Entertainment

Our attorneys handle all facets in production, offering end-to-end legal support from development through distribution. We assist clients with a wide range of entertainment legal services, including:

• Talent agreements
• Production and co-production agreements
• Sales and distribution agreements
• Intellectual property acquisition and licensing
• Production legal services
• Startup and entity formation
• Entity formation and structuring
• Development and production agreements
• Financing documentation and structures
• Distribution and licensing
• Insurance and risk management
• Chain of title and clearances

At Hall Booth Smith, our attorneys—some of whom are musicians themselves—bring both legal insight and personal passion to representing clients in the music industry. We advise artists, musicians, entertainers, producers, managers, publishers, and music companies on a full range of legal matters, from negotiating deals to protecting intellectual property and building sustainable careers. With deep industry experience, we help clients navigate the evolving landscape of music rights, licensing, and catalog transactions with a practical, business-focused approach.

Our services include:

• Negotiation of recording, publishing, and merchandising agreements
• Music licensing and royalty structuring
• Representation in catalogue acquisitions and sales
• Intellectual property valuation for estate and tax planning
• Contract review and dispute resolution
• Formation and governance of music-related entities (LLCs, partnerships, corporations)
• Legal counsel for independent artists and career development
• Rights management and copyright protection
• Guidance in bankruptcy-related IP acquisitions
• Advising music-focused investors and entertainment entrepreneurs

In the fast-paced and constantly evolving world of social and digital media, Hall Booth Smith provides strategic legal counsel to content creators, influencers, platforms, and brands. Our attorneys advise clients on a wide range of legal matters related to online content, including intellectual property protection, digital rights management, platform agreements, and regulatory compliance. With deep understanding of the unique challenges in this space, we help clients navigate contracts, monetize content, and stay ahead of emerging trends and legal requirements in the digital landscape.

At Hall Booth Smith, we provide comprehensive legal support for clients navigating the complex world of entertainment and NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships. Our team works with both student-athletes and businesses to ensure every opportunity is legally compliant, strategically structured, and positioned for long-term success.

For student-athletes, we offer guidance on all aspects of NIL matters, including compliance with NCAA regulations, contract negotiation, and enforcement of rights. Our goal is to protect your interests, ensure you are fully informed, and help you maximize the value of your personal brand. For businesses, we provide counsel on structuring NIL partnerships that are not only compliant but also ethically aligned and commercially beneficial, including drafting and reviewing contracts to create clear, enforceable agreements.

We advise authors on identifying and protecting their intellectual property and negotiating deals to monetize it.

We handle contract and deal negotiations review, and drafting, due diligence, corporate formation, and all transactional work aligned with achieving a client’s goals. Our experience is diverse and includes advising clients regarding music, film, television, art, software, books and other print media, advertising, graphic, visual and performing arts, and social media.

Our Intellectual Property group works as a strategic business partner to help clients of all sizes identify, protect, monetize, and defend their intellectual work, creative endeavors and branding. Our team has decades of collective experience in representing individuals and companies of all sizes across most industries in complex copyright, trademark, trade secrets, entertainment, and other matters.

This includes authors, actors, musicians, artists and entertainers, influencers, entertainment businesses, technology companies, businesses engaged in manufacturing, distribution and retail, hospitality and entertainment, agriculture, food and beverage, entrepreneurs, and many others.

When our clients are threatened by allegations of infringement or breach of contract suits or pursuing action against someone who has infringed upon their rights, we take an aggressive stance on litigation to protect their interests.

Our attorneys handle everything from initial planning through final monetization, including:

• Complete tax credit lifecycle management
• Credit valuation and planning
• Application preparation and submission
• Audit support and documentation
• Credit monetization and brokerage
• Bridge financing against credits

As labor and employment laws grow increasingly complex, Hall Booth Smith’s national Labor and Employment team provides proactive guidance tailored to the unique demands of the entertainment industry. We counsel clients on employment contracts, union negotiations, and workplace disputes, and represent them in employment related litigation. Our attorneys understand the intricacies of the industry, from complying with labor laws to varied employment relationships, and help clients navigate these challenges with practical, business focused solutions.

As a litigation-focused law firm with more than 30 years of experience, Hall Booth Smith represents clients in a wide range of entertainment-related disputes. Our team handles matters involving contract claims, intellectual property infringement, defamation, right of publicity, and labor and employment issues. We understand the high-stakes nature of litigation in the entertainment industry and deliver strategic, results-driven representation in court, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. With deep industry insight and a proven track record, we protect our clients’ creative and commercial interests at every stage.

We specialize in forming and structuring entities tailored to the unique needs of artists, production companies, influencers, and entertainment startups. Whether you’re launching a record label, film studio, talent agency, or digital content brand, we ensure your business is built on a solid legal foundation.

Our services include selecting the optimal entity type (LLC, corporation, partnership), drafting operating agreements and bylaws, and advising on governance practices that protect your creative assets and support long-term growth. With deep experience in entertainment law, we help you stay compliant, minimize risk, and position your venture for success in a competitive and fast-evolving industry.

In addition to our comprehensive entertainment legal services, HBS attorneys provide strategic counsel on immigration matters critical to the entertainment industry. We represent foreign entertainers, athletes, models, production companies, and other creative professionals, helping them navigate complex immigration issues that directly impact their ability to work and perform in the United States. Our team regularly advises clients on visa categories commonly used in the entertainment industry, including O-1, P-1, P-3, and H-1B classifications, as well as employment authorization and permanent residency options. With deep expertise in both immigration law and the unique demands of the entertainment world, we deliver practical, streamlined solutions that protect careers and support long-term success.