what is a entertainment lawyer

by Teresa Langosh IV 8 min read

  • Important Facts About Entertainment Lawyers
  • Duties and Responsibilities. Entertainment lawyers, as well as other types of lawyers, act as advocates and representatives of their clients in a courtroom setting, as advisors to their clients in ...
  • Education. ...
  • Salary and Employment Statistics. ...

Full Answer

What is the job description for an entertainment lawyer?

Jan 30, 2022 · An entertainment lawyer practices a specialized type of law specific to the entertainment industry. When you think about what is an entertainment lawyer, an image of a slick Hollywood type looking to take advantage of a naïve performer may come to mind. But it is important to understand what an entertainment attorney does, as they can provide essential …

How to become an entertainment attorney?

According to Schroder, entertainment lawyers may protect their clients’ intellectual property rights, represent them in court over disputes, negotiate contracts, show them ways to maximize earnings, and help them manage their taxes, among other tasks. Image via Flickr by elsa.org. What Does an Entertainment Lawyer Do?

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

Oct 26, 2018 · What Does an Entertainment Lawyer Do? Entertainment law, sometimes referred to as “media law,” provides various legal services to individuals and businesses involved in the entertainment industry. This area of law covers all different types of media including: Film Music Publishing Advertising Internet TV/Radio Theater

What do entertainment lawyers charge?

Oct 06, 2020 · Entertainment lawyers are often generalists in the field of entertainment law, which requires them to know a lot of legal subjects. They can give you advice and recommendations about: advertising; agency; bankruptcy law; contract law; criminal law; defamation; employment law; fee negotiation when the entertainment lawyer is also a talent …

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What is an entertainment lawyer job description?

Entertainment Attorneys help their clients to understand legal agreements, ensuring that the terms are in their clients' best interests. They work with Recording Groups, Record Producers, Songwriters, Music Publishers, Record Label Executives, Music Producers, and Composers.Jul 3, 2020

What exactly is entertainment law?

Entertainment law spans the subjects of contracts, first rights of creative properties, fee negotiation (as is the case with an entertainment lawyer who is also a talent agent), and publishing rights to name just a few responsibilities.

How do you become an entertainment lawyer?

How do you become an entertainment lawyer?Earn a bachelor's degree. The first step to becoming an entertainment lawyer is earning a bachelor's degree. ... Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) ... Apply for law school. ... Earn a law degree. ... Consider a certificate. ... Pass the bar examination. ... Gain professional experience.Apr 8, 2021

Is entertainment law hard to get into?

2. Entertainment Law Is Competitive Who wouldn't want to work with major musicians, actors, directors, and producers? For those reasons, entertainment law can be a hard niche to break into. Lawyers like TL Brown had to spend a lot of time cutting their teeth with the pros to make it on their own in the business.Jun 15, 2020

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.Dec 18, 2020

Where do entertainment lawyers make the most money?

Average salaries for entertainment lawyers vary by city. For example, Law Crossing reports that average salaries were highest in Los Angeles where they earned ​$165,000​ per year. Those working in Glendale and San Franciso averaged ​$164,500​ per year. New York City entertainment lawyers averaged ​$161,000​.Jan 20, 2022

How much do Hollywood lawyers make?

Salary Ranges for Entertainment Lawyers 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.

How long do you have to be in school to be a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).Sep 8, 2021

Which type of lawyer gets paid the most UK?

You'll find the highest salaries in areas such as commercial and corporate law, while family and personal injury law are less likely to draw big-figure salaries.

How much do media lawyers make?

The salaries of Media Lawyers in the US range from $16,399 to $441,479 , with a median salary of $79,435 . The middle 57% of Media Lawyers makes between $79,445 and $199,326, with the top 86% making $441,479.

Why do I want to go into entertainment law?

'” According to Schroder, entertainment lawyers may protect their clients' intellectual property rights, represent them in court over disputes, negotiate contracts, show them ways to maximize earnings, and help them manage their taxes, among other tasks.

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.

Where do entertainment lawyers work?

Entertainment lawyers can work in law firms or as in-house counsel for corporations. This type of attorney tends to practice in entertainment hubs such as New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Nashville, though some find employment across the nation.

How to become an entertainment lawyer?

The first step one must take to become an entertainment lawyer is earning a bachelor’s degree from a college or university. After completing the four years of undergraduate study, the student then takes the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).

What is entertainment law?

Entertainment law, sometimes referred to as “media law,” provides various legal services to individuals and businesses involved in the entertainment industry. This area of law covers all different types of media including: Film. Music. Publishing.

What do lawyers do after graduation?

