While these roles often overlap in the entertainment world, the serve different functions–and it’s important to understand who does what.

• Agents: An agent is licensed to procure work for their clients. Their primary job is to get you auditions, bookings, appearances, sell your script or get you a writing assignment, and to negotiate those deals within the scope of what the law allows. Agents must be licensed under state law (like California’s Talent Agencies Act).
• Manager: A manager provides guidance on career development, helping shape your brand, long-term strategy, and public image. Managers often help coordinate your team and may advise on which opportunities to pursue–but they’re not legally allowed to procure work unless they’re also a licensed agent.
• Lawyer/Attorney: These are interchangeable terms in this context. A lawyer or attorney provides legal advice and services: drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts and terms, protecting your interests and intellectual property; forming your business entities; and helping you understand your rights, obligations, and leverage in any deal.

I am an attorney-not an agent or a manager. That means I don’t book gigs, pitch you to casting, submit you screenplay, or shape your public image. I focus on protecting your work, securing your rights, and making sure your deals are in your best interest. That said, because the legal side of your career touches almost every part of your brand and business, I also offer strategic advice that goes beyond just legal paperwork. I can and will help you evaluate potential team members, review their agreements, and act as a gatekeeper–meaning I’ll help filter, vet, and manage the people and opportunities that come your way to make sure everything aligns with your goals and protects your interests.

In short: I don’t create deals–but I help make sure you don’t sign a bad deal.

Your agent and manager play crucial roles in building your career—they help you get the opportunities. But when it comes time to actually paper the deal, you need someone whose job is to protect your legal rights, negotiate the fine print, and make sure the contract reflects your best interests—not just the topline terms.

Even when a deal memo or letter of intent (LOI) looks solid on the surface, the real risks—and opportunities—are often buried in the details. That’s where an attorney comes in.

Here’s just a few examples of how, as an entertainment attorney, I can add value:

1. Going Beyond the Deal Memo
Agents often negotiate based on high-level deal terms: fees, credit, and general duties. But the actual contract may include clauses that drastically affect your long term income and rights.

Example: A screenwriter may be promised a $75,000 fee in a deal memo—but without an attorney reviewing the full agreement, they might unknowingly agree to give up sequel or remake rights; allow unlimited rewrites without additional pay; accept a “pay or-play” clause that isn’t actually enforceable.

As your attorney, I make sure you’re not just getting paid you’re getting protected.

2. Back-End Deal Protection
Your manager might celebrate a decent upfront fee, but backend terms (royalties, bonuses, backend points) can be where the real money—and risk—is.

Example: In a film deal, you might be offered “5% of net profits.” Without legal counsel, you might not realize that “net” often means never. I can push for gross participation instead; add audit rights so you can actually check the books; define profit calculations to limit studio accounting tricks.

3. Fixing Hidden Time Bombs in Music Contracts
In recording agreements, the danger isn’t just in the royalty rate—it’s in the structure.

Example: A label offers a promising indie artist a $50,000 advance and 18% royalty. Sounds good—until I point out the contract cross collateralizes every album (meaning future earnings pay off past losses); includes 360° clauses giving the label a cut of touring, merch, and sync deals; has non obligatory album options, locking you in but not requiring them to release anything. I renegotiate terms like these to ensure you’re not signing away your career in exchange for short-term cash.

4. Clarifying Usage, Scope & Exclusivity in Influence Deals
Influencers are often offered flat-fee brand deals that seem simple on the surface: “Post this, get paid.” But the contracts behind those campaigns can quietly overreach, locking you into long-term obligations or giving away rights you didn’t intend to sell.

Example: A brand offers a fitness influencer $5,000 for a sponsored Instagram reel. The agreement–buried in boilerplate language–might: grant the brand perpetual worldwide usage rights to the content (meaning they can keep using your face to sell their product forever); include a broad exclusivity clause that blocks you from working with any other similar brands for an unacceptable period of time and limiting your ability to make additional revenue; omit any approval rights, letting the brand edit or remix your content the way they want.

As your attorney, I revise these terms to limit usage to a defined time period, platform, location, geography and/or market.; narrow exclusivity to what’s fair and commercially reasonable for you; add approval rights so you retain control over you name, image, likeness, voice and brand.

