AN OVERVIEW OF KAUFMANN FEINER’S ENTERTAINMENT PRACTICE
Kaufmann, Feiner, Yamin, Gildin & Robbins LLP, one of New York's leading entertainment law firms, prides itself on the comprehensive service it provides for its clients in all areas of the entertainment industry.
Our entertainment department traces its history to 1928, when Edward E. Colton began representing the legendary George Abbott. Today, the entertainment lawyers of Kaufmann Feiner represent clients in all areas of entertainment law: film; television; theater and other live entertainment; licensing; copyright/trademark; music; not-for-profit law; art; computer interactive and other multimedia applications; book publishing; and, advertising.
In theater, for example, the firm’s entertainment lawyers are and have been counsel to numerous Broadway, Off Broadway and other theatrical productions, including “Spider-Man” (U-2 and Julie Taymor), “Ghost”, “101 Dalmations”, “Garden of Earthly Delights”, “Frankenstein”, “Marvelous Wonderettes”, “Phantom of the Paradise” and “Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking”, as well as John Leguizamo’s “Sexaholix: A Love Story”.
Other important entertainment-industry clients of the firm include David Brown ‑ film and theater producer ("Chocolat", “Angela’s Ashes”, "Cocoon", "Jaws" and "A Few Good Men"); Brooklyn Academy of Music, Inc. (BAM) - presenter of major international productions, theater, opera, dance, etc.; Stage Entertainment – international producer of theatrical productions including “42nd Street”, “Saturday Night Fever” and “Urinetown” on Broadway, and in Europe: “Hairspray”, “The Lion King”, “Aida”, and “Saturday Night Fever”; theater producer and director Peter Schneider, who while Chairman of the Studio for Disney produced more than 50 movies, including “Beauty and the Beast”, “Little Mermaid” and “Toy Story” and the “Lion King” and produced the world premiere of “The Lion King” on Broadway; St. Ann’s Warehouse, the Dumbo-based premier producer of avant garde theater and music, whose recent offerings included “Black Watch” and Lou Reed’s “Berlin”; Bob Vila ‑ producer, star of syndicated television show, television personality, and home repair expert; The Big Apple Circus -- New York’s premier circus; The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles; True Love Productions; Rabbi Shmuley Boteach - author of “Kosher Sex” and “Why Can’t I Fall In Love?”; Tony Award-winning designer Judy Dolan; Bridgette Wimberly, author of “St. Lucy’s Eyes”; and South Carolina Educational Television - one of the five major U.S. public television stations.
Among the many services rendered by Kaufmann, Feiner, Yamin, Gildin & Robbins LLP to its entertainment clients are the following:
Motion Picture and Television
- Preparation and negotiation of agreements for the optioning and/or acquisition of underlying rights and scripts
- Negotiation and review of various types of distribution and financing agreements
- Counseling concerning union obligations and agreements
- Libel review
- Advice concerning packaging and placement of product
- Preparation of all other production agreements necessary for the independent producer
- All aspects of representation of individuals performing services as actors, writers, directors and producers
Theater
- Acquisition of underlying rights for musical and dramatic plays both on and off Broadway
- Collaboration agreements among bookwriters, composers and lyricists
- Option and production agreements for Broadway, Off-Broadway, touring and international productions
- Regional theatre, workshop and other developmental production agreements
- Preparation of offering circulars, limited partnership and limited liability company agreements and other investment documentation and all necessary securities filings
- Drafting and negotiation of all other agreements for theatrical productions, including the agreements with directors, stars, choreographers, designers, orchestrators and general managers
- Joint venture agreements among producers/financing parties
Licensing and Merchandising
- Celebrity endorsement and spokesperson agreements
- Character licensing in all media
- Agreements concerning the manufacture and distribution of various types of merchandise
- Infomercial agreements
- Broad range of advice concerning acquisition and licensing of products and intellectual properties while using the firm's extensive licensing experience in related areas such as franchising, fashion, computer software and other high technology fields
Copyright/Trademark
- Advice concerning literary properties and protection of ideas, stories, products and existing and proposed trademarks and service marks
- Advice concerning federal, state and international registration and filings
- Enforcement of copyright and trademark through cease and desist letters and administrative and legal proceedings
Music
- Review and negotiation of performing artist, record company, producer and music publishing agreements
- Establishing music publishing companies and preparation of all necessary agreements
- Preparation of agreements for the licensing of performing, synchronization and mechanical rights
- Drafting of various agreements for production of music videos and concert films
- Soundtrack and original cast albums
