Emmanuel Vergara '15

Adjunct Associate Professor of Law | Founder, Vergara Law

B.S., University of Southern California, 2008

J.D., cum laude, Southwestern Law School, 2015

Member, California State Bar,

Joined Southwestern: 2024

Emmanuel Vergara is the founder of Vergara Law, a law firm specializing in entertainment, intellectual property, and business matters.  Prof. Vergara advises clients on rights acquisitions, development and production of motion picture projects, trademark prosecution, business structures, and business agreements.  Prof. Vergara also represents clients in dispute resolutions, including litigation.

Prior to founding Vergara Law, Prof. Vergara was in-house counsel for DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures.  In this role, he advised creative and production teams on a wide range of business and legal matters related to the development and production of film and television projects, including the acquisition of rights, the negotiation of talent deals, and the drafting of related agreements.  Before joining DreamWorks and Universal, Prof. Vergara was in private practice and represented clients in a broad range of business matters, including dispute resolutions and litigation.

Prof. Vergara received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and his J.D. from Southwestern Law School, graduating cum laude from both institutions.  He acquired his first job out of undergrad through bonding with a production manager over their mutual love of KISS and spent the next four years at The Forum in Inglewood managing and overseeing a variety of film productions and concerts.

Prof. Vergara spends his free time traveling, cooking, and enjoying the outdoors. He is an avid hiker and loves sitting around a campfire.  During the winter, he strives to spend every free weekend snowboarding in Tahoe.