Find Lawyers in America for Entertainment Law - Theater
Practice Area Overview
Theater lawyers, representing producers, underlying rightsholders, investors, authors, actors, theater owners and others who participate in the development and exploitation of stage properties, will structure, negotiate and draft agreements to advance the theatrical production process. A commercial stage production typically begins with a producer licensing a finished play or, alternatively, by first securing rights in an underlying work (such as a novel) and then engaging writers to create a play or musical.
To finance development and production, producers typically raise capital from accredited investors via private offerings under Rule 506. Attorneys for investors who provide early, high-risk funding or who make large investments will seek to negotiate heightened financial terms and billing credit. Investors include investment partnerships and, increasingly, theatrical investment funds modeled after private equity funds.
Early on, the producer will enter into agreements with a general manager, a director, and often a not-for-profit theater that showcases new works. As the production progresses, there will be numerous additional contracts - e.g., with designers, actors, and a commercial theater.
Broadway has not been impacted by technology as directly as the music, publishing and movie industries, so many elements of theatrical legal practice have remained relatively stable. However, change is accelerating as movie studios seek to re-purpose film libraries, venture and private equity investors explore Broadway investing, and the Internet continues to transform theatrical marketing and is beginning to make Broadway investing more accessible.
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Bob Abdo is Executive Vice President of Lommen Abdo Law Firm. He brings a wide variety of background and experience, giving him a practical and substantive perspective to advise clients. He acts as general outside counsel to a variety of businesses. Bob represents start-up, emerging and growing private and publicly held businesses. He provides legal, transactional, estate and family planning, business strategy and long-term planning, counseling and advice to varied businesses, organizations a...
Roger Arar focuses his goal-oriented practice on film and television development, finance, production, distribution and talent. He provides strategic counsel to television networks, film and television production companies, independent studios and distribution companies, as well as individual producers, actors, writers, directors and investors. He is passionate about structuring deals for his clients that maximize results. Roger takes a thoughtful and efficient approach to transactions involv...
Robert Bernius, a former partner in the firm, has tried jury cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts throughout the country. He also served as general counsel to the firm. What do you focus on? I am a senior counsel of the firm, and in that capacity I advise the firm and its attorneys about all issues that arise in the contemporary practice of law. Litigation I have also defended corporate clients in jury trials and appeals throughout the country.
Jeff Biederman’s practice focuses primarily on the representation of artists, entrepreneurs and entities in the areas of music, film, television, fashion and branding, advertising, and digital media. Clients include major writers, producers, actors, recording artists, athletes, record labels, publishing companies, designers, apparel and accessory companies, studios, and advertising agencies throughout the U.S. and internationally. Jeff is a regular lecturer on various entertainment, bra...
Ivy Kagan Bierman’s practice includes the representation of entertainment and related companies in labor, production, distribution, technology and other business matters. She handles both transactional and litigation matters for clients. Ivy is one of a select few entertainment industry labor lawyers looked to for representation in guild and union matters by film and television production companies, digital companies and networks, cable networks, public broadcasting companies, distribut...
Daniel H. Black is widely recognized for his ability to navigate easily on the cutting edge of media as well as the traditional entertainment business. Mr. Black has extensive experience in the television, motion picture and digital media arenas, having practiced law both in the major studio and law firm settings. He has served as lead counsel on numerous transactions with the major motion picture studios and television networks, in addition to major internet content producing, licensing and ...
Amelia K. Brankov advises companies and individuals on litigation and transactional matters, with a particular focus on arts and culture. In her art law practice, Ms. Brankov advises galleries, collectors, artist studios, artist estates and foundations, curators, art advisors, appraisers, conservators, publishers, and startups. She assists clients in all legal aspects of transactions involving artwork including purchase agreements, consignment agreements, commission agreements, and loan agree...
Mr. Braun is a partner in Hall Booth Smith's Nashville office, where he specializes in various areas of litigation and transactional work. Beginning in early 1995, Mr. Braun’s litigation practice with HBS has continued to grow in both Georgia and Tennessee. Early on in his career with HBS, Mr. Braun practiced extensively in the areas of general liability and medical malpractice litigation, areas in which he continues to practice today. As his practice has grown, he has developed experti...
Jordan Bromley is the leader of Manatt’s entertainment transactions and finance practice. His experience lies in recognizing talented artists, individuals and companies; developing strategy to achieve their long-term success; and protecting their interests by rigorously negotiating and drafting the agreements that form the basis of their business relationships. Jordan’s client base includes iconic, established, legacy and developing artists, songwriters, producers, record labels, ...
