Practice Areas:

Transactions for Artists and Independent Producers Judy’s personalized representation of Artists focuses on drafting and negotiating contracts for screen and television writers, animators, graphic novelists, authors of fiction and of non-fiction. Development activities for artists include securing or selling rights to works of fiction and non-fiction, magazine articles, life story rights, screenplays, and live action and animated television series in both the scripted and “non-scripted” arenas, and negotiating  agreements for writing services in all forms of traditional and new media.  She counsels clients with respect to all aspects of their professional careers including agency and management representation, collaborations with other artists, employment, merchandising and licensing.

Production Legal Services Judy represents independent film makers and television production companies in connection with the development, production and post-production of both dramatic and documentary feature films, and both scripted and non-scripted programming for broadcast and new media.   She advises clients with respect to union and guild matters, chain of title and copyright issues, production policies and guidelines.

Employment Negotiations Judy represents studio, network and independent production company executives in contract negotiations with their employers. In addition she represents literally dozens of animators and game developers in their employment negotiations with studios, production companies and independent producers.

Education:

Juris Doctor, Southwestern University School of Law

Ph.D., Master of Arts, Comparative Literature, Univ. of Southern California

Bachelor of Arts, French and Anthropology, Univ. of Southern California

Beverly Hills Bar Association

California State Bar

British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Los Angeles

1992, California State Bar

1992, United States District Court for the Central District of California

Warner Bros, Inc. Music Division – business and legal affairs: internship

MCA/Universal Merchandising – business and legal affairs: internship

MGM/UA Worldwide Television Group – business and legal affairs: internship.

Davenport Lyons, Solicitors, (London) Entertainment Division: internship.

Writers Guild of America, West:  Executive in charge of special projects.

2005 – Present: California Institute of the Arts faculty in the School of Film/Video.  Judy teaches “Entrepreneurial Studies” in the Character Animation Program introducing animation and other students to basic principles of copyright and contract law, practical issues involved in developing and producing films as well as accepting employment in the film, television and new media industries, and starting their own businesses.

2009: California State University at Long Beach: Visiting  professor in Film and Video, Judy taught   “Film and Television Law” for graduate and undergraduate students.

In addition to teaching Comparative Literature