For the past two decades, Mark D. Brutzkus has represented apparel and textile manufacturers, importers and exporters, suppliers, and related companies. His clients also include manufacturers, piece goods and trim suppliers, and lenders.
Through his knowledge of the apparel industry and his relationships with other professionals in the industry, Mr. Brutzkus can quickly and efficiently resolve disputes and complete transactions. His aggressive approach in representing creditor’s rights and protecting his clients’ copyright and trademark rights adds value to the companies he counsels. His in-depth experience and knowledge of the factoring industry enables him to negotiate factoring agreements and to resolve disputes.
In apparel industry labor and employment matters, Mr. Brutzkus has significant experience defending manufacturers in wage and hour claims, including AB 633 issues and joint liability matters, before the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) and the U.S. Department of Labor. He also advises extensively on contracting issues and conducts preemptive compliance counsel for a wide range of entities.
Practice Emphasis
- Apparel and Textile Industry Law
- Business and Commercial Litigation and Transactions
- Labor Issues
- Bankruptcy
- Trademark and Copyright Litigation
- Commercial and Retail Leases
- Acquisitions and Mergers
- Insolvency Workouts
Qualifications/Memberships
- State Bar of California
- American, California and Los Angeles County Bar Associations
- California Fashion Association
- Commercial Finance Association
- Textile Professional Club
- City of Hope, Apparel Industries Group, President
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Board Member of Fashion Industries Guild
- University of Southern California Business Expansion Program, Apparel Industry Entrepreneur Program, Lecturer
Education
- DePaul University, College of Law, Chicago, IL, J.D., 1986
- University of Illinois at Urbana, B.S., Finance, 1982
Leadership
Mr. Brutzkus is a recognized leader among apparel and garment professionals and in educational programs within the professional community. He is a lecturer at the University of Southern California Business Expansion’s Apparel Industry Entrepreneur program and at management classes held at the UCLA Extension Program. When he served on the board of the Coalition of Apparel Industries in California, he worked to create its contractor compliance certification program.
An active member and leader of several apparel industry associations and philanthropic organizations, Mr. Brutzkus is past president of the Apparel Industries Group for City of Hope, which raises funds for the cancer treatment center.
Representative matters:
- Timely safeguard of a junior manufacturer’s print graphics to extend the commercial life of the design. Aggressive prosecution of mark infringement resulted in payment to the company.
- Cost-effective negotiation of commercial retail lease agreements.
- Prosecution against major retailer on charge-back claims.
- Sale, purchase and mergers of apparel manufacturers to domestic and multinational manufacturers.
- In a case involving an insolvent swimwear manufacturer, Brutzkus and firm attorneys used the assignment for the benefit of creditors to allow a new company to come into existence, purchase the assets of the debtor and continue the manufacturer’s operation with no interruption.
- Initiated involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against sportswear maker to obtain more favorable recoveries for clients.