Legal Practice Areas

Music

  • Domestic and International Recording and Distribution Agreements
  • Songwriting, Publishing and Production Agreements
  • Merchandising and Branding, Touring Agreements, Commercial Appearances
  • Endorsements and Sponsorships
  • Intra-group agreements for recording artists and business structures
  • Music supervision, music composer and soundtrack albums
  • Music, Sample Clearances, and Synchronization licensing agreements
  • Agency and Management representation agreement
  • Composers and Music Library Acquisitions
  • Publishing and foreign sub-publishing Administration
  • Terrestrial and streaming internet radio station ownership and management
  • LLC formations/operating Agreements, Royalty Audits

Film/TV/Reality & Non-Scripted Television

  • Video & Film production, marketing and distribution
  • Option Agreements, Television Motion Pictures & Ministries
  • Writers agreements, Scripted Programming, Documentaries
  • Event Programming & Specials
  • Infomercials & Shopping Network Programming
  • Talk & Magazine Shows, Syndicated Television
  • Public Television Funding, Distribution and Sponsorships
  • DVD distribution directly to chains
  • Complex multi-distributor “split-rights” and “gap” financing
  • Negative pick-up transactions
  • Receivables-based and asset-based lines of credit and term-credit facilities
  • Equity investments, foreign co-financing

New Media/Intellectual Property

  • Copyright Registration, Protection, Licensing, and Exploitation
  • Trademark Infringement/Lanham Act, Fair Use
  • Mobile Phone Applications, Video Game Developers
  • Celebrity television network deals, and multi-platform network deals
  • Production/exhibition agreements
  • Broadband and mobile technology deals
  • Service Marks, Trade Names, Internet Domain Names, and Trade Dress
  • Internet, Wireless, Emerging Media, Including Social Networks and Blogs
  • Online Publishing, Avatars, Ringtones, Ring-Backs
  • ISP’s, Safe Harbor Exceptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
  • Original Content for the Internet and Mobile Devices (Webisodes, Films, Games)
  • Software Protection

Advertising, Promotion, & Branded Entertainment

  • Product Integration & Branding Companies
  • Clearance of Advertising, Promotional Materials, Market Campaigns
  • Sweepstakes, Contests, Games and Other Promotions
  • Data Privacy, Direct Mail, Telemarketing, and Email Marketing
  • Marketing and Sales Practices, Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practice

Talent

  • Evaluating, Negotiating, and Drafting Engagement Agreements
  • Protecting Clients’ Privacy and Intellectual Property Rights
  • Contract Disputes, Defamation, Libel, Slander
  • Fine Arts Agreements

Theatre

  • Live Stage Rights Agreements for Producers, Playwrights, Composers, Lyricists Copyright and Privacy and Publicity Rights Issues
  • Service Agreements for Directors, Designers, and Performers

Sports

  • Employment Agreements, Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Television Rights, Production, and Distribution
  • Event Operations and Risk Management
  • Stadium & Arena Matters

Entertainment Finance

  • Contract Disputes, Merchandising, Product Placement, Promotional Agreements
  • Investment Documents, Private Placement Memorandums
  • Digital Distribution of Music and Film through Universal and Sony
  • Negotiating & Structuring Independent, Joint Venture & Distributor-Financed Record Labels, Royalty Audits

Literary Publishing

  • Representation of Authors, Graphic Novels, Novelization Agreements Based on Motion Pictures, Television, and other Media Properties
  • Rights Acquisitions, Development, Creation, and Marketing of photo books
  • Negotiate Agreements for Ghostwriting Literary Works on behalf of Celebrities

Copyrights, Trademarks, and Patents

  • Publishing, U.S. and Foreign Copyright Applications
  • Policies and Agreements for Brand Guidelines and Trademark Licensing
  • Licensing Agreements, Enforcement, Advertising, Cybersquatting
  • Trademark Procurement, Counseling, Prosecution and Appeals
  • Trademark and trade Name Availability Searches
  • Trademark Licensing Agreements
  • Unfair Trade Practices, Counterfeiting Claims
  • Due Diligence for Asset Purchases, Security Interest Agreements
  • Policies and Agreements for Brand Guidelines
  • Mobile Application Disputes
  • Brand Development and Enforcement (i.e., trademark and domain name selection counseling, trademark registration, monitoring and renewal services)
  • Domain Name Disputes
  • Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
  • Keyword Advertising and DisputesInternet Website Policies and Agreements, Multimedia Issues
  • Trademark Litigation, Trade Secret Litigation
  • Unfair Competition Litigation, Counterfeiting Litigation, Lanham Act Claims

Business and Real Estate Formation and Expansion Plans

  • Sole Proprietorships, General Partnerships, Corporations
  • Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies
  • Tax Benefits, Voting Structures, Business Plans
  • Purchases and sales of businesses and business entities, including asset purchases, stock purchases and mergers
  • Employment agreements, bonus and commission arrangements;
  • Non-competition and restrictive covenants;
  • Executive compensation arrangements, including non-qualified deferred compensation plans, stock bonus plans,and phantom stock and stock appreciation rights arrangements;
  • Borrowing and lending transactions with both banks and private lenders;
  • Independent contractor and agency relationships;
  • Joint venture relationships; Consulting Agreements
  • Retail and Wholesale Customer and vendor transactions.
  • Indemnification, Personal and Corporate Guarantees,
  • Loan collection terms
  • Royalty Audits

Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Asset Protection.

  • Durable General and Statutory Powers of Attorney
  • Advanced Medical Directives
  • Wills, Revocable Living Trusts
  • Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)
  • Charitable Trusts
  • Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
  • Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
  • Dynasty Trusts, Disclaimer Trusts
  • Minimization of Federal and State Estate Taxes
  • Avoidance of Probate
  • Proper Distribution Planning, Preparation of Probate Documents
  • Preparation of Estate Tax Returns
  • Preparation of Estate and Trust Income Tax Returns
  • Negotiation of Disputes Among Beneficiaries
  • Negotiation of Disputes Between Fiduciaries and Beneficiaries
  • Representation of the Estate if Tax Returns are Audited
  • Asset Protection Plans, Domestic and Offshore Asset Protection Trusts

Criminal Defense

  • White Collar Crimes
  • Federal Education Charter School Fraud
  • Federal Health Care Fraud
  • Federal Mail & Postal Fraud
  • Federal Grand Jury Practice
  • Target Letter & Proffer
  • Indictment & Burdeon of Proof
  • Due Process
  • Federal Search & Seizure
  • Federal Warrant Suppression
  • Sentencing Guidelines
  • Federal Sentencing Memos
  • Federal Obstruction Enhancements
  • Gun Charges
  • Federal Gun Enhancements

DUI

  • DUI & Traffic Stops
  • 1st Time Offenders/ARD Program
  • Multiple DUI Charges
  • DUI & Prescription Medication
  • Breath & Field Sobriety Tests

Drugs

  • Drug Crimes
  • Federal Drug Weight Conversion
  • Drug Weight Conversion Schedule

State Marijuana Laws & Federal Prohibition

  • Current Federal Enforcement Priorities
  • Obtaining Business Licenses: Retail Stores, Cultivation Facilities. Etc.
  • Handling Appeals for License Denials
  • Marketing & Advertising Restrictions
  • Security & Control Requirements
  • Packaging & Product testing Requirements
  • Civil Asset Forfeiture
  • Zoning
  • Securing Licenses
  • Ownership of Cannabis Business
  • Drugged Driving
  • Employment Drug Tests
  • Worker’s Compensation Issues
  • Personnel Possession Amounts
  • Home Cultivation