Entertainment & Media

Burns has a national reputation for representing clients in the fields of book publishing, film and television production, and music. We represent authors, screenwriters, actors, producers and production companies, and book and music publishing companies, in all aspects of entertainment law, including contract negotiations and rights acquisitions. We also work closely on behalf of clients with some of the country’s most influential talent agents and managers.

Our team counsels clients in the book publishing field in all aspects of literary rights acquisitions for authors and publishers, including publishing agreements, copyright protection and transfer matters, and subsidiary rights and multi-media development. Our clients range from first-time writers to several of the most eminent authors of the past century and today.

We represent clients in all aspects of film and television production and utilize our presence in the book publishing field to develop subsidiary rights, including film and television projects, for authors. We are regularly involved in the production of major studio feature films as well as independent films and represent talent, including writers, as well as production entities and financiers. In addition, we are involved in the development and production of television and cable series and specials, including features, and handle licensing work with networks for these projects. We are also experienced in representing video production companies and distributors in all aspects of their businesses.

In the music industry, our team negotiates all types of contracts for record labels and artists, including artist, producer, soundtrack licensing and music publishing agreements. We negotiate and document deals with major and independent record labels, and advise labels regarding production, distribution, and publishing.