Aydin Caginalp’s practice concentrates on business transactions, including acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, private equity and general corporate and commercial matters, with an emphasis on international and cross border matters. He has been engaged in complex corporate transactions involving the separation of operating units as well as integration of business units into the acquiring enterprise. He has extensive experience in the issues arising within the technology, media and e-c...
Marc Chamlin is known for working across multiple legal and business disciplines in the media and digital industries, representing television, film and digital media companies, as well as actors, directors, writers, book authors and other high-level talent in the full spectrum of transactional entertainment matters. Marc’s practice includes structuring and negotiating complex investments, joint ventures, and corporate and licensing transactions for iconic media personalities, legacy lit...
Vincent H. Chieffo is an entertainment and media litigator with significant trial and appellate experience. His practice also includes entertainment transactional work. His litigation experience encompasses disputes throughout the entertainment business, including those involving copyright and trademark infringement, right of publicity, defamation, the rights of estates and heirs in copyrights and other entertainment assets, idea submission, royalties and participations, and distribution and ...
Marcie Cleary is a partner in the Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit, representing clients in the film, television, digital, and book publishing industries. Ms. Cleary structures and negotiates entertainment transactions for individual and corporate clients in the film, television, digital, and book publishing industries. Her clients include actors, news correspondents, writers, directors, producers, authors, podcasters and influencers. Ms. Cleary has significant experience representing ...
Victoria S. Cook is a partner at Frankfurt Kurnit and a member of the Entertainment Group. She focuses on motion picture and television work, representing award-winning filmmakers, writers, directors, actors, television producers, film financiers, and television networks. She is immersed in both the independent and Hollywood worlds, and her clients often work in all aspects of the entertainment business -- from major studio films to cutting-edge political documentaries. Chambers USA includes ...
Jay L. Cooper focuses his practice on music industry, motion picture, television, multimedia and intellectual property issues. He represents individuals and companies on intellectual property matters including recording and publishing agreements for individual artists and composers; actor, director, producer and writer agreements in film and television; executive employment agreements; complex acquisitions and sales of entertainment catalogs; production agreements on behalf of music, televisi...
Derek Crownover is a recognized leader in the music, entertainment, sports and media industries, counseling publishing companies, independent record labels, singers and songwriters who own their copyrights, and music publishing administration companies on licensing, liability matters and related litigation. He also counsels clients on recording agreements, employment agreements, LLC funding deals, real estate deals, asset purchase agreements and trusts and estates matters. In addition to his ...
Lisa E. Davis is a partner and Co-Chair of the firm's Entertainment Group . She serves on the firm's Policy Committee and is Co-Chair of the firm's Diversity Committee. She represents businesses and celebrities in the film, television, publishing, music, theatre, and sports industries. Ms. Davis has been ranked as a New York-area “Super Lawyer” since 2007 and was featured on the cover of Super Lawyers magazine in a piece on her career and advocacy for racial justice. She is recogn...
Ken Deutsch is Global Co-Chair of the Entertainment and Media practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Century City office. He represents a broad array of operating entities in the entertainment and media industries, including film and television studios, streaming platforms, and independent media companies, advising on their most significant corporate transactions as well as on a variety of film, television, and other commercial ventures. Mr. Deutsch also routinely represen...
Kevin Doherty practices in the area of insurance regulation and captive insurance. He serves as President of the Tennessee Captive Insurance Association, Inc., and he helped to rewrite the captive insurance law in Tennessee in 2011. Since that time, Tennessee has formed more than 200 captives and more than 500 related cells (more than 700 risk bearing entities) and become one of the leading domestic domiciles for captives. Mr. Doherty also practices music and entertainment law and represents ...
Tiffany A. Dunn’s practice focuses on transactions in the entertainment business and intellectual property protection and enforcement. Ms. Dunn represents publishing companies, record labels, management companies, recording artists, producers, authors, songwriters and other parties in the music industry. Ms. Dunn also has a depth of knowledge in copyright, trademark and intellectual property law, counseling clients on their consumer branding and marketing efforts. Ms. Dunn also practice...
Lauri helps her clients succeed and prosper by advising and managing their cutting-edge business and legal affairs in transactions such as licensing of media content, sponsorships and endorsements, motorsports risk, talent agreements, player contracts, league agreements, driver services agreements, protection and monetization of IP, Web3, NIL rights, joint ventures, live event agreements and corporate transactions. Lauri is a frequent media commentator and speaker on sports law matters and wa...
