Blank Rome LLP

Blank Rome’s Entertainment attorneys provide legal advice and counsel to the entertainment and new media industries.

We represent our clients in matters that are relevant to every aspect of the entertainment industry, including:

• Entertainment and general commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution
• Business restructuring, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights
• Employment, Labor and Benefits, including executive engagements and disengagement
• Government Relations
• Intellectual property counseling, prosecution and litigation
• Matrimonial law
• Mergers & Acquisitions / Private Equity
• Tax structuring and planning both for corporations and individuals
• Wealth management and estate planning
• First Amendment counseling and litigation
• White collar defense and investigations

Our clients include motion picture and television studios, music recording and publishing companies, high profile actors, writers, directors, producers, distributors, recording artists, talent and sports agents and agencies, talent and business managers, independent production and distribution companies, video game and other interactive developers, publishers and agents, musicians, models, athletes, and entertainment guilds.

Entertainment & Commercial Litigation

Blank Rome entertainment litigators represent studios, production companies, financiers, investors and venture capitalists, banks, television networks, producers, "show  runners," domestic and international distributors and sales agents, directors, writers, actors, singers, composers, athletes, talent and sports agents and talent and business managers in a wide array of complex, high stakes business disputes.  We have deep familiarity with all aspects of the entertainment industry. 

Business Restructuring & Bankruptcy

Blank Rome’s business restructuring and bankruptcy group represents both creditors and debtors in a broad range of bankruptcy, reorganization and workout matters  in and out of court.  Our team handles matters throughout the United States, and we are nationally recognized for our corporate practices in New York, Wilmington, and Philadelphia.  Chambers USA, states that “This ‘top-rate firm’ maintains its strength in complex bankruptcy matters...Clients value the ‘highly intelligent lawyers who are always accessible, even if they are at a senior level.’” 

Employment, Labor & Benefits

Our labor and employment lawyers navigate the complex web of federal, state and local laws and regulations that affect the entertainment industry.  Chambers USA notes that Blank Rome is ““Admired for its broad [skill] in the labor and employment sector . . . Clients appreciate the ‘consistently effective practice’ for its ‘absolute dedication’ and ‘uniformly good work.’ ” 

Government Relations

We open doors and are welcomed on both sides of the aisle.  We understand the legislative and administrative process in Washington, Sacramento and Los Angeles and serve as communicators, business strategists, issue managers, persuaders and advocates for businesses and organizations. 

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property assets are the life blood of the entertainment industry.  Blank Rome’s intellectual property practice covers every aspect of domestic and international patent, trademark, and copyright law for clients in the entertainment and gaming industries. The National Law Journal has rated Blank Rome as one of the top 10 patent litigation firms in the country. 

Matrimonial

Blank Rome’s highly regarded matrimonial attorneys counsel individuals and couples in all legal aspects of marriage, from planning and negotiating prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, to separation agreements and divorce.  In each case, the goal is to achieve the best, most expeditious result for the client through negotiations, alternative dispute resolutions and, when necessary, in court.  

Mergers & Acquisitions / Private Equity

“This sophisticated corporate/M&A practice receives much client praise for its ‘outstanding service and dynamic, entrepreneurial approach,’ ” Chambers USA noted. Our presence on the Pacific Rim is highly valued by our clients who are developing new opportunities in Asia. 

White Collar

Our team of white collar attorneys assist companies and officers who face government criminal and regulatory  investigations, congressional inquiries, whistleblower’s accusations, or self-discovered misconduct. We defend against the allegations, while mitigating the damage to the corporation’s or individual’s reputation. The best defense requires a combination of skilled investigative tactics, savvy media relations, effective negotiating strategies, and a seasoned trial and appellate team. 

Representative Matters:

• Representation of numerous actors, writers, producers, and directors in disputes with major feature film or television studios, independent film or television distributors, and/or film or television production companies concerning the payment of contingent proceeds (or "net profits") flowing from the exploitation of various feature films and television shows.
• Representation of a high net worth investor in a lawsuit against the administrators of a multi-hundred million dollar theatrical feature film fund seeking a "finders fee" for a $75 million cash investment brought to the fund.   Representation of numerous actors, writers, directors, talent agents, and talent and/or business managers in disputes concerning payment or non-payment of management and/or talent agency commissions.
• Representation of numerous talent agencies in disputes concerning payment or non-payment of commissions, as well as disputes with former agents (e.g. breach of contract, trade secret, and other disputes associated with an agent leaving an agency).
• Representation of entrepreneurial, entertainment, equity venture, and gaming companies in a broad range of corporate finance and real estate matters including developments, acquisitions, and sales.
• Representation of a critically acclaimed feature film screenwriter in defense of an indemnity claim brought by a noted actor, director's production company, and a movie studio.
• Representation of a publicly-traded entertainment company in connection with the development and financing of a first-run Broadway musical theater, including negotiation of a long-term lease and use arrangements with New York City and New York State development agencies.
• Representation of an Academy-award winning best actor in a breach of contract "pay or play" matter also involving First Amendment issues.
• Representation of a film production company concerning breach of contract, fraud, and other claims by a distribution company concerning a slateof films financed by a bank, which litigation involved, among other things, the obligations of a completion bond company.
• Representation of a director against a film production company concerning the director’s final cut rights involving representations in the completion bond. Representation of a film distribution company in defense of allegations that it failed to market and distribute a motion picture in accordance with the parties' agreement.
• Representation of a foreign sales agent in connection with a breach of contract dispute involving an Academy Award winning best picture.
• Representation of a film production company in defense of fraud allegations by a distributor/financier regarding the budgets for a slate of films, the payment of royalties, and the payment of advances.
• Representation of the owner of the copyright of a film against a film production company hired by that owner to shoot the footage for the film for breach of contract and fraud surrounding the production company's failure to shoot the film as required, refusal to stop working on the film after being fired, and subsequently holding the footage shot for the film "hostage."  
• Representation of a film distributor/financier against a film financier, a completion guarantor, and a production company. Representation of an independent production and distribution company concerning breach of contract and business torts against a digital visual effects vendor.