Since the founding of Gipson Hoffman & Pancione in the early 1980s, we have had an active and core entertainment practice, representing clients in entertainment transactions, finance, and litigation.
GHP was one of the first law firms in Los Angeles to initiate a practice focusing on entertainment finance and has been a leader in the field throughout the firm’s history. We also have a robust expertise in intellectual property and media matters in support of the entertainment industry. Our clients include leading companies in the trade, as well as innovators, producers, programmers, and performers who may be well established or who are new to the business and needing a guiding hand. GHP is positioned to support client needs in multiple countries; we are active members of a worldwide network of law firms, and we have worked regularly with clients and co-counsel in many countries.
Entertainment Finance
GHP has represented more than twenty domestic and international banks and numerous private funds and lenders in their entertainment lending activities and in the acquisition of film and television libraries. In addition, our firm has represented many independent entertainment companies in their business activities, leading to the financing of more than 600 film and television projects. The entertainment finance services for GHP clients include:
- Finance documentation of single motion picture and television production and post-production loans, bridge loans, tax incentive loans, and working capital revolving credit facilities.
- Chain-of-title review; preparation of loan documentation; review of collateral, such as distribution agreements; preparation of notices of assignment, as well as interparty and intercreditor agreements; and negotiation of completion guaranties and collection agreements.
- Corporate and business planning; structuring and negotiating initial capitalization and employment agreements for key executives; negotiating and documenting bank credit facilities (both revolving facilities and project loan facilities) and production, finance, and distribution agreements with major studios and distributors; and assisting entertainment companies with real estate, labor, and employment matters.
Entertainment Transactions
GHP offers a full range of services to clients in the entertainment industry, including clients in the motion picture, television, publishing, and multimedia sectors. Among our clients are distributors, producers, financiers, actors, writers, and directors from all parts of the world. We support clients with every phase of their projects, from initial strategizing and structuring through negotiating and documenting the various transactions that each project entails. After a project is completed, we help bring it to the market, addressing licensing issues, participation audits, infringements of rights, and dispute resolution. We pride ourselves on being results oriented and keeping a strong focus on our clients’ business needs, with a goal toward offering innovative and effective solutions to the problems our clients face.
Entertainment Litigation
GHP handles a broad range of entertainment-related litigation on behalf of television networks, entertainment finance lenders, distributors, producers, talent, and individuals. We regularly represent production companies in disputes with various entertainment guilds, including the Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America, and the Writers Guild of America. As part of our entertainment litigation practice, we advise on issues related to copyright, trademark, First Amendment, defamation, right of publicity, privacy, intrusion, idea submission, and profit participation, as well as on a wide range of breach of contract disputes.