Scott Edel understands the complexities of today’s evolving media and entertainment landscape, serving as a trusted business advisor and legal strategist to traditional Hollywood players and major digital platforms. A dealmaker, a problem solver and a quarterback for Loeb’s elite team of entertainment attorneys, Scott brings decades of industry experience and relationships to help clients create and exploit motion picture, television, digital and interactive entertainment content....
Kenneth R. Florin is one of the industry’s leading experts on matters involving the convergence of advertising and promotions, emerging media, technology and privacy law. In addition to a rich background in traditional marketing and communications, he has been a pioneer in counseling clients at the increasingly blurred cross section of issues associated with the use of new technologies, digital media, and emerging content production and distribution models to extend their global reach. ...
John T. Frankenheimer's practice is centered in the entertainment and media industries, with emphasis on both institutional and talent clients. This includes advising on the acquisition, sale and restructuring of companies, including financing, valuation, securitization and due diligence issues, as well as representing companies, artists and executives in all aspects of the music industry, including all forms of talent contracts, distribution, licensing, technology-related issues, publishing,...
Michael P. Frankfurt is the Senior Partner and a founding partner of Frankfurt Kurnit, one of the pre-eminent media and entertainment law firms in the United States. His experience is in all aspects of the business practice of law, focusing on entertainment and media law, representing advertising agencies, commercial film, television, publishing , graphic and fine arts and new media companies, and representing and counseling executives and talent in those and other businesses. He has lectured...
John M. Gatti is a partner in the firm's entertainment litigation practice and resident in the Los Angeles office. His practice includes 31 years of litigation and trial experience in state, federal and bankruptcy courts as well as representing individuals and corporations in complex business and commercial lawsuits. John has trial experience across a variety of industries, with a specific emphasis in the entertainment, media and sports industries. John’s experience in the entertainment...
Melissa Georges is a partner in our Entertainment Group and Chair of our Content Review & Clearance Group. For more than 30 years, she has helped award winning documentary, feature film and television producers, directors, actors, writers, animators, and comedians resolve complex legal issues to get their projects cleared and distributed. She is recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the 2025 edition for Entertainment Law. Ms. Georges assesses all forms of entertainment content for lega...
Gary Gilbert, a leader in the music industry, concentrates his practice in the area of music transactions. His clients include renowned performers, including Jackson Browne, Death Cab for Cutie, Rick James Estate, B.B. King Estate, George Thorogood, Pat Benatar, Dixie Chicks, Wynonna Judd, Michael McDonald, Sara Evans, Peter Frampton, Jennifer Nettles, George Benson, k.d. lang, Lyle Lovett and several alumni from American Idol . He has been recognized as a “Top Music Lawyer” by Bi...
Lee Goldberg is Counsel to the Entertainment Group. Ms. Goldberg has substantial experience handling a broad range of entertainment transactions, with a special focus on scripted television. She also handles copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property law matters. Best Lawyers in America included Ms. Goldberg in the 2024-2025 editions for Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television. Ms. Goldberg’s practice includes representing financiers and creatives from develo...
Hayden Goldblatt is a partner and Co-Chair of the firm's Entertainment Group, where he focuses on motion picture, television, and digital media work. Mr. Goldblatt has wide-ranging experience in all areas of entertainment and media, representing producers, writers, directors, documentary filmmakers, actors, comedians, financiers, and independent distributors. He has negotiated complex single picture and slate multi-party financings both on behalf of producers and financiers, as well as struct...
Jeremy S. Goldman is a partner in the Litigation Group and Co-Chair of the Emerging Technology Group, focusing on intellectual property, entertainment, media, privacy, technology, and commercial law. Jeremy is an accomplished media and entertainment litigator, focusing on copyright, trademark, privacy, intermediary liability, right of publicity, First Amendment, and business disputes. Jeremy draws on his sophisticated understanding of law, technology and industry, along with creative problem-...
Over more than 35 years of practice, David Halberstadter, the firm's deputy general counsel, has established a reputation among leading entertainment companies as a no-nonsense advisor and talented litigator. When other options fail, he aggressively pursues and defends lawsuits, with a focus on intellectual property-related disputes. Across all his work, clients value David's clear thinking, strategic wisdom and practical business sense. David represents motion picture studios, production com...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.