Entertainment Law

Your career is on its way. You’re ready to “ink the deal.” Your dream is really happening.

As exciting as the entertainment industry is, the road to fortune and fame can be loaded with loopholes and bumps in the road. That’s why so many in and around “the business” rely on entertainment lawyer Larry Zerner’s experience and expertise.

You need one of the best entertainment lawyers to expertly gauge your decisions and look after your interests. Known for his hands-on, personal approach, Larry will negotiate and draft agreements in every area of the entertainment industry. As a reasonable but tough entertainment attorney, Larry will negotiate all relevant entertainment agreements and, if necessary, will oversee related litigation or arbitration.

Larry’s broad entertainment law experience — including film and television contracts, distribution and financing, business consulting and a wide range of artistic issues — has made him a sought-after entertainment attorney known for his skills of negotiation, arbitration, and litigation.

Within the realm of entertainment law, clients might seek out Larry to:

Draft and negotiate talent, production, producer, director, distribution and finance contracts
Handle writer contracts from draft through final negotiation
Consult on entertainment production and business issues
Handle licensing, royalty, publishing agreements

Larry knows well that top-notch legal representation can be costly. That’s why he will work with you to structure a payment arrangement that fits your needs. Depending on the nature of your case, Larry will represent you for an hourly fee, for a reasonable flat fee or, in some cases, on a contingency fee basis.

Services

Legal Tips For The Unrepresented Screenwriter.

June 20, 2023

If you’re a screenwriter who gets handed a contract, but doesn’t have a lawyer, here are some things to keep in mind so you don’t get completely screwed over. Your first contract will probably be an option/purchase contract. That means the producer will have an exclusive period (“the option period) […]

Appearance on Breakfast Television

August 17, 2021

I was a guest on Breakfast Television in Toronto to discuss the ongoing Friday the 13th lawsuit and the future of the franchise. You can view it here.

Larry quoted in Hollywood Reporter for Article on Copyright Terminations

October 7, 2019

Larry was interviewed by the Hollywood Reporter for a story about the recent wave about authors terminating their copyright transfers. You can read the article here.

Video Explainer On Friday The 13th Lawsuit

October 7, 2019

Because of his past involvement with the films, Larry has been closely following the lawsuit involving the rights to the Friday the 13th movie franchise, which is currently on appeal. Larry recently did a video interview with Slash N’ Cast explaining what’s going on with the lawsuit, what’s going to […]

Hollywood Reporter and New York Times Articles on Obama Trademark Case Against My Client

September 5, 2019

The Hollywood Reporter and New York Times wrote articles about the wrongful trademark filing done by Barack Obama’s company, Higher Ground Productions, against my client, Hanisya Massey. You can read the articles here and here.

Larry Zerner Interview with the Northwest Florida Daily News

March 22, 2019

I was interviewed by the Northwest Florida Daily News about the ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit over the rights to the Friday the 13th film franchise, as well as my own past history with the movies. You can read it here http://bit.ly/2Fltbs5