[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 132 (Thursday, September 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         A TRIBUTE TO JAY ROTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2009

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my very 
good friend, Jay Roth, National Executive Director of the Directors 
Guild of America, DGA, on the occasion of his recognition by the 
Government of France with its prestigious ``Chevalier dans l'Ordre de 
la Legion d'Honneur.''
  I enjoy, with Jay, a relationship much deeper than simply that of a 
politician with the leader of an important guild. He has been--for many 
years--my wise advisor on issues relating to the creative community, 
the arts, and all aspects of intellectual property. I have been 
privileged to know him since his days as a prominent labor lawyer in 
Los Angeles.
  Known for his tenacity and acuity in entertainment and labor law, 
Jay's experience and knowledge places him in a league of his own. Born 
and raised in New York City and a graduate of the University of Vermont 
and Boston University Law School, he practiced labor and entertainment 
law for 25 years prior to being selected by the DGA's National Board of 
Directors to guide the Directors Guild of America. As the Managing 
Partner of Taylor, Roth, Bush & Geffner, he specialized in representing 
entertainment guilds, labor organizations, and pension, health and 
welfare funds in entertainment, bankruptcy and transactional matters 
around the world.
  He has skillfully represented all three U.S. Guilds--DGA, Screen 
Actors Guild, SAG, and Writers Guild of America, WGA,--on many 
international copyright, bankruptcy, residuals and intellectual 
property rights issues for 20 years. As counsel, he represented many 
high-profile industries including the Motion Picture Industry and the 
Directors Guild/Producer Pension and Health Plans. Among his many 
clients were the United Teachers of Los Angeles, the International 
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the International 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
  He is widely known for his dedication to the entertainment community, 
as Treasurer of the Motion Picture & Television Fund and a member of 
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is also a highly 
regarded advocate of the labor community, who has served as chair of 
the Labor Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Associations and as 
chair of the American Bar Association Airline-Railway Labor Law 
Committee. He was recently elected a Fellow of the College of Labor and 
Employment Lawyers, and he is also recognized as a noted lecturer 
around the world on matters related to entertainment, labor law, and 
intellectual property rights of directors, writers and actors.
  Jay was appropriately recognized for his invaluable contributions to 
the DGA when he received the Honorary Life Member Award in 2008.
  Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask you to join me in 
saluting Jay Roth on the occasion of his recognition from the French 
Government of the French Legion of Honor.

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