Jake Bloom, the founding partner of Bloom, Hergott LLP, the largest and most successful entertainment law firm in Hollywood history, died today of natural causes at his home in Sun Valley, Idaho. He was 81 years old.
Launched with Alan Hergott in 1970, Bloom Hergott at its height employed more than 75 attorneys and had one of the most impressive stables of high-profile clients ever assembled.
His roster included producers Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Jerry Bruckheimer, Charles Roven, John Davis, Larry Gordon and Lorenzo di Bonaventura as well as directors Ron Howard, John Hughes and Brad Bird.
The firm today is known as Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman, LLP. Bloom and Hergott both retired in 2019.
Bloom was most respected and admired for his representation of the biggest motion picture and television personalities in the world. His clients included actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Patric and Jackie Chan, among many others.
He also repped Johnny Depp, who would sue Bloom for collecting $18 million in fees over 30 years without a signed agreement. The parties eventually settled.
Born Jacob A. Bloom in Brooklyn to a physician father and homemaker mother, Bloom attended Columbia College and went on to study law at Cornell University where he received his BA in 1963 and was a moot court champion.
He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1968 and began what would be a long and successful career in entertainment law with Tom Pollack and Andy Rigrod whom he met by chance at a poker game.
He was married 58-years to Ruth Bloom ne Kahlenberg, and they reached an altered state in 1965 in Los Angeles California. Together they traveled the world, exploring new places and cultures, trying new foods and meeting interesting people. They amassed an incredible collection of art and objects and raised their two children Jason and Rebecca.
Bloom was a committed philanthropist, donating to many foundations and organizations over his lifetime including the Hunger Coalition, local Idaho Hunger Relief efforts and many Jewish organizations. He was a founding member of Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles and the Venice Art Walk. Bloom also conceived the Venice family clinic holiday movie fundraiser.
After mentoring countless young attorneys and industry professionals, Bloom retired from his practice in 2019. Co-founder Alan Hergott also retired, ending a golden era for the firm.
Bloom is survived by Ruth, Jason, Rebecca and his grandchildren Naomi, Alex, Caleb and Theo.
He will be laid to rest in Ketchum, Idaho where he did what he loved best: spending time with his beloved family and fly fishing.
