Entertainment Industry Law

We represent the artists, songwriters, producers, managers, executives and independent music companies who have defined global entertainment for generations as well as those charting the industry’s future. Buchalter’s full-service legal counsel protects clients, their creative works and critical transactions. We keep them competitive and ahead of market and legal challenges. Our experience spans every platform and creative output, including:

  • Recorded and live music
  • Publishing
  • Television
  • Film
  • Touring and merchandise
  • Streaming and digital content
  • Technology-driven entertainment platforms
  • IP licensing

Whether structuring the legal framework for a Grammy-award winner’s live tour, or acquiring and selling copyrights, or determining the intersections of new tech with traditional entertainment, Buchalter represents the industry coast-to-coast and internationally, from our offices in Los Angeles, Nashville and Atlanta. We are proud to be named among Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers, MusicRow’s InCharge, and Chambers-ranked attorneys. Yet our most valued achievements come from helping clients build enduring careers and thriving enterprises.


What We Do

Buchalter’s broad capabilities are a value-add that goes beyond most entertainment law boutiques. From corporate and outside counsel to litigation and transactions, including securing and protecting IP assets, we meet the demands of the entertainment world at every juncture.

Transactions

  • Complex license agreements
  • Production, distribution and talent agreements
  • Branding and sponsorship
  • Catalogue sales and acquisitions
  • Copyright Act statutory termination provisions
  • Project financing

Intellectual Property

  • Copyrights
  • Trademarks
  • Name and likeness litigation
  • Portfolio commercialization

Litigation

  • Copyright and trademark infringement
  • Breach of contract

Financial Restructuring

  • Bankruptcy and insolvency
  • Creditor disputes
  • Film and music library sales

Labor and Employment

  • Non-disclosure agreements

Audit, Tax, and Estate Planning

Business Divorces

Corporate and Outside Counsel


Our Clients

  • Content Creators
  • Distributors
  • Event Venues
  • Film Funds
  • Music Festivals
  • Producers
  • Songwriters
  • Promotors
  • Publishing Companies
  • Recording Artists
  • Record Labels
  • Studios
  • Talent
  • Talent Buyers


Trusted by Tech, Creatives and Counsel

Music Row recognizedBuchalter attorneys for operating “at the intersection of music, media and technology.” We are working with several tech companies focused on exploiting and distributing entertainment assets. Additionally, we often fill the role of outside general counsel to clients in live music and other areas.

As professionals who share our clients’ passion for creativity and art, we support them through involvement in a range of organizations. We are members of the Recording Academy (NARAS), Television Academy, BAFTA, Academy of Country Music, Country Music Hall of Fame, Country Music Association, Music City Community Court, Copyright Society of the South, International Trademark Association and Public Counsel, among other groups.


Deals and Cases 

Music

  • Recover multimillion-dollar jury verdict for recording artists against record company in contract and copyright case in Chicago federal court.
  • Representing multi-platinum international recording artists and record companies in copyright infringement defense litigation.
  • Represent artists, publishers, writers and record companies in copyright termination rights litigation.
  • Representing a national record label in litigation brought by one of its major artists seeking to void her recording contracts.
  • Represent internationally acclaimed and Grammy® Award-winning recording artists and music producers in a range of music licensing, recording and production agreements.
  • Serve as outside counsel to several major recording industry companies, award winning songwriters, independent record companies and music publishers in a variety of distribution, touring, recording and publishing agreements.
  • Negotiate multiple multimillion-dollar touring deals domestically and internationally.
  • Counsel clients in connection with the purchase and sale of multimillion-dollar music libraries and music catalogues.
  • Represent Nashville-based national publisher in audit litigation with its major vendor.


Film and Television

  • Structuring complex multiparty transactions in a blockbuster book-to-movie deal.
  • Representing a major motion picture company in copyright infringement litigation involving themes from the James Bond movies.
  • Advise and counsel on such recent reality and documentary projects as Claim to Fame, Lookalike Love,
  • Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film and Amazing Grace.
  • Screen Actors Guild-American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists v. Edin Sinanovic, FA2407002107147 (Forum August 14, 2024).
  • Screen Actors Guild-American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists v. John Costello/Sports.Gives, FA2404002092055 (Forum May 6, 2024).
  • Represented major motion picture studio and its parent company in $70 million dispute against another major motion picture studio for breach of an output deal involved distributing a studio’s entire library on basic cable television.
  • Represented executive producer of a successful television series against a major motion picture studio in a case arising out of client’s profit participation.
  • Represented production company and writer of major motion picture in JAMS arbitration brought by unauthorized writer of draft screenplay in action alleging plagiarism, unjust enrichment and breach of settlement agreement.
  • Served on team that achieved a defense verdict for two major motion picture studios and screenwriter in action for copyright infringement related to motion picture with $500 million in worldwide revenues.
  • Represented showrunner of prime time television series against major motion picture studio in claim alleging studio’s breach of contractual agreement to shoot television pilot. Case settled on very favorable terms without the necessity of filing a lawsuit.
  • Represented one of the leading chains of motion picture theater exhibitors in Southern California in a variety of business and real estate disputes.
  • Represents artists and personal managers before the California Labor Commission in disputes involving California’s Talent Agencies Act and the alleged “procurement of employment,” and represents artists and advertisers in disputes regarding the “right of publicity.”
  • Represented television production company against local O&O television station in action pertaining to rights to nationally syndicated strip show and ownership of field cassette videotapes. Issues included profit distributions.