Our Services

Entertainment law

Transactions in the entertainment industry present various business, financial and creative challenges. Catalina Kaufman has experience and a broad understanding of the unique overlap between law and business in the entertainment world. Her approach to representing clients in the entertainment industry focuses on your business and legal needs, both short and long term. As you attempt to navigate the complex waters of entertainment and intellectual property law, you’ll need the support of an attorney you can trust. Mrs. Kaufman provides a comprehensive range of legal services to clients all over the United States..

Mrs. Kaufman has represented CEO's, entrepreneurs, recording artists, journalists, renown TV personalities, professional athletes, models, agents, stylists, influencers and their various business interests, as well as small to large business, talent agencies, record labels and publishing companies.

Significant representative matters include reviewing and negotiating contracts with multiple Fortune 500 companies, and participation in the defense of a renown talent agency in the most high-profile case in Puerto Rico in 2016, involving allegations of unjust firing by a former model, where we obtained a favorable judgement. Mrs. Kaufman also represents some of the largest marketing firms in the United States which target the latin market. However, she also assists start-ups and small business owners. She has also represented various notorious TV personalities and influencers in the negotiation of their contracts, licensing deals, and management of their intellectual property.

Mrs. Kaufman provides counsel in matters such as protection of copyrights or trademarks, rights of publicity, contract negotiations, music licensing, lease agreements, and business structures, among others. She approaches each of these matters by seeking strategies designed to prevent future disputes or, if there’s already a dispute, to resolve them as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Services include, among others:

Negotiating business deals and contracts
Copyright protection and enforcement
Trademark protection and enforcement
Confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements
Review, drafting and negotiation of services agreements, name and likeness releases, sponsorship agreements, partnership agreements and other commercial contracts
Licensing and publishing deals
Independent contracts and service agreements

At your service

Protect what’s yours, avoid costly misunderstandings and mistakes, and promote the success of your creative projects and business. When you work with us, your legal matter will be handled with detail and care. Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation.

FAQS

Before you sign any agreement with anyone, you should always contact an entertainment attorney. Every contract is simply a starting point for negotiations, having an attorney that understands what should and should not be included in a contract or a deal can be the difference between earning substantial money and finding success in the entertainment industry and having an artist, producer, writer or company end up with little to nothing for their hard work and creative efforts.

In most situations you do. An agent in most entertainment settings (movies, television, music, literature, etc.) helps you find opportunities in your specific area and often negotiate the larger deal points and payment. The entertainment lawyer often drafts or negotiates and finalizes the "long form" contract, making sure that everything that the client and their agent expected and negotiated are accurately represented in the contract. A good agent and attorney should be able to work as a team, each playing their respective roles to help the client further their goals and maximize earnings.

There are different payment structures depending on the type of work being done, if the work is one time or ongoing, the financial situation of the client, etc. Many entertainment attorneys charge on a percentage basis, usually 5%-10% depending on the type of deal, if the attorney brought the deal to table, etc. Contract drafting, reviewing and negotiations are often done on a "per contract" or individual basis either on a flat fee or hourly rate. Hourly rates for entertainment attorneys can range from $250 to $500 per hour and up, depending on the attorney, their level of experience and their location.

Yes, definitely. Parties that create with each other on a consistent basis will probably benefit greatly by having a partnership agreement and/or possibly functioning through their own legal entity, wether a corporation or an LLC. An entertainment attorney with experience in business development and formation can help guide you into the entity that would be best for you as well as work with you to create a detailed partnership agreement to clearly define responsibilities, who owns the group name, how splits on copyrights or created materials should take place, what happens if the partnership ends, etc.

Our Services

Entertainment law

Do I need an entertainment lawyer?

Do I need an entertainment attorney if I already have an agent?

How much does an entertainment attorney charge?

I have a writing or creative partner, do we need an attorney?"

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