Entertainment Lawyer in Florida?

[NathanEldred]

I need an entertainment lawyer (actually 2 total, one to represent me, and one for the other party), preferably in Florida if possible. Finding these guys are near impossible, most who claim to be EA's don't know anything about what's really involved. I've already contacted the Florida bar, and every one I've talked to doesn't even have a clue what a spec deal is.

[Jules]

It might benefit you to have your agreements governed by California or New York law look into that they are seriously different, one of those might be best for you, ya knever know (untill you find out...)

How about getting hold of a Miami Dance Music Conference atendee guide? the place must have been crawling with local lawyers...

[toledo3]

Originally posted by Jules
It might benefit you to have your agreements governed by California or New York law look into that they are seriously different, one of those might be best for you, ya knever know (untill you find out...)

How about getting hold of a Miami Dance Music Conference atendee guide? the place must have been crawling with local lawyers...

Nate,
That is absolutely true. I have known a few people that have been in this situation, and they have ended up using California lawyers. Let me make a couple calls, I'll try to dig up something for you.

-George Toledo III, tampa boy

[Jules]

I do belive a (perhaps over) simplification is that NYC law is better for record co's and CA law favors artists more....???

WHO KNOWS!?

(a lawyer, that's who!)

[Screws]

Nathan,

A friend of mine who is a former exec. for Sony says the best is George Gilbert in NYC. She's going to get me his number tomorrow if you want it.

[Exmun]

Perhaps Steve (ozraves) can back me up on this, but I believe that one of the parties must have some form of contact in order for the parties to be able to actually dispute the contract in California or NY (foreign jurisdictions). That is, in order for CA or NY to have jurisdiction over either of the parties, one of the parties must have some minimum contacts in that state. With labels, this is not a problem, because they often have offices in several major music cities. You are always free to have a choice of law clause from another state, but that comes with a few issues.

For two guys living/working in FL, signing a spec deal in FL, there is a tremendous benefit to having the Florida law govern the deal. The most important reason for using FL law is that if a dispute arose with the contract and the parties disputed the contract in a Florida court, the parties lawyers would have to brief the FL court on the subtleties of CA or NY law. This may not seem to be a big deal, but it will likely result in greater time in court and greater expenses for the parties (just to dispute the thing)... thus furthering the notion that the law generally screws people to a greater extreme.

Nathan, I know a few good FL Entertainment Attorneys (that really do this stuff). Louis Tertocha (great advocate and tough customer), Carolyn Herman (great lawyer), Julie Milham (really knows her stuff). I met them all at a music law conference in FL last year. All should be very capable attorneys for this deal. You should also check out the Entertainment Arts and Sports Law Section of the Florida Bar for more references. Look here: http://www.easl.net/Documents/02committees-page39.pdf and here: http://www.easl.net/

[dave-G]

Nate -- looks like some good referrals above, and if you don't find a match within those, you might put in a call to Neil Crilly at the Florida NARAS chapter office; it seems that some of the academy's conferences feature attorneys as panelists from time to time, and I'd assume he books them and/or knows them. My attorney is great, and I'd love to refer you to him, but he's in California.

See you Thursday?
-dave

[NathanEldred]

Thanks all, great advice! That gives me a lot to go on, if anyone feels like emailing me numbers I would appreciate it greatly:
atlasproaudio@atlasproaudio.com

Dave G - is the NARAS event 8/14 or 8/21? What time is the night session?

[ozraves]

since my name was mentioned...

dave-g and exmun suggest what i'd probably suggest. i'd find someone i was comfortable with in terms of personality and fees and see how things go.

i'd suggest getting someone in florida as the question does arise about the unauthorized practice of law at the worst possible time. you never want to ask a jury to enforce a contract made in florida between two relatively unsophisticated parties with a ny selection of law clause and negotiated/reviewed by attorneys not even licensed to practice law in florida. it kind of makes the "smellometer" go off in the mind of a juror.

steve
www.mojopie.com

[Exmun]

Nathan,
Glad you found the info helpful. I hope you're able to find a couple capable and knowledgeable attorneys.

Es.