what should you ask an entertainment lawyer

• Ask about experience. The label "entertainment lawyer" is very broad. You need a lawyer who specializes in what you are...
• Ask about similar clients and outcomes. Describe what you need the attorney to do for you, and ask him or her to relate...
• Ask about his or her style in dealing with conflicts. Attorneys are basically problem solvers, and you want someone who...

Full Answer

Do you need an entertainment lawyer?

As with all complex entertainment matters, please seek experienced entertainment legal counsel before making legal and financial decisions. This article is for information purposes only and does not represent legal, accounting or tax advice. A friend of mine is investing into a movie and asked me to get involved too.

What are the biggest challenges of being an entertainment lawyer?

I would say that for an entertainment lawyer, one of the biggest challenges is to negotiate a sales deal with a foreign sales agent, because of the complexity of the terms and the revenue structure. There is no question, if a filmmaker tries to negotiate a sales deal without counsel, nothing will end up getting paid at all by the sales agent.

Why do I need an entertainment law firm to submit projects?

By submitting the project through a recognized entertainment law firm, the network or studio knows that a record has been made of what was submitted and when it was submitted, thereby protecting both sides in the case of any future dispute.

Are entertainment lawyers and law firms worth the investment?

However, many entertainment lawyers and law firms have a trustworthy reputation earned from their peers and former clients. Do your research to find the best for you and you’ll likely end up with a valued professional resource for the entirety of your career. Wrapbook can likewise be a valued resource for your production payroll needs.

What are good questions to ask lawyers?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•

What is the role of an 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 does entertainment law handle?

Entertainment law, also referred to as media law, is legal services provided to the entertainment industry. These services in entertainment law overlap with intellectual property law. Intellectual property has many moving parts that include trademarks, copyright, and the "Right of Publicity".

Do entertainment lawyers work with celebrities?

Who deals with an entertainment lawyer? Some entertainment attorneys work as a celebrity's personal lawyer, but the majority of work with celebrities' agents and managers. These clients have a team of business and legal advisors which include agents, managers, and other attorneys.

Who needs entertainment lawyers?

If you are a talent manager, entertainer or involved in the media industry, you should get in touch with an entertainment lawyer.

Who do entertainment lawyers represent?

The role of an entertainment lawyer being diverse, an entertainment lawyer is qualified enough to guard their clients' intellectual property rights, represent them in court over disputes, negotiate contracts, act as an agent to maximize their earnings, and help them manage their taxes, among other responsibilities.

What are the four sources of entertainment law?

Primary SourcesThe Constitution. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8. ... Statutes. Federal statutes relavant to various aspects of the entertainment industry include, but are not limited to: ... Regulations. Federal administrative regulations are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. ... Case Law.

Is there money in entertainment law?

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.

Is entertainment law stressful?

Just as well, most people practicing entertainment law are in the field because they like the substantive work as well as the clients. Yes, there are the time pressures and tight budgets to consider, all of which can create significant stress for attorneys.

Is entertainment law hard to break into?

2. Entertainment Law Is Competitive It's no secret that entertainment law is a competitive area of law in which to practice. 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.

Who is the highest paid lawyer?

Top 10 Highest Paid Lawyer In The WorldRichard Scruggs — Net Worth: $1.7 Billion.Joe Jamail Jr. ... Willie Gary — Net Worth: $100 Million. ... Roy Black — Net Worth: $65 Million. ... Robert Shapiro — Net Worth: $50 Million. ... John Branca – Net Worth: $50 Million. ... Erin Brockovich – Net Worth: $42 Million. ... More items...•

How much do celebrity lawyers get paid?

Celebrity attorneys charge a flat fee plus a commission, and generally earn $100k – $2 million.

Questions To Ask When Hiring An Entertainment Lawyer

In any area of the entertainment industry, the more successful you become, the more you can be sure that lawsuits will soon follow. With attention comes risk, and in today’s digital era where entertainers definitely need to promote themselves online, there are many legalities to consider when you begin your journey.

Specific Results

Just as if you were scouting talent for any position, one of the most important questions to ask is the candidate’s specific area of expertise. The entertainment world is vast, and each different profession has different legal worries to consider.

Track Record

Whether or not your candidate has exact experience representing your sport or artform may not matter if their resume exceed expectations. The second most important question to ask during the selection process of your lawyer is, who have they previously worked with? Verify their claims online to see if their stories match up with their reputation.

