Media & Entertainment

We stay up to date through continued education, and by staying active in all aspects of media and entertainment law, including transactional and trial work. Our client list includes production companies, distributors, producers, musicians, artists, actors, directors, writers, and other film and television crews, as well as a variety of web-based entities.

 Our workload covers a wide range of services, too. We negotiate and prepare a variety of production agreements (including co-production and distribution contracts), as well as agreements involving the purchase, sale, and licensing of film, television, music, and other media. We regularly advise our clients on intellectual property issues governing their business interests, and have experience with the laws governing copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and financing transactions.

If litigation is appropriate for your particular case, we are full-service firm able to protect your interests across the spectrum. We will utilize our extensive knowledge of First Amendment law to both prosecute and defend defamation actions for libel and slander.

We provide entertainment legal services in finance (national and international), including legal issues related to equity investment, debt finance, tax credits, bridge, and gap financing structures.  Entertainment law areas include:

• Film and television production companies
• Distribution selling and licensing of film and television programs
• Directors, Producers, and Writers
• Sales agents and Producers Reps
• Investors and investment firms
• Lenders
• Bands and musicians
• Advertising agencies
• Fashion companies
• Indie music labels
• Actors and models
• Sponsorship and endorsement companies

We have in-depth legal experience in the distribution, licensing, option and sale of more than 3000 hours of media content. Our entertainment lawyers have provided legal services nationally and internationally from the local Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to the Cannes Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the  American Film Market.

Entertainment Attorney Representative Work:

• Production Legal: production legal services for film and television, agreements for above-the-line and crew agreements, agent negotiations, financing equity and debt agreements, copyright and trademark licensing, screenplay clearance, music sync rights, location agreements, permitting, vendors and locations, and all aspects of pre-production, production, and post-production legal services.
• Unions and Guilds: legal services for union and guild agreements, such as for agreements with members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG)including actors, stunt coordinators, stunt performers, singers, dancers, pilots, and extras; agreements with members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) including directors, unit production managers, and assistant directors; agreements with members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) agreements for writers; Teamsters agreements for drivers and location managers, and others.
• Insurance Legal: legal services for obtaining adequate errors and omissions insurance, comprehensive general liability insurance, equipment insurance, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, guild/union (SAG, DGA) accident coverage, cast and key-man insurance, negative film insurance, props, sets, and scenery, and third-party property damage insurance.
• Tax Credits and Rebates for Film and Television: legal services for maximizing tax credits and rebates for motion picture and television production; contract and financing matters for monetizing film and TV tax credits; application of federal and state statutes providing for tax credits. Some of the most important tax incentives are:
  • • • Utah
      • New Mexico
      • Louisiana
      • California
      • Georgia
      • State-by-state listing
• In-Depth Practical Legal Experience: Mr. Joseph Pia has sat on the Utah Film Commission board, has executive produced motion pictures and television programs, and has managed artists and musicians.  Through our unique understanding of the business side of entertainment law, we provide practical and efficient legal support to both experienced entertainment professionals and new companies alike.