Entertainment Lawyer

Working Schedule

• Lawyers generally work at least full-time jobs inside offices, but with occasional travel required. They may have to work late if a big deal is in the works. 

Typical Duties

• Arranging meetings and negotiating deals between companies and entertainers
• Proposing financial terms for prospective product endorsements
• Drafting and reviewing legal contracts, production agreements, releases, and other documents
• Negotiating (or re-negotiating) contract terms
• Researching case law to inform strategies and help build arguments
• Navigating complex co-ownership of intellectual property rights
• Suing for contract breaches or theft of IP rights
• Working with banks, investors, grant issuers, or other stakeholders
• Handling intellectual property matters
• Dealing with employment issues related to unions and business associations
• Assisting with elements of pitches for new projects such as TV shows
• Managing the development of projects, to include helping secure financing
• Communicating with producers and distributors, as needed
• Serving directly as attorneys for busy entertainment professionals who may be high-maintenance and need assistance at various times throughout the day

Additional Responsibilities

• Talking with opposing attorneys via phone or email to work out litigation-related problems
• Consulting with senior associates and partners in specialized areas such as trademarks or copyrights
• Collaborating with celebrity clients’ affiliated staff, including business managers and agents

Soft Skills

• Ability to work independently
• Attention-to-detail
• Customer service orientation
• Empathy and patience
• English proficiency
• Flexibility
• Integrity
• Negotiating skills
• Organizational skills
• Persistence and composure 
• Persuasion
• Psychology and human asset management
• Problem solving
• Resourcefulness
• Sound judgment and decision-making, sometimes under pressure
• Strategic thinking
• Strong communication skills, including outstanding writing, speaking, and listening
• Time management

Technical Skills

• General familiarity with computers (PC or Apple)
• Knowledge of visual presentation and video conferencing software and equipment  
• Knowledge of printers, scanners, and photocopy equipment
• Microsoft Office, Google apps, Macintosh software
• Accounting, tax, and analytical software
• Database query software
• Project management programs 

• Film studios or television networks
• Music recording labels
• Talent agencies
• Law firms
• Corporations

Entertainment Lawyers work in a very transactional area of practice. Deals are constantly starting, stopping, and getting changed, and the pace can be hectic and frustrating with large sums of money involved. Sometimes hotheads and big egos can detract from smooth negotiation strategies, but the lawyers must be the ones to keep things moving forward in their clients’ best interests. Stress may be a daily part of the job, depending on who is involved and what’s at stake.
 
Short notice deals are especially challenging and require extra work and overtime. Studios might have film crews waiting for a deal to be struck as thousands of dollars a day are being spent on crew salaries and other costs. When the heat is on, Entertainment Lawyers have their persuasion skills put to the test! Celebrities may want to hold for bigger checks or might have concerns about how a project will impact their reputation and careers. When it comes to such deals, every decision can be critical. 

Technology is quickly and radically changing how audiences engage with entertainment content. Streaming audio, TV shows, and films have made everything more convenient for users but present a variety of unique problems for providers. Just as Amazon revolutionized the book industry and caused the shuttering of many traditional bookstores, streaming content is upending traditional business models for entertainment media. 
 
Blockbuster and other video stores were some of the first to go, but now even studios are trying to navigate the altered landscape in the era of Netflix. Many are rolling out their own subscription services, such as Paramount Network and Disney+, even as Amazon and Netflix get into the business of producing original content. Traditional networks and cable stations are vying to compete, looking to hire big names to draw audiences. Meanwhile the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the demand for streaming as movie theaters and concert venues have either shuttered or scaled down for months, while the entertainment industry scrambled to find new ways to connect and keep up revenue. 
 
Entertainment Lawyers have been on the forefront of many of these trends, as things such as digital content issues present questions such as how much much should a new release rental cost, can families share access to a single account spread across more than one household, and how can digital content owners lend or give away items they purchased? Digital piracy is yet another ongoing problem that cuts into the profits of content producers and the entertainers who make that content. 

Entertainment Lawyers are, first and foremost, attorneys. As such, they were probably always interested in the law or rules in general. They might have been bookworms, yet still outgoing and possessing a penchant for persuading others or sharing knowledge they recently learned. 
 
Entertainment law appeals to people who love the arts, and are passionate about things like music or movies. Rubbing elbows with high profile celebrities, producers, or studio execs can be fun, though challenging. The work isn’t glamorous but the lifestyles of clients are! Lawyers must be able to juggle multiple responsibilities at once, from keeping an eye on budgets to negotiating deals between two entities who might both be stubborn. Developing all the required traits takes years, starting early on in high school or even before!