Entertainment

The Entertainment Law Group at Cassels Brock is one of the largest and most established practices in the country. Members of our team are repeatedly recognized as leading lawyers in entertainment law by several prominent local and global publications, including:

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
• Practical Law Company
• Euromoney Expert Guide
• Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in Canada

Our clients include:

Within each of these sectors, our practitioners — many of whom are also recognized in complementary practice areas such as intellectual property, information technology and broadcast and telecommunications — advise on contractual, financing, production, co-production, distribution, tax and securities law matters. A cross-section of our expertise includes:

• Contract negotiations on behalf of film and television producers with rights holders including option agreements, performer agreements, director agreements and composer agreements
• Collective agreements with the various industry unions, guilds and associations representing musicians, singers, writers, directors, stage technicians and theatrical performers
• Production agreements including releases, location agreements and music licences
• Advice on production and service tax credits
• Acquisition and protection of copyright, trade marks and other intellectual property rights
• Marketing and advertising, including promotional contests, sponsorships and branded entertainment
• Content development, production, financing, and distribution for various entertainment and media outlets including new media
• Counsel to Canada’s largest underwriter of entertainment errors and omissions insurance and provide specialized expertise in rights and clearance issues
• Negotiate recording, distribution, license, compilation, digital rights and soundtrack album agreements
• Advise Canadian copyright collectives in relation to the drafting, prosecution, administration and enforcement of Copyright Board tariffs related to music
• Advise broadcasters, concert promoters and other users of music on compliance with Copyright Board tariffs, including those administered by SOCAN, NRCC, CMRRA, SODRAC and CSI, and the development of customized licensing arrangements with rights holders and copyright collectives
• Advise major music publishers on large-scale licensing matters, including in relation to major television series, specials and stage productions