Martin Singer

Martin D. Singer (born 1952) is an American attorney.

Considered to be one of Hollywood's foremost and widely recognized lawyers, he has been described as "Hollywood's favorite legal hit man" and the "bane of studio chiefs and tabloid editors" and is recognized as a significant figure in the realm of celebrity legal matters.

Singer is known for his robust "headline-snuffing" approach, earning him the nickname "Mad Dog Marty" and the "Legal Pit Bull."

Employing tactics such as cease-and-desist letters and legal warnings, he is recognized for his assertive efforts to curtail negative media coverage and address accusations.

Singer has represented clients including Sylvester Stallone, Scarlett Johansson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Cosby, Bruce Willis, Charlie Sheen, Harry Reid, Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Dennis Rodman, Sheldon Adelson, George Soros, Tom Arnold, Mike Myers, Kate Gosselin, Britney Spears, Tiger Woods, and Jim Carrey, among others.

He claims that his firm has filed more lawsuits against the media than any other law firm.

His law firm Lavely & Singer has been described as "one of Hollywood's go-to law firms".

Singer grew up lower middle class in Canarsie, Brooklyn.

His mother Sari had survived Auschwitz, while his father Gyula left Nazi-occupied Austria during World War II to teach soccer to American soldiers in Shanghai.

His father pursued a career as a commercial artist in New York, and later established a factory and a showroom in Manhattan.

During his time as a student at the City College of New York, Mr. Singer initially contemplated a medical career but realized his sensitivity might be a hindrance.

He also ruled out engineering after his father's passing, as it would demand extensive hours of study.

He eventually pursued a major in political science and later attended Brooklyn Law School, with his wife Deena providing support through her job as a legal secretary.

He worked in a factory and supported his mother and younger sister.

Singer initially wanted to become a tax lawyer.

Upon completing law school in 1977, Mr. Singer and his wife relocated to Southern California.

He distributed his résumés to various Los Angeles firms while his wife secured a job at a prominent law firm that counted Bert Fields among its members.

Singer worked in research for the entertainment law firm Schiff, Hirsch & Schreiber for three years until the firm closed unexpectedly in 1980, leaving Singer and litigator John H. Lavely Jr. without a place as other partners joined a major competitor.

In June, Singer and Lavely Jr. established their own law firm, Lavely & Singer.

Nearly two years later, they engaged in their first major celebrity case, representing comedian Richard Pryor against his fraudulent business manager.

Their victory in the case established their reputation as prominent entertainment law attorneys and led to a continuous stream of referrals.

Singer successfully represented photographer Max Aguilera-Hellweg in a lawsuit against Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was accused of using a photo without permission for a body-building calendar.

His victory caught the attention of Schwarzenegger's lawyer, Jake Bloom, who then referred both Schwarzenegger and Sylvestor Stallone to Singer for assistance with their legal issues.

He would go on to assist Schwarzenegger in two lawsuits brought by women claiming they were smeared by political aides, with one suit eventually settled and the other dismissed.

In 1983, Singer successfully represented producer Lawrence Gordon in a dispute with Paramount Pictures, obtaining a restraining order that allowed his client back on the lot.

Singer gained tabloid attention in 1999 when Sylvester Stallone enlisted his services to counter a lawsuit filed by five former household employees.

The workers claimed they experienced "unusual directives" from Stallone and Jennifer Flavin, leading to their termination without full compensation, prompting a demand for $1.5 million in damages.

One peculiar claim was an order to avoid communication or eye contact with Stallone's mother, Jackie.

The staff, however, broke this rule when Jackie gifted them pens and autographed photos of herself for Christmas.

Stallone and Flavin allegedly fired them upon discovering the breach.

Singer vigorously refuted the allegations, stating they aimed to exploit the celebrity factor.

He further contended that the workers were employed through a temporary agency on short-term contracts and highlighted the claim that one of the employees wore high heels while cleaning the house.

In 2002, Singer defended Celine Dion's husband René Angélil against a 2002 accusation of rape and death threats, which he called "ridiculous"; the claims were subsequently dismissed in 2003.

In 2006, Singer was enlisted to handle Associated Press coverage critical of a land transaction involving Senator Harry Reid.

In 2008, Singer represented Jeremy Piven in a Broadway production case involving claims of mercury poisoning.

His arguments ultimately persuaded an impartial arbitrator to support Piven's account of the events.

In 2009, Singer intervened on behalf of Demi Moore, sending assertive letters to various news websites that had speculated about a Photoshop error on the cover of W Magazine.

He stated that Moore's appearance had not been digitally altered, and demanded retractions and removal of the stories.

Amid reports of Whitney Houston's alleged backstage collapse and plans for rehab during her 2009 comeback, Singer emphatically refuted the National Enquirer 's account as a malicious fabrication.

He clarified that Houston was heading to continue her tour in Paris, criticizing the tabloid's use of unsubstantiated anonymous sources and highlighting their hypocrisy.