Company Town : Celebrity Lawyer Named to MCA Post : Executives: Howard Weitzman’s reputation as a tough litigator may position him as the firm’s ‘bad cop.’

Famed Los Angeles lawyer Howard Weitzman, who made a name rushing to the aid of such celebrities in trouble as Hugh Grant, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson and John DeLorean, confirmed Thursday that he is leaving his law practice to join the new management at MCA Inc. as executive vice president of corporate operations.

Although the choice is unusual given Weitzman’s background, he has been close friends for about 15 years with Ron Meyer, the former Hollywood agent who was hired last month as MCA’s president and chief operating officer by Seagram Co. In June, Seagram bought 80% of MCA from Japan’s Matsushita Electric Industrial Co..

Weitzman, 55, has extensive experience in business litigation and making deals--including work for Interscope Communications and former basketball star Earvin (Magic) Johnson--although that work has usually been overshadowed publicly by his celebrity criminal cases.

Weitzman’s move is effective immediately, and he will report to Meyer. Industry sources speculated that Weitzman, known as a tough opponent in court, will probably serve as the “bad cop” that Meyer needs to handle such things as tough personnel decisions, labor issues and difficult negotiations.

“Somebody has to be that,” one source said.

However, MCA executives suggested a broader role for Weitzman. Meyer said he “will become involved in every aspect of the company’s business.” Seagram Chief Executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. added that he expects Weitzman to be “a key contributor” to the company.

Some compared Weitzman’s post as analogous to the job of Sanford Litvack, a lawyer who as chief of corporate operations at Walt Disney Co. has served a similar role for Disney Chairman Michael D. Eisner.

“I’ve been fortunate to do just about everything one could hope for in my legal career. I’ve tried some of the highest-profile cases and been involved in some of the largest transactional work. An opportunity like this comes along once in a lifetime,” Weitzman said.

The reaction at MCA was mixed. Some in the corporate staff were said to be nervous that an outsider was given the post. But others praised Weitzman.

“I’ve known Howard for 15 years. He will be an important and terrific member of Ronnie’s team,” MCA Vice Chairman Tom Pollock said.

Weitzman is one of a number of executives Meyer is expected to bring aboard at MCA. Another known to have been courted is Brad Grey, partner at the Brillstein/Grey management and production firm, possibly to oversee television and film.

Most recently, Weitzman was managing partner of Katten Muchin Zavis & Weitzman. He became a national figure in the early 1980s when he successfully defended auto executive DeLorean against federal drug charges. He also represented Kim Basinger in a high-profile Hollywood case. In 1993, Main Line Pictures was awarded $8.1 million from Basinger in a Superior Court ruling after the actress allegedly reneged on an agreement to star in the film “Boxing Helena,” although the U.S. 2nd District Court of Appeals overturned the verdict last year.

Weitzman also briefly represented Simpson last year in the hours after Simpson’s wife, Nicole, and Ronald Goldman were found slain.