Gabriella Nourafchan Ismaj

Gabriella Nourafchan Ismaj is a Los Angeles partner whose practice focuses on entertainment and intellectual property litigation. She represents leading businesses and individuals in music, film, fashion, hospitality, television, and technology. Her work includes copyright, trademark, contract, commercial, defamation, right of publicity, employment, and related business disputes in courts nationwide.

Gabriella earned her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2014. She earned her B.A. in Communications from University of Pennsylvania in 2011, graduating magna cum laude. She was also named to the Dean’s List in 2008 and 2010, reflecting strong academic performance and focused study.

Gabriella has significant experience litigating in state and federal courts nationwide, including multiple federal copyright infringement trials. She represents record labels, music publishers, songwriters, producers, managers, and artists in disputes involving infringement, breach of contract, tortious interference, right of publicity, defamation, and employment-related claims and other commercial issues.

Gabriella has served on trial and defense teams in copyright infringement matters that ended in judgments as a matter of law and were affirmed by the Ninth Circuit. She has helped resolve joint ownership, defamation, unauthorized lyrics, music marketing, and trademark disputes through dismissals, settlements, and favorable court rulings.

Gabriella has earned recognition for her entertainment and music law work. Her honors include Variety’s “Music Legal Elite” in 2025, Attorney Intel’s “The Top 25 Media and Entertainment Attorneys of 2025,” Variety’s “Legal Impact Report: Up Next” in 2024, and Billboard’s “Top Music Lawyers” in 2023 from respected industry publications.

Gabriella Nourafchan Ismaj is admitted in California, the Ninth Circuit, and U.S. District Courts for the Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California. She brings trial, appellate, and settlement experience to entertainment and intellectual property disputes, with a focus on clear strategy, strong advocacy, and practical results for clients nationwide.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
• Member, The State Bar of California

Licensed State

• California

Education

• University of California Los Angeles School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Pennsylvania
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges