how to get funding for an entertainment lawyer

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

Sep 11, 2020 · For first-time filmmakers, it is often family or friends who finance the project...To qualify for equity crowdfunding one must meet specified requirements, including the following: the amount raised must not exceed $1 million in a 12-month period, individual investments in all crowdfunding issuers in a 12-month period are limited to the greater of $2,000 or 5% of annual …

How much money does a music lawyer make?

Entertainment attorney Sebastian Gibson looks at film and television development deals, the catch-22 of obtaining development money, the cost of investor funds, distribution as a source of funds, and other sources of funds producers can tap into. Development money is almost certainly the hardest money for most producers to obtain, the most expensive in terms of what it will …

How can I pay for a lawyer on a budget?

Some attorneys bill on a fixed-fee basis, in which you pay a set amount for services (expect to pay $5,000 to $25,000 to negotiate a major entertainment deal, for instance). The so-called "billable hour" is still the most common method of payment. Many attorneys ask for a retainer, which is an advance payment for legal work.

What types of law courses are available in the entertainment industry?

They must have a Juris Doctor degree, and must also pass the bar exam before they can practice law. They often specialize in a specific field of law, such as criminal law, business law or immigration law. Entertainment lawyers focus on the entertainment industry. They work with contracts in the music, television, film and publishing industries.

Do Entertainment Lawyers make a lot of money?

The salaries of Entertainment Lawyers in the US range from $10,018 to $187,200 , with a median salary of $18,674 . The middle 57% of Entertainment Lawyers makes between $18,674 and $74,346, with the top 86% making $187,200.

Are Entertainment Lawyers in demand?

Entertainment Lawyer Growth Trend The predicted growth rate for all occupations is 8 percent. Entertainment lawyer jobs are usually affected by the economy and the health of the entertainment industry which – including streaming services, music downloads and television revenue – continues to remain strong.Jan 20, 2022

Where do Entertainment Lawyers make the most money?

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entertainment Attorney JobsCityAnnual SalaryHourly WageManhattan, NY$103,718$49.86Barnstable Town, MA$102,913$49.48Cambridge, MA$102,724$49.39San Mateo, CA$101,937$49.016 more rows

How do you break into entertainment law?

It now seems to me that people break into the entertainment law field in one of three ways: Good connections, great experience on the business side, or incredible credentials. If you don't work at a top firm or you don't know anyone in the field, try taking a job—even an internship—on the business side.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Medical lawyers are among the highest-paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field.

How much do Nintendo lawyers make?

543 Nintendo of America employees have shared their salaries on Glassdoor. Select your job title and find out how much you could make at Nintendo of America....Nintendo of America Salaries.Job TitleSalaryLawyer salaries - 1 salaries reported$186,163/yrCorporate Counsel salaries - 1 salaries reported$212,652/yr2 more rows

What does entertainment law consist of?

Overview. Entertainment law covers an area of law that involves media of all different types (e.g. TV, film, music, publishing, advertising, Internet & news media, etc.)

How much do divorce lawyers make?

Salary Ranges for Divorce Lawyers The salaries of Divorce Lawyers in the US range from $25,415 to $679,997 , with a median salary of $121,978 . The middle 57% of Divorce Lawyers makes between $121,979 and $306,401, with the top 86% making $679,997.

How much do entertainment lawyers make in NYC?

The average salary for Entertainment Lawyer Jobs in New York is $160,500*.

Is entertainment law transactional?

Entertainment lawyers are both transactional lawyers and litigation lawyers. While some entertainment lawyers do it all, most lawyers who practice entertainment law specialize in one subset of entertainment law.

What are sports law?

Sports law is an amalgam of laws that apply to athletes and the sports they play. It is not a single legal topic with generally applicable principles. Sports law touches on a variety of matters, including contract, tort, agency, antitrust, constitutional, labor, trademark, Sex Discrimination, criminal, and tax issues.

Is divorce a family law?

What does a family lawyer do? Family lawyers act on matters such as divorce and separation, child contact and adoption, Local Authority care orders and financial settlements.

What is an attorney in the entertainment industry?

For better or worse, however, attorneys are part of the fabric of the entertainment industry. They facilitate connections between performers, producers, and venues, and assist in drafting and negotiating contracts.

Why do entertainers hire lawyers?

The most common reason that an entertainer hires a lawyer is to review, draft, or negotiate a contract.

What is the most common method of payment for attorneys?

The so-called "billable hour" is still the most common method of payment. Many attorneys ask for a retainer, which is an advance payment for legal work. The amount of the retainer is included in the attorney-client fee agreement.

How much do attorneys charge per hour?

Understand up front that most attorneys bill on an hourly basis (often between $300 and $700 an hour) and send a bill at the end of each month. Some attorneys bill on a fixed-fee basis, in which you pay a set amount for services (expect to pay $5,000 to $25,000 to negotiate a major entertainment deal, for instance).

What is fee agreement?

The fee agreement is negotiated between you and your lawyer and establishes the payments and the lawyer's responsibilities. It is usually contained within a broader retainer agreement, the contract between you and your lawyer outlining your relationship.

How to choose an attorney?

Don't choose an attorney purely based on his or her "know-how." Consider also style and personality. While these qualities might seem superficial, remember that you may spend long hours working together. You may prefer to be represented by an attorney whose style and demeanor correspond with yours. Do you want someone aggressive? Ambitious? Accommodating? Serious? Boisterous?

Can an attorney withhold your files?

You may be asked to pay any outstanding bills. However, an attorney cannot withhold your files because you have failed to pay your bills.

What are the responsibilities of an entertainment lawyer?

Job Responsibilities. Provide legal counsel to businesses and individuals in the entertainment industry; negotiate contracts and handle issues related to defamation, copyright, and intellectual property; argue in court when necessary. Licensure.

What is entertainment law?

Entertainment lawyers focus on the entertainment industry. They work with contracts in the music, television, film and publishing industries. They advise clients on the terms of the contract, alert them to any concerns with the contract, and may also draft contracts for companies or individuals.

What are some examples of legal representation?

Typical examples include writers' strikes, defamation suits and contract negotiations. You can represent individuals, like actors and directors, and firms, such as production companies. You'll apply your extensive training in areas such as copyright, contract and intellectual property law.

What do lawyers need to know?

Lawyers require extensive legal knowledge . They must have a Juris Doctor degree, and must also pass the bar exam before they can practice law. They often specialize in a specific field of law, such as criminal law, business law or immigration law. Entertainment lawyers focus on the entertainment industry. They work with contracts in the music, ...

What degree do you need to be an arbitrator?

They need a bachelor's degree, a familiarity with the law, and the ability to recommend contract terms for the parties to agree on.

What is entertainment lawyer?

Entertainment lawyers advise clients on movie and recording contracts, review and approve all promotional and distribution agreements related to celebrities, protect material that is copyrighted, and help negotiate entertainers' fees and royalties with movie, television and music production companies. Anyone who wants to become an entertainment ...

How much do entertainment lawyers make?

Entertainment lawyers made salaries closer to the industry average in Los Angeles and Dallas -- $87,000 and $82,000, respectively.

How long does it take to become an entertainment lawyer?

In order to become an entertainment lawyer, one must obtain both a bachelor and a juris doctor (JD) degree. This process usually takes seven years. Employers also usually prefer that their entertainment lawyers have at least two or three years of industry experience.

What is the expected growth rate for entertainment lawyers?

Bureau of Labor Statistics. The predicted growth rate for all occupations is 14 percent.

What do entertainment lawyers do?

One of the key things entertainment lawyers do is examine and negotiate contracts and deals. Most of their day is spent meeting with clients, labels, and other lawyers. They then draft arrangements, land booking agents or concert deals and deal with a myriad of other agreements. Not to be confused with a music manager, ...

Why do artists need entertainment lawyers?

This article highlights many key reasons why artists should have an entertainment lawyer. They can help propel your career and then sustain your success by negotiating great deals to landing new sponsorship deals. But before you reach out to entertainment lawyers, make sure to list the reasons you need one, and what you specifically need legal help with. We have listed some great entertainment lawyers, however, before getting in touch with these lawyers, ensure they specialise in the type of legal issues you need help with. Do your research and look at their success rates and who they’ve worked with, and read their reviews.

How long has Michael Marshall been a lawyer?

His 30-year career providing legal counsel to some of the biggest stars in the industry led him to become one of the most well-known entertainment lawyers of all time. Sadly, Marshall passed away in 2012, but his legacy will never be forgotten. He is still remembered as one of the best entertainment lawyers in the US.

Who is Johnetta Paye?

Johnetta Paye is the founder of one of the largest law firms in Chicago, J Paye & Associates. Paye has built up a reputation for herself and her firm for representing some of the biggest artists in Chicago. She started her law career after graduating from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. She then worked as a junior attorney specialising in Copyright Law, Entertainment Law, Trademark Law, and Real Estate Law. Paye then went on to open a boutique law firm that offers quality legal and consulting services in business, entertainment, and real estate. Past clients of Payes’ law firm includes films (“A Sunshine Day” at the 2016 Black Harvest Film Festival), film projects (Eugene Bush of E-Tre Productions), and musicians (Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Belo from Do or Die, Tressa Thomas from “The Five Heartbeats” and “Star Search”).

Who is the best music lawyer in London?

Senior associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, Butler-Ball has often been referred to as one of the best music lawyers in London. She has many years’ experience in advising clients in the media and entertainment industries. Butler-Ball advises both individuals and businesses working in music, film, TV, and digital media. She holds a certificate in Legal Rights and Trade Practices in the Creative Industries from UCL Faculty of Laws. The biggest highlights of her career so far has been acting for recording artists on their deals, with some being signed to major record labels such as Sony Music. Much of her recent work also includes providing legal advice to digital media companies and publishers.

Is Jorge Hernandez Toranos an entertainment lawyer?

While Jorge L. Hernandez-Toraño does not label himself as an entertainment lawyer, he has become well known in Miami and Florida for representing high profile clients in the entertainment industry. Hernandez-Toraño mainly practices areas of domestic and international corporate and mergers and acquisitions.

How to finance a lawyer?

But that’s not always a possibility, especially if you weren’t expecting to need a lawyer. In those situations, you might want to consider one of the following options. Personal line of credit.

How to pay a one time legal fee?

Sometimes the easiest way to pay a one-time legal fee like a consultation is to put it on your credit card. Most law firms accept them, and it’s an easy way to meet spending minimums and earn miles or points.

What is an award of attorney fees?

Awards of attorneys’ fees. Awards of attorneys’ fees work almost exactly like contingency fees. The difference is that instead of your lawyer taking a percentage of your damages, the court orders the defendant to pay your legal fees. This is generally only an option if your lawyer thinks you have a strong legal case.

What is a statute fee?

A fee set either by a statute or a court that covers your legal costs. Sometimes it’s a percentage of your earnings in a case or a flat rate. Statutory fees are common in bankruptcy or inheritance cases.

How much does a lawyer cost per hour?

Typical cost: $100 to $400 per hour, as much as $1,000 per hour in specialized legal cases. Pay your lawyer per hour of work on your case. Rates can vary depending on where you live, your lawyer’s seniority and type of legal work.

How much can I borrow for legal expenses?

You can typically borrow between $2,000 and $100,000 at once and pay it back in monthly installments over a fixed period of time, usually between one and 10 years.

Do lawyers waive their fees?

Lawyers sometimes reduce their fees or waive them entirely on cases that they think could generate a lot of press or for low-income clients. Some law firms even require lawyers to take on a certain number of pro bono cases each year.

How much does a $1 million movie cost?

But, depending on the state or country, the benefits can be significant. For example, a $1 million movie can end up actually costing $750,000. This means that the filmmaker only needs to raise 75% of the film’s budget.

What is equity based financing?

Equity. Equity based financing is simply having investors contribute money—actual cash— to the production in exchange for an ownership interest in the film and the profits derived from the exploitation of the film.

Do filmmakers have to guarantee a loan?

Again, a filmmaker will likely have to personally guarantee a loan and put up the film and related intellectual property as collateral. If the film does not earn sufficient return to repay this loan, the filmmaker will be on the hook for the total unpaid loan amount. Another area to make sure that you are protected.

Is investing in movies risky?

Investing in film is an inherently risky game, especially considering that independent films rarely make money for their investors, and you must disclose this risk as well as all other investment risks or you could be held liable for misrepresentation and/or violating other securities regulations.

Can I make an independent film if I have never made it?

If you’ve never produced an independent film, it is almost impossible to raise the money for it outside of a friends/family round or by being fortunate enough to obtain intellectual property with a following ( i.e., book rights, life story rights, etc .).

Do independent filmmakers have to defer their producer fees?

Most filmmakers in the independent film world likely have to defer their producer fees and, if other talent will agree to defer their fees, then that much less money has to be raised to make the film.

How to raise money for legal fees?

Consider raising money for legal fees with online fundraising. Another alternative to finding legal help or a pro bono lawyer is raising money for legal fees. You can do this easily using crowdfunding, which can help you quickly raise funds for a legal defense. Crowdfunding for legal fees can help relieve some or all of the financial burden ...

How much does a lawyer charge per hour?

Hourly rate. Typical hourly rates for a lawyer range from $255 to $520, though they can be higher or lower depending on the factors above and the specifics of your case. The hourly rate is often applied to every aspect of your case—including things like making photocopies or doing legal research.

Why is crowd funding important?

Crowdfunding can offset expensive legal representation fees. For those facing any sort of legal challenge, it can be difficult to ask others directly for help . Crowdfunding provides an alternative that is quick, easy, and avoids those potentially awkward conversations with family and friends.

How much did Peter Ridd raise?

Last year, Peter Ridd raised over $260,000 to cover his legal defense in a trial surrounding academic integrity. Peter’s fundraiser was active for 15 months and helped cover the cost of an expensive and ongoing trial between himself and James Cook University.

How much is contingency fee?

Contingency fee. Most common in a personal injury case, your lawyer only gets paid if you win. Contingency fees typically range between 30 to 40% of the settlement amount. The American Bar Association prohibits contingency fee arrangements for divorce cases, those involving family law, and criminal cases.

How much did Mary raise for her legal defense?

1. Legal Aid for Mary. In just 11 days, Mary raised more than $5,000 toward her legal defense in a custody battle to keep her children. This money will go toward covering the cost of legal proceedings, as well as pay her lawyer’s retainer fee. 2.

What is the American Bar Association?

American Bar Association. The American Bar Association provides a list of affordable legal services and nonprofit law firms by state, designed to help you get the legal services you need even if you have no money to pay for a lawyer. They also have a pro bono resource directory that is searchable by state.