Entertainment & Media Law

Contacts:    Daniel G. McIntosh
                  Matthew J. Ertman
                  Randall K. Broberg

Allen Matkins offers entertainment industry clients a full-service practice with decades of experience in all facets of the entertainment industry, including both traditional entertainment (such as motion pictures, television and music) and digital media (such as animation, visual effects, online music, video and online games, and cutting-edge digital enterprises, including production, distribution and content).  We represent entertainment lenders, industry executives, and providers of services to industry participants, such as talent agencies and managers, visual effects companies and others.  Our work includes both legal issues specific to the entertainment industry and the day-to-day legal support needed in more generalized areas such as corporate, real estate, labor and employment and pre-litigation and litigation counseling and representation.

Our lawyers have represented clients in the traditional entertainment field including motion picture studios, television producers, lenders, networks, cable companies, record labels, talent agencies and managers, and producers, writers, directors, and actors in all aspects of traditional entertainment law, including contract negotiations, financing transactions, production and distribution agreements, entertainment guild and union contracts and disputes, and intellectual property licensing.  Allen Matkins has also represented clients in newer entertainment sectors, including digital content (such as animation and visual effects), and video and online games.  Our lawyers have also assisted both technology and traditional entertainment clients address the legal issues raised by exhibition of content on the Internet, mobile platforms and other new media and promotion and marketing of consumer and entertainment products and services, including issues regarding the development, distribution, licensing and protection of digital content.  The firm has advised numerous technology and entertainment companies on establishing websites, including the development and licensing of content, the creation of e-commerce capabilities, privacy issues, and advertising and marketing issues (including sweepstakes and other contests).

In addition, we provide counsel on:

• Intellectual property protection (including trademark, service mark and copyright registration, portfolio management and defense);
• Real estate leasing, financing, land use, environmental matters, and purchase and sales of properties;
• Labor and employment advice and representation (including wage/hour, discrimination and other employee claims, and mass layoffs);
• Tax (including property and federal tax issues);
• Entity formation, capitalization, financing, governance and securities issuances; and
• Large-scale corporate and business matters, including acquisitions, sales and reorganizations of businesses, initial and secondary public issuances, and compliance with state and federal securities laws.