After graduating, many lawyers begin their careers by working as law clerks after graduation. Since it is a very specialized field, it is not uncommon for entertainment lawyers to work in a different area of law before finding a job in the entertainment industry.

Do attorneys need retainers?

Regardless of whether the attorney charges hourly or a flat rate fee, they may also require a retainer. A retainer is a portion of the estimated total costs paid to the lawyer up front. The retainer is put into a special account and is used as the lawyer works on the case.

Is entertainment law a separate legal discipline?

TV/Radio. Theater. Entertainment law is not considered a separate legal discipline, but rather a blend of traditional legal disciplines, such as contract law, intellectual property law, and business law.

What do entertainment attorneys do?

Entertainment attorneys also work with actors’ agents for contracts regarding upcoming projects. They negotiate with the agent and producer for the actor’s compensation. Some entertainment attorneys are also agents, managers or publicists.

How long does it take to become an entertainment attorney?

Education. Like other attorneys, an entertainment attorney spends three years earning a law degree after receiving a bachelor’s degree. But an entertainment attorney chooses to focus on entertainment, most often graduating from a law school that offers a specialization in entertainment law.

What does a music lawyer do?

They act as general counsel for established artists, helping with marketing and merchandising deals, as well as real estate transactions and tax issues. Also, they help artists secure the rights to use music that other artists have written, complying with copyright laws.

What does a finance manager do?

They work on financing agreements for sponsorships, bank loans, co-production investments, grants and other types of investments. They prepare agreements for appearance releases, location releases, and licenses. They may also help clients join unions, guilds, and other professional associations if needed.

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.

Where did Paul Rothenberg start his career?

On his journey to forge a career in the movie industry, Paul Rothenberg found a different calling – music law. Rothenberg started out in New York and moved to Los Angeles, where he founded his own firm. Rothenberg is now one of the most iconic entertainment lawyers in LA.

Who is Jonathan Gray?

Known for his work in the entertainment and sports industry, entertainment lawyer Jonathan Gray practices in the New York area. Before becoming an entertainment lawyer, Gray studied at Fordham University School of Law. After passing the bar exam, he was admitted to legal practice in 1991. Shortly after that, he founded a firm that grew to have 21 lawyers. These entertainment lawyers provided production counsel and other legal services on hundreds of narrative and documentary films. In 2016, Gray and another high-level entertainment attorney David F. Schwartz launched a boutique LLP in New York. As well as practicing law for over 15 years, Gray and Schwartz have produced numerous films and theatre productions.

Where is David Feldman?

David Feldman, entertainment lawyer, is one of the most renowned attorneys in the industry in LA. Currently working in Beverly Hills, Feldman has recently launched a new entertainment legal firm alongside some other big-time lawyers in the industry (Stephen Breimer and Leigh Brecheen, to name a few). Feldman graduated from Bolt Hall School of Law in the 90s and has been practicing entertainment law ever since. His big break came from working with celebs including Keegan-Michael Key and Lucas Hedgesover the last 10 years.

Who is Paul Marshall?

Through his various associations, Miami-born Paul Marshall has represented many big acts including Whitney Houston, The Beatles, KISS, Neil Diamond, and many more. 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”).

What is entertainment lawyer?

What is an entertainment lawyer? Unlike divorce or corporate lawyers, an entertainment lawyer represents and protects the interests of creatives, companies and others in the many areas of the entertainment industry, such as film, television, new media, theater, publishing and music.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property, or IP, is big business. From a screenwriter’s spec script to a musician’s original song, anything created within this industry necessitates protection from those who may want to buy it, option it, license it—or infringe upon it with unauthorized use. An entertainment lawyer can see to it that a client’s intellectual property is handled properly and protected when copyright or trademark issues arise.

How much does a retainer cost?

It may start at $1000 for contractual and/or advisement issues and go up to $100,000 should they be retained for litigation. Before agreeing to any terms with an entertainment lawyer, inquire about their retainer fee.

Can an entertainment lawyer be hired as an employee?

Unless you are potentially forming a company that would require the ongoing services of an entertainment lawyer, they would not be hired as an employee. Rather, they are a contractor who is part of a law firm or the proprietor of their own business.

Is entertainment lawyer specialized?

The nature of work for an entertainment lawyer is highly specialized. That in part explains the costly fees for them. However, it also indicates the extensive education they must attain to be skilled at their job.

Which states offer competitive financial advantages for productions?

Many states outside of California and New York offer competitive financial advantages for productions, making it attractive to creatives on a budget to film in these other locations with local crew and other resources at their disposal.

Where is Anna Keizer?

Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland area. After receiving her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, she moved to California and finished her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has also graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program and is currently in post-production on the short She Had It Coming, which she wrote and is executive producing.

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