Dispute over UTA and MediaLink's acquisition settlement comes to an end
In a year-long legal battle, United Talent Agency (UTA) and Michael Kassan have reached an amicable settlement, ending their dispute that stemmed from conflicting claims about Kassan's departure and alleged breaches related to the acquisition of his MediaLink by UTA in 2021.
The dispute began when Kassan accused UTA of breaching the acquisition agreement and committing fraud, particularly concerning promises made about what he would oversee at UTA and allowances for his special expenses budget. UTA, on the other hand, accused Kassan of misappropriating nearly $1 million in company funds for personal use and terminated him for cause, which Kassan disputed, asserting he had resigned due to disagreements over how UTA managed MediaLink [1][2][4][5].
Kassan's legal action also named key executives such as UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer [2]. The dispute involved harsh accusations, with UTA terminating Kassan on March 7, 2024, while Kassan contended he resigned on March 6, 2024.
The settlement, reached in July 2025, was kept confidential, leaving the specific financial or operational terms undisclosed [1][2][3][4][5]. This marked the end of a prolonged legal battle that had been ongoing since the acquisition.
Meanwhile, Kassan launched a Los Angeles-based consulting firm, 3C Ventures, in 2024 [6]. He also filed a defamation lawsuit against UTA's legal counsel, Bryan Freedman, in 2024, which was later dismissed by the judge [7].
With this settlement, both parties have agreed to drop their lawsuits against each other, as confirmed by Wendy Lee [8]. UTA had hoped the acquisition of MediaLink would help expand its branding business [9]. However, Kassan alleged that while UTA was benefiting from MediaLink by getting free media consulting and introductions, MediaLink was not benefiting from the relationship [10].
As UTA moves forward, David Kramer is set to become the new chief, replacing Jeremy Zimmer [11]. The exact terms of the deal between UTA and Michael Kassan remain confidential.
References:
- The Hollywood Reporter
- Variety
- Deadline
- The New York Times
- Bloomberg
- The Information
- The Wall Street Journal
- Reuters
- Adweek
- The Wrap
- The settlement between United Talent Agency (UTA) and Michael Kassan, regarding their dispute centered around Kassan's departure and the acquisition of MediaLink by UTA, was reached in July 2025 and kept confidential.
- Despite the dispute, Kassan established a Los Angeles-based consulting firm, 3C Ventures, in 2024.
- The legal battle between UTA and Kassan involved claims of breach of agreement, fraud, misappropriation of funds, and defamation.
- The disagreement between UTA and Kassan reportedly involved Kassan's allegations that while UTA was benefitting from MediaLink, MediaLink was not reciprocating this benefit.
