is also involved in the drafting of legislation, including in particular, due to his experience in both entertainment and estates, amendments drafted by Streisand to the
California Celebrities Rights Act to ensure the protection of a deceased celebrity's name and likeness and its descendibility to the celebrity's heirs.[56] The estate of
Marilyn Monroe retained Streisand to draft the amendments to the
California Celebrities Rights Act.
Recognition
In 2015 and 2017, Mr. Streisand was recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers, in the field of Litigation, trusts and estates.[57]
In 2015, 2017 and 2018, the Daily Journal named Streisand as one of the top trial attorneys in the nation.[58][59]
In 2016, Streisand was recognized by The National Law Journal as a Divorce, Trusts & Estates Trailblazer.[60]
The Chambers HNW guide published by
Chambers & Partners, individually ranked Streisand in the Private Wealth Law category for Southern California and he was also ranked nationally in the Private Wealth Disputes category. In 2019, Chambers & Partners named Streisand as the U.S. Trusts and Estates Litigator of the Year.[61]
In 2017 and 2018, Lawdragon named Streisand as one of the top "Leading Lawyers in America."[62][63]
The Los Angeles Business Journal named Adam Streisand as Litigation Attorney of the year in 2018 for his rare and wide expertise in disputes involving entertainment and intellectual property issues.[64]
In 2020, 2022, and 2023, the Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Adam Streisand as one of the “Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers” which highlights “the very best litigators in the business.”[65][66][67]
In 2020, Citywealth, a UK financial magazine, named Streisand one of the top 50 private wealth attorneys in North America, one of the top 100 private client lawyers and one of the 100 litigation attorneys worldwide.
In 2021, he was selected by the Hollywood Reporter for their 15th annual Power Lawyers list which highlights the top entertainment lawyers in the industry.[68]
Streisand was named by the Daily Journal as a top 100 Lawyer in California for 2022.[69]
In 2022, Streisand was named one of the "Top 100 International Private Client Litigation Lawyers 2022" by Citywealth.[70]
The LA Business Journal has also named Adam Streisand as one of the 500 most influential people in Los Angeles for 5 years in a row[71] and Who's Who in Law in 2023.[72]
The Hollywood Reporter listed Streisand as a power lawyer in trusts and estates in their 2022 and 2023 "Hollywood’s Troubleshooters: Top 35 Lawyers for Death, Divorce and Other Disasters".[73][74]
Personal life
Adam Streisand is married to writer, director and producer Sofia Streisand,[75] and they have one son, Pierre Streisand. Adam Streisand has two daughters from a previous marriage to journalist Betsy Streisand, attorney Lena Streisand and documentary filmmaker Olivia Streisand.[76] Adam is also a cousin of famous singer/actress,
Barbra Streisand.[77] Streisand is a competitive cyclist and an adventurist. He has camped near the
North Pole, trekked 19,000 feet (5,800 m) in the
Himalayas and crossed the
Pyrenees from the
Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean on his bike.[78]
^"Top 100 Lawyers in California". Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal. September 22, 2010. From his victory in the landmark copyright case, Newton v. Diamond, in which he represented the Beastie Boys and Capitol Records... Streisand has transitioned into a nationally recognized trust and estate litigator. His practice is unique in that he is the rare lawyer in the field with an expertise in disputes involving entertainment and intellectual property issues. He has been in courtroom battles over the estates of Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Marlon Brando, Michael Crichton, Anna Nicole Smith, Rodney Dangerfield, Dennis Hopper, William Randolph Hearst and many more.
^The Daily Journal profiled Streisand on the cover of its "Extra" section under the title "The Sure Thing" and called his expertise "a lawyer's C.V. on steroids." Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals, "The Sure Thing", June 13, 2005.
^Trusts and Estates Magazine says "Adam Streisand is a trial lawyer renowned for his courtroom victories in celebrity estates."]
^The American Lawyer says: "Mr. Streisand is a veteran of battles over celebrity estates such as Marlon Brando and Ray Charles". The American Lawyer, "Notable and Notorious Lawyers", Vol.31, No.12, Dec. 2009.
^Lawdragon Magazine says "Adam Streisand is easily one of the best trust and estate litigators in the country."