Law Office of Bryan J. Swerling - Entertainment and Media Law

ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA LAW

The Law Office of Bryan J. Swerling caters to the diverse needs of the entertainment community at large, working with a variety of clients, including but not limited to: musicians, screenwriters, authors, actors, personalities, and companies.

What separates the Law Office of Bryan J. Swerling from many other firms that practice entertainment law is that the Firm's founder, Bryan J. Swerling, prior to becoming an attorney, worked on both the business and creative side of the film, television, and music industries. As a result, Mr. Swerling has the unique perspective of knowing exactly how business and art fuse and how they diverge, and these experiences have imparted upon him the ability to approach the various disciplines of entertainment law more efficiently, pragmatically, and thoughtfully.

Throughout Mr. Swerling's extensive entertainment career he has been involved with film, television, and music projects such as Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk Till Dawn, starring George Clooney and Salma Hayek; Bombshell, starring Henry Thomas and Frank Whaley; Suicide Kings, starring Christopher Walken and Denis Leary; Three to Tango, starring Matthew Perry and Neve Campbell; Strange Hearts, starring Rose McGowan; 100 Kilos, starring Glenn Plummer; CBS's sitcom Maggie Winters, starring Faith Ford; the WB's Movie Stars, starring Harry Hamlin; T.G. Shepard's album Nothin' On But the Radio; and Elvis Presley's A Private Moment with the King.

Over the years, Mr. Swerling has worked for and studied under such notables as Ray Ruff, the former President of Curb Records; Denny Diante, the former head of A& R for MCA; Patrick Peach, the producer of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Project Greenlight; Bettina Viviano, the President of Viviano Entertainment; Paul Adler, the former head of ASCAP; and Martin Levin, the former President of the Times Mirror Publishing Group.

Creatively, Mr. Swerling, along with Jamie Rhonheimer, the current writer/producer of NBC's hit sitcom Will and Grace, co-authored The Complete Idiot's Guide to Winning a Cold War, which was optioned for production by Colleen Camp Goldwyn, a producer at Paramount Pictures. Additionally, Mr. Swerling co-authored the book, Always Talk to Strangers, which was published in March of 2005 by Penguin/Putnam.

Mr. Swerling has also managed the career of David Wygant, one of the nation's leading life success coaches and dating experts. Largely as a result of Swerling's efforts, Wygant has been featured in over a hundred media outlets, including, but not limited to: Dateline NBC, MTV's Made, and The New York Times.

Below you will find a non-exhaustive list of some of the services we provide our entertainment clients. If there is something that you need performed that you do not see listed, feel free to contact us and inquire about additional services.

FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES

We will represent artists or business people whose rights have been violated by another person or by a corporate entity. Areas include:

Right of Privacy and Publicity
Defamation
Misappropriation
Libel and Slander

CORPORATE

We will handle various and assorted issues with regard to starting up and maintaining production companies, talent agencies, management companies, websites, and record labels. Services include:

Start Up Advice
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Joint Venture Agreements
Licensing
Distribution
Business Entity Formation/Dissolution
Shareholders Agreements/Operating Agreements
Employment Agreements
Consulting Agreements
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Research of Availability
Litigation

FILM INDUSTRY

Whether you are an aspiring or established writer, producer, director, actor, manager, or cinematographer we will assist you with making sure you and your work are protected. We will work with artists or business people involved with Major or Mini-Major Studio Deals, Independents, and Documentary Filmmakers. Services include:

Start Up Advice
Agency and Management Agreements
Copyright Issues: (Including, Copyright Registration, Cease and Desist Letters, Infringement, Fair Use, Work For Hire, Collaboration/Joint Works, and Quitclaims)
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Production Issues: (Including Above the Line and Below the Line Agreements, Distribution, Foreign Sales Agents, Domestic and Foreign Banks, Completion Bonds, and Labor and Employment Issues)
Commercial Appearances, Endorsements and Sponsorships
Merchandising
Dispute Resolution with Third Parties
Litigation