Bottom Line: Your agent or manager helps get the offer. I make sure the offer doesn’t own you. I also ensure your contracts are clear, enforceable, and designed to serve your goals—now and in the future. Even the best reps can miss critical legal issues, because that’s not their job. It’s mine.

Yes. While I’m not an agent or manager myself, I often serve as a gatekeeper and advisor, helping clients build and protect their team. I can review rep agreements, spot red flags, and ensure that your team is structured to support–not control–your career.

Yes—especially before you sign anything. Early state legal guidance can prevent costly mistakes that are far harder to unwind later. Whether your being asked to sign a “standard” deal or collaborate with someone on a handshake, I help set the foundation correctly from day one. Having an attorney early means you can avoid bad terms, understand your rights, and negotiate from a stronger position. Preventing problems is almost always easier (and cheaper) than fixing them later.

I offer clear flat fees for one-of matters and scaled contingency compensation for revenue producing clients.

For one-off matters, I offer flat fees so you know your legal costs up front. In some revenue-generating deals, or for clients who want comprehensive legal services, I may offer percentage-based billing or a hybrid fee structure. We’ll agree on that before any work begins so you know what to expect.

For certain deals and clients—especially revenue-generating contracts like licensing, endorsements, or publishing agreements—I offer the option of a percentage-based fee instead of a traditional hourly rate. Here’s why that can be a smart move for both of us:

1. You Don’t Pay Until You Get Paid. With a percentage fee structure, you’re not coming out of pocket up front. Instead, legal fees are paid only if and when you receive income from the deal. That means you can get high-quality legal protection now—when you need it most—without having to stall negotiations while you chase down a retainer.

2. Our Interests Are Aligned. Unlike flat fees or hourly billing, a percentage-based fee incentivizes your attorney to push for a stronger deal—not just a faster one. The better your outcome, the better mine. That creates true alignment between your long-term success and my legal strategy.

3. It’s Like Having Your Own In-House Legal Department. Think of it as having a attorney in your corner who’s invested in the outcome, not just billing by the clock. You get legal advice, negotiation firepower, and deal structure guidance from someone who’s thinking about your career the way a legal team would—with your bottom line and brand protection in mind.

4. It’s a Legitimate Business Expense. Because fees are paid from revenue, a percentage-based legal fee can often be treated as a deductible business expense. It’s a smart way to fold essential legal protection into the cost of doing business—just like you would with management or agent commissions.

5. No Surprise Invoices or Unused Hours. You don’t have to worry about being billed for phone calls, redlines, or internal drafts. The fee structure is simple, transparent, and tied directly to the value the deal creates for you.

In short: Percentage-based legal fees let you secure experienced legal representation without upfront cost, with built-in incentives that align my goals with yours—and ensure your deal doesn’t just get done, it gets done right.

Absolutely. I regularly review contracts drafted by third-parties (e.g., studios, labels, networks, streamers, brands, platforms, etc.) and help you understand what you’re really being asked to agree to. I’ll identify red flags, explain key terms in plain English, and propose edits that protect you.

Yes. Whether you’re hiring a collaborator, licensing your work, or launching a business with partners, I can draft a clear, enforceable agreement tailored to your specific situation.

Yes. I provide strategic negotiation services, which may include email-based negotiation, redlines and markups, or direct communication with the other party’s attorney(s) or deal-maker(s). I help you advocate for better terms without burning bridges.

No. I work exclusively with entertainers, talent, musicians, athletes, creators, and independent professionals–not the companies on the other side of the table. That means no conflicts of interest and no divided loyalties. I’m not worried about falling out of favor with them by zealously advocating for you. My job is to protect you–not keep industry relationships happy.

No. This is a transactional law practice. I do not litigate or handle lawsuits. My focus is on preventing disputes through well-structured, clear, and enforceable agreements. If you need a litigator, I can refer you to one.

I’m licensed in California and Texas, but I can provide transactional legal services across state lines when the work involves federal IP law, contacts, or entertainment-related matters that don’t require admission in another state.

That’s completely fine. Book a free consultation, and we’ll talk through your situation. I’ll help you figure out what you actually need and give you clear next steps—no pressure, no hard sell.