Ethics for the Entertainment Law Practitioner

The Entertainment Industries, whether involving music, film, TV, or written works, pose many potential conflict situations and ethical concerns for the practitioner. In this program, attorney Ronald Bienstock reviews a number of these scenarios, from the initial retainer or engagement letter, to the execution of a series of heavily-negotiated complex transactions involving many clients, to potential litigation involving those very same transactions.

Issues will arise that will challenge even the most experienced attorney. For example: should a client have independent counsel review a retainer that has the attorney participating in equity or a percentage of revenue? When an attorney is acting as an agent, can or should the attorney speak exclusively to artist management or an agent during the negotiation of a transaction? Can an attorney represent a "band" or artist as a group, or does one represent the individuals (or both)? How does an attorney represent clients that are located in several international jurisdictions? What about non-traditional attorney roles of finding funding for projects or finding creative partners or co-writers for clients? How does or can an attorney work with entities or individuals that may have left a project? How does or can an attorney work with former clients that have left the firm, then return for counsel or advice on a new or prior matter? Mr. Bienstock provides a concise review of the these type of issues in this CLE presentation.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify ethical issues that may arise in the practice of entertainment law
2. Review various entertainment law scenarios and the relevant practical and ethical considerations concerning those scenarios
3. Understand a lawyer's duty to clients in different sectors of the entertainment industry