Why Paul, Weiss

For over 75 years, artists and entertainment business people have relied on us for our thorough, specialized knowledge of live stage, film, music, television, video games and book and music publishing. We complement our unique expertise in all aspects of the entertainment industry with the capabilities, resources and experience of one of the nation's most respected large firms. We are able to draw upon the top level knowledge of our intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, finance, personal representation, litigation and tax departments for every contract, project or negotiation. This approach is crucial to help our clients achieve their objectives in an increasingly complex and technology-driven industry.

Our Practice

The Paul, Weiss Entertainment Department is one of the oldest and most respected entertainment practices in the industry. Our lawyers are involved in an extensive range of entertainment-related matters, including legitimate theater, motion pictures, music, television, book and magazine publishing. In conjunction with our Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Group, we are active in counseling many of our corporate and entertainment clients on a broad range of copyright, trademark and related intellectual property issues. Our lawyers also represent a broad range of individuals such as writers, actors, directors, choreographers, recording artists, composers, film editors, fine artists, and talent and literary agencies.

Theater and Live Events

Our clients in the live stage arena include some of the most active producers, financers, talent and underlying rights holders on the American theater scene, involving us in such recent Broadway productions as War Horse, Anything Goes, Billy Elliot, 9 to 5, The Book of Mormon, The Addams Family, Come Fly Away, Shrek, and the Pulitzer prize-winning Ruined, as well as the revivals of Hair, South Pacific, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, La Cage Aux Folles, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Dividing the Estate, Bye Bye Birdie and Waiting for Godot. Our representations span both the commercial and not-for-profit spheres, and our client roster includes the most well-known institutions in the business including Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, The Public Theater, Cirque du Soleil, Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, The Signature Theatre and Atlantic Theater Company.

Film

The film industry is one of the most active areas of our entertainment practice and we represent many different types of clients in that sector, including production, distribution, financing and talent clients. We have brokered major studio deals, advised independent producers and represented actors, directors, editors, screenwriters, designers and other talent-side clients. We recently handled key deals for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriquez for Grindhouse and Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, and, together with our financing experts, represented financiers involved in several significant film funds, including Alcon Entertainment, Relativity, Legendary and Marvel Studios.

Television

Major television representations include worldwide cable networks and programming-related matters involving notable joint ventures and acquisitions. Our roster of clients include brand name television networks, properties and individuals, including Current TV, Discovery Communications, Ina Garten ("The Barefoot Contessa") and Jim Cramer ("Mad Money").

Music

Paul, Weiss regularly advises major international record companies and music publishers in connection with catalog acquisitions, licensing and other transactional matters. Representations in the music sector have included major organizations and record companies, such as National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA),  American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Sony Music and Warner Music, as well as some the most recognized singers and songwriters in the world, including Barry White, Leiber & Stoller, Widespread Panic and the Bob Marley family.

Publishing

We also represent established and notable publishing houses in the book and magazine industry as well as many well-known authors in book publishing arrangements and have been involved in some of the most significant deals in the magazine industry. Some of our publishing experience includes representation of Lucasfilm in connection with all of the publishing agreements relating to the three prequel "Star Wars" motion pictures. We also represent John McEnroe, Jim Cramer, Ina Garten and other well-known authors, with respect to their publications and other related media activities. We have also been involved in several notable deals in the magazine industry.

Video Games

Our clients in the video games space are behind some of the most popular and innovative releases in recent years. These clients require the sophisticated intellectual property, licensing, mergers & acquisitions and other transactional advice that Paul, Weiss is uniquely qualified to offer. Our recent experience includes matters for MTV/Harmonix on Guitar Hero and Dance Central.