Creators, athletes and performers sign contracts that control their work and income for years — recording and publishing deals, management agreements, brand partnerships, NIL and sponsorship deals, option and distribution agreements. Entertainment lawyers negotiate those deals, protect the rights in the underlying work, and resolve disputes over royalties, credit and ownership.
What a entertainment lawyer does
- Reviews and negotiates recording, publishing, management and brand deals
- Structures collaborations, splits and loan-out companies
- Protects copyrights, trademarks and name-image-likeness rights
- Pursues unpaid royalties, breach and defamation claims
When you need a entertainment lawyer
- You were offered a contract by a label, publisher, studio, agency or brand
- A collaborator disputes ownership or splits
- A company is using your name, image or work without permission
- You are a student-athlete with NIL offers
Questions to ask before you hire a entertainment lawyer
- What terms in this deal would you never let a client sign?
- Do you charge hourly, flat or a percentage?
- Do you also represent the other side in this industry (conflicts)?
- How should I own my work across projects?
Find a entertainment lawyer near you
Choose your state to see listed firms and the official bar directory for verifying any lawyer’s license.
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