Whether you’re a photographer hiring a post-production assistant, a caterer hiring a sous chef, or a designer bringing in someone to do the books, there are several issues to consider when hiring an employee for your creative enterprise.
Use a written agreement
If you are hiring any person to do any type of work for you or your creative enterprise, you should have a written agreement with...Read More
We’re thrilled to announce our new Flat-Fee Consultation Packages!
These packages are designed to eliminate uncertainty about how much hiring a lawyer will cost you. Designed for new clients who want to get to know us and sample the legal services we offer, our Flat-Fee Consultation Packages give you access to our top-flight consultation and analysis at an affordable price. The best part...Read More
California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program has expanded, and the increased incentives could have a potentially huge impact on your next project.
In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill expanding California’s film production tax credit program. That bill went into effect last year. And it is already having a big effect in Los Angeles.
Film production in Los Angeles during the...Read More
Believe it or not, copyright law is ever-evolving, and today the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would consider two pressing IP issues in its next term (which begins in October 2016). Depending on how the Court decides these two cases, there could be potentially two major decisions that affect creative professionals seeking to protect their work and to enforce those protections.
Copyright...Read More
In the attorney-client relationship, it is important that the client feels empowered. I tell all of my clients that they are in the driver’s seat. I work for them, and I will offer my best and most sound advice, counsel, and recommendations. Ultimately, however, the client calls the shots.
Like many other types of professionals, attorneys bring their own set of biases and beliefs to their...Read More
As a Los Angeles transactional attorney, I regularly draft and negotiate contracts for clients. One issue that arises in every deal is the mechanism for dispute resolution.
The parties to a contract can agree to whatever form and method of dispute resolution they prefer in the event of a dispute. These decisions may include:
Mediation: parties can agree to undertake mediation prior to...Read More
As a Los Angeles-based attorney for small businesses, I’ve found that most clients understand the core legal issues relevant to their business. For creative enterprises, as one example, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets laws loom large. There are, however, a host of other legal issues many clients are unaware of. These matters have the potential to enormously impact a business’s...Read More
Previously I discussed the merits of a binding arbitration clause and the strategic and tactical implications such clauses.
As I wrote in that prior post, the decision to agree to mandatory binding arbitration is weighty. Arbitration can be very costly as the parties to a dispute must pay fees to the arbitration service providing the dispute resolution services. Parties must also pay the...Read More
What is a song? In the music industry, it is more than simply putting pen to paper and fingers to an instrument. A song is both the musical composition (music and any accompanying words) and the sound recording. The musical composition may include the phonorecord of your song (disc or cassette), but it does not include the recorded performance.
Legally, that definition matters. There are...Read More
When clients call me to ask me to draft contracts, they often say, “it needs to be as short as possible, like one page, maybe two.” I tell them that if we squeeze everything on one page, the text will be so small no one will be able (or want) to read it. It is very important that everyone read the contract and understand it. It is equally important that you cover all of the information you...Read More