Entertainment Lawyer: Understanding Their Importance

In some instances, general law may help you to understand the various requirements in your industry. For example, drafting up an employment contract may be something that looks relatively similar for a wide variety of business models.

What Role Do They Play in Your Business?

Of course, the above definition is a very broad overview of the responsibility of an entertainment lawyer in your day-to-day business. The work that they undertake on behalf of your company is essential to keeping your company and its employees protected as you continue operations.

Why Might You Need to Enlist the Help of an Entertainment Lawyer?

Asking when you should reach out to an entertainment lawyer depends entirely on your individual situation. However, looking deeper into an entertainment lawyer's role can help you better understand if and when you'll need to take advantage of their services.

How Do I Go About Hiring an Entertainment Lawyer?

Although this guide dives deeper into what an entertainment lawyer is and what role they play, the truth is that there are all kinds of entertainment lawyers that specialize in various areas of law as well as provide specific services designed specifically for the situation you may find yourself in when you seek out their help.

Meet some of our Lawyers

Diana is a registered patent attorney and licensed to practice law in Florida and in federal courts in Florida and in Texas. For nearly a decade, Diana has been known as the go-to brand builder, business protector, and rights negotiator.

Who is the lawyer for Netflix?

Attorney representation can be key, and when it comes to selling a project to Netflix, entertainment lawyer Brandon Blake shares everything he knows from 20 years in the film and television business. Nov 11, 2020. Oct 26, 2020.

What is the conflict between writers and performers?

At the core of the conflict is something that most writers (and performers) are not aware of, which is that not every project is passed along to the writer. We already knew that the project had to come through an entertainment lawyer, or directly from a major studio or network. So, a lot of projects get cut out right there.

Why do independent filmmakers rush into production?

That generally happens because the film producer is deriving all the benefits from the film from the production of the film itself. Most likely the producer and director fees are tied to production, and the filmmakers can use the film as a kind of resume to make their next feature.

Do production companies go to one agency?

In the past, production companies would go to one agency and get the agency involved with packaging their project. The problem creatively, and economically, was that now the production company was locked into writers, directors and actors that were represented by just one agency.

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

Entertainment lawyers represent people in the entertainment industry (authors, musicians, actors, producers, etc.) in lawsuits and can advise them about contracts they’re entering into.

What to do if you are being sued?

If you’re being sued, an entertainment lawyer will do their best to prove your innocence or reduce any charges against you. There are no guarantees in a lawsuit, but having a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the law and court procedure will give you your best chance.

Is Rocket Lawyer a lawyer?

This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.

Entertainment Lawyer Description

In this post we look at what is an entertainment lawyer and when you might need one. In addition to providing an entertainment lawyer definition, we’ll also cover how to find one so that you know where to turn and what to look for when selecting an entertainment lawyer.

Entertainment Lawyer Definition

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.

Entertainment Attorney 101

First things first: if you are in the entertainment industry and have questions about contracts, copyright claims or infringement, or any other legal information related to your creative work, do not seek advice from a non-industry lawyer.

When and Why You Need an Entertainment Lawyer

As a screenwriter, director, musical artist, fiction writer, or a performer with a public image or voice, you own creative copyright.

What to Look for in Hiring an Entertainment Attorney

Now that you understand the role of the entertainment lawyer, it is good to think about what you need help with and select an entertainment attorney carefully. Entertainment lawyers can help with a variety of scenarios and provide critical advice for key moments in your career.

UP NEXT

Legal and insurance issues are not most creatives’ favorite topic! Nonetheless they are vital to any production. In addition to realizing all the details of the creative vision for your project and managing the production tech and details, it is also good to have someone on your team looking out for liability.

Showcase your vision with elegant shot lists and storyboards

Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.

WHAT ENTERTAINMENT LAWYERS CHARGE – How much should fees be for music attorney services?

If you’re in the market for an entertainment attorney in the music business… Congratulations! You’re on the rise, finally getting paid for your craft and need someone in your corner looking out for your best interests. Few make it this far, but mo’ money, mo’ problems, right?

This Is What Entertainment Lawyers Cost

Prospective artists who are signed (or soon to be signed) with a recording agreement, as well as producers and songwriters who produce and write songs for these artists, often ask “how much do entertainment lawyers cost?” Unfortunately, when they ask around, they usually get different answers.