Bullivant's Arts, Entertainment and Sports ("AES") Law Group has extensive experience representing clients in virtually all aspects of the creative arts and entertainment industries β from cultural institutions, film studios, record labels, production companies, technology companies and professional sports organizations, to artists, actors, singers, television personalities, screenwriters, publishers, gaming developers, graphic designers, marketing agencies, musicians, athletes, and authors.
Bullivant's West Coast team of litigation, intellectual property, and business attorneys offers a full range of legal services to its clients that expands the capabilities of a boutique entertainment firm. Bullivant maintains strong ties to the Los Angeles entertainment industry, as several of its members previously worked as industry executives and producers prior to joining the firm. This experience allows our attorneys to not only represent talent, but also function as trusted business advisors. The AES Group is committed to delivering service that goes beyond traditional legal representation, by providing business-to-business introductions, links to entertainment marketing and opportunities for agency representation to our clients.
Bullivant attorneys are recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, American Board of Trial Advocates, American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers and Chambers USA. In 2008, Bullivant earned the #1 position in Lawyers USA Top 10 Jury Verdicts.
Representative Clients
Bullivant attorneys have represented leaders in the arts, entertainment and sports industries, such as:
- Nike
- Disney
- Hearst Syndication
- BMI
- Dr. Martens
- 20th Century Fox
- Danny Kass
- Gordon Ramsay
- Red Mile Entertainment
- IRIS
Divisions
In order to meet the complex legal needs of our clients, the Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law Group is comprised of seven divisions:
Each division is chaired by an attorney with an extensive personal and professional background in his or her sector of the industry. As a result, division chairs have the expertise necessary to assemble a firm-wide team of attorneys capable of delivering the highest level of legal service tailored to each client's individual needs. The AES division chairs often collaborate with each other to identify strategic cross-sector business opportunities to advance our clients' goals.
Motion Picture & Television
Bullivant's Motion Picture & Television Group has represented studios, production companies, post-production studios, talent and corporations in some of their most critical entertainment matters. From anti-piracy enforcement and network negotiations to employment issues and entertainment marketing, Bullivant's team of experienced attorneys know how to navigate the complex, multi-tiered entertainment industry to achieve outstanding results for clients.
Bullivant can assist companies and individuals in a range of areas including, but not limited to:
- Contract negotiation (talent, development, production, post-production, union, studio, writers, entertainment marketing, product placement, etc.
- Licensing (script and story rights, celebrity rights, commercial rights, etc.)
- Endorsements
- Trademark and copyright registration
- Anti-piracy enforcement and trademark infringement
- Financing (ensuring all documents are in compliance with securities regulations
- Litigation and risk management
- Employment issues
- Tax
Experience comes in all forms. Not only have several of the Group's attorneys represented entertainment companies in their most critical legal matters, but some have also produced award-winning feature films, participated as actors, and served as leading television executives. This "insider" perspective allows Bullivant to provide counsel and advice through a distinct lens, helping clients to navigate the power structure, operational intricacies, thought processes and opportunities unique to the entertainment industry.
Fashion & Design
Bullivant has the focused expertise as well as the depth of multiple practice areas to handle all legal issues facing the fast-paced fashion and design industry. From independent designers to multi-national retailers, industry insiders need to navigate numerous legal challenges in a highly competitive environment; making an experienced and innovative legal team a "must-have" accessory. Our multi-disciplinary team advises industry clients in both transactional and litigation matters, including:
- Brand and Design Protection: Copyright, trademark/trade dress, patent registration and enforcement
- Business Formation and Operation: Corporate structuring, joint ventures, strategic partnerships franchise tax and antitrust issues
- Contract Negotiation: Design agency agreements, work-made-for-hire agreements, professional services contracts, supplier and outsourcing agreements
- Retail and Distribution: E-commerce, marketing, merchandising, vendor compliance agreements
- Promotion: Advertising, endorsements, product placement, rights of publicity
- Employment and Labor Matters: Employee manuals, non-compete agreements, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements to protect trade secrets
- Litigation: Prosecution and defense of client interests as well as preventative risk management
Music & Digital Media
Bullivant represents composers, recording artists, record labels, publishers and performing rights organizations in connection with all manner of traditional music and entertainment industry transactions. The AES Music Division also represents the entertainment technology and digital media companies that sell, distribute and perform music and media content across a wide variety of technology platforms.
Our attorneys have a wealth of experience in:
- Negotiation and drafting of management, agency, recording and publishing agreements
- Merchandising and sponsorship arrangements
- Representation of Performing Rights Societies
- Online content distribution and syndication
- Copyright clearance and royalty administration for record labels, publishers and retailers
- Synchronization Licensing
- Digital Millennium Copyright Act and webcasting
- Labor and employment
- Tax
- Litigation and risk management
Professional Sports
Bullivant's Sports Group attorneys have advised athletes, coaches, team management, municipal jurisdictions, and athletic apparel manufacturers in all fields of athletics β from baseball and snowboarding to basketball and cycling. Our attorneys are among the few in the country who have been instrumental in stadium planning and development, including the lively politics often associated with major public works. Whether it's celebrity rights, contract negotiations, building regulations, anti-trust issues, product liability or anti-piracy enforcement, Bullivant's Sports Group attorneys have the expertise and experience necessary to deliver superb services in this highly visible industry segment.
Bullivant assists its sports clients in matters involving:
- Contract negotiation
- Celebrity intellectual property rights
- Celebrity privacy rights
- Licensing and endorsements
- Trademark registration
- Litigation and risk management
- Tax planning
- Stadium planning and development
- Real estate and development planning and acquisitions
- Construction and green building
- Labor and employment
The AES Sports Division values how critical it is to understand and remain active in our clients' industries. The Group closely monitors developments and emerging trends in the sporting industries and how those developments affect our clients' businesses. Members of the AES Sports Group also actively participate in athletics, from marathons and cycling to snowboarding and football. The Bullivant Sports team is dedicated to constantly moving forward, both in and out of the office.
Gaming & Gambling
Bullivant has extensive experience in the highly regulated and competitive gaming and gambling industry. From independent product developers and designers to multi-national gaming equipment manufacturers and operators, all participants in the gaming and gambling industry need to navigate numerous legal challenges in a highly competitive and significantly regulated environment. Our multi-disciplinary team advises industry clients in all aspects of the gaming and gambling business, including:
- Business formation, structuring and as on-going corporate governance
- Regulatory compliance
- Advertising, promotion and endorsements
- Employment and labor matters
- Distribution, marketing, intellectual property licensing, leasing, sales, merchandising and other business-related agreements
- Real estate development and leasing of retail, warehouse and manufacturing facilities
- Tax and securities matters
- Brand and design protection under copyright, trademark/trade dress, trade secret and patent law
- Registration, maintenance, enforcement and defense of intellectual property
- Anti-counterfeiting measures
- Litigation and risk management
Literary
Bullivant can help publishers, authors, photographers and editors protect their valued intellectual property investments. The firm's attorneys have been recognized for their expertise in the law affecting copyright, trademark and freedom of information issues and contract negotiations. The AES Literary team has extensive experience negotiating and drafting collaboration agreements, publishing contracts, and licensing agreements, and otherwise assisting in the establishment of contractual relationships for the publication and exploitation of intellectual property rights.
Bullivant understands that in the literary field, experience and connections are critical to success. Given that understanding, the AES Literary Division recently teamed with our Film & Television Division to host a West Coast book release campaign tour for New York Times best-selling author and firm client Robert Dugoni. This collaborative effort reflects the AES Divisions' commitment to working together to facilitate and expand business opportunities for our clients.
Bullivant can assist publishers, editors, photographers and writers with the following:
- Publishing agreements
- Literary agency contracts
- Copyright registration, protection and assignment
- Photograph licenses and releases
- Editor agreements
- Promotional and advertising issues
Fine & Performing Arts
Bullivant is proud to represent fine and performing artists, collectors and cultural institutions in connection with the collection, management, preservation, performance and sale of fine art. Bullivant's attorneys are deeply committed to the arts and hold leadership positions in arts organizations across the West Coast, including but not limited to:
- Path With Art
- Portland Festival Ballet
- Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra
- Crocker Art Museum's "Crocker Uncocked"
- Camellia Symphony Orchestra
- Portland Center Stage
- Portland Baroque Orchestra
- Sammamish Arts Commission
- Business for Culture and the Arts
- Oregon Ballet Theatre