Determined to go it alone, Miller ready to rock 'n' roll.

FOR powerhouse attorney Louis R. "Skip" Miller, the rock hit "Bat Out of Hell" appears to be a way out of limbo.

Miller, a founding partner at the law firm now known as Christensen Glaser Fink Jacobs Weil & Shapiro LLP, left in May after being sanctioned--along with the firm--for his handling of a case involving singer Rod Stewart in Las Vegas. The messy exit--coming on the heels of fellow partner Terry Christensen's indictment for his involvement with Anthony Pelicano--was wrapped up only after the two sides went to arbitration.

Miller subsequently looked into joining Goodwin Procter LLP, an East Coast firm looking to establish a West Coast beachhead, but those talks broke down after the firm reportedly did not extend an offer.

Now, Miller has decided to go on his own and he's establishing his own firm. His first case is representing Grammy-winning singer Meat Loaf (real name Marvin Lee Aday) in a rights battle against his agent and Jim Steinman, composer of the first two "Bat Out of Hell" records, released in 1977 and 1993. Meat Loaf is preparing to release "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose." Steinman filed to trademark the "Bat Out of Hell" name in 1995.

Miller has been at the center of a number of high profile cases in the Los Angeles area. including those involving Rodney King. Michael Jackson and former City Councilman Nate Holden.

Staff reporter Emily Bryson York can be reached at [e-mail] or at [phone], ext. 235.