MUSIC INDUSTRY

We will represent performers, songwriters, producers, record labels, promoters, and managers in all genres of music. Services include:

Start Up Advice
Agency and Management Agreements
Copyright Issues (Including, Copyright Registration, Cease and Desist Letters, Infringement, Fair Use, Work For Hire, Collaboration/Joint Works, and Quitclaims, Sampling Letters of Authorization, Licensing Agreements (Master/Mechanical))
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Intra-Group Agreements for Recording Artists
Recording Agreements
Production Agreements
Record Producer Agreements
Music Publishing / Co-Publishing / Administration Agreements
Acquisition of Publishing Catalogues
Registrations with Public Performance Societies
Music Synchronization and Compilation Clearances
Merchandising
Distribution Agreements (Domestic and International Record Distribution Agreements)
Live Events (Including Touring Agreements)
Commercial Appearances, Endorsements and Sponsorships
Film and Television Music Supervisor and Soundtrack Album Agreements
Dispute Resolution with Third Parties
Litigation

TELEVISION INDUSTRY

We will represent dramatic, situational comedy, reality show, and news writers, directors, producers, and talent with regard to Television Network, Cable, and Satellite broadcasting. Services include:

Start Up Advice
Agency and Management Agreements
Copyright Issues: (Including, Copyright Registration, Cease and Desist Letters, Infringement, Fair Use, Work For Hire, Collaboration/Joint Works, and Quitclaims, Rights Clearance)
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Syndication Issues
Labor and Employment Issues
Commercial Appearances, Endorsements and Sponsorships
Dispute Resolution with Third Parties
Litigation

THEATER

We will represent producers, directors, writers, actors, and below the line talent in the theater.

Startup Advice
Agency and Management Agreements
Copyright Issues: (Including, Copyright Registration, Cease and Desist Letters, Infringement, Fair Use, Work For Hire, Collaboration/Joint Works, and Quitclaims, Rights Clearance) Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Copyright Issues: (Including, Copyright Registration, Cease and Desist Letters, Infringement, Fair Use, Work For Hire, Collaboration/Joint Works, and Quitclaims)
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Commercial Appearances, Endorsements and Sponsorships
Labor and employment Issues
Dispute Resolution with Third Parties
Litigation

BOOK PUBLISHING

Startup Advice
Agency and Management Agreements
Copyright Issues: (Including, Copyright Registration, Cease and Desist Letters, Infringement, Fair Use, Work For Hire, Collaboration/Joint Works, and Quitclaims, Rights Clearance)
Book Publishing Agreements
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Commercial Appearances, Endorsements and Sponsorships
Dispute Resolution with Third Parties
Litigation

PHOTOGRAPY AND ART

We will represent photographers and other visual artists. Services include:

Start Up Advice
Agency and Management Agreements
Agency and Management Introductions
Copyright Issues: (Including, Copyright Registration, Cease and Desist Letters, Infringement, Fair Use, Work For Hire, Collaboration/Joint Works, and Quitclaims, Rights Clearance, Rights Clearance)
Trademark Issues (Research Availability and Registration)
Artwork/Photography Copyright Assignments
Releases
Model/Photography Agency Agreements
Commercial Appearances, Endorsements and Sponsorships
Labor and Employment Issues
Dispute Resolution with Third Parties
Litigation

If you have an entertainment law related issue and you would like
a free consultation with Mr. Swerling,click here.

HOME

ABOUT BRYAN J. SWERLING

PRACTICE AREAS

		Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice
		Criminal Defense
		Commercial Litigation
		Entertainment & Media Law

REFERRALS

SETTLEMENTS & VERDICTS

ONGOING CASES

CLIENT BILL OF RIGHTS

NEWSLETTER

PRESS

CONTACT

Law Office of Bryan J. Swerling
150 Broadway, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10038

Phone: 212.571.5757
Fax: 646.390.0668

Email: bswerling@swerlinglaw.com

Office located near
all Subway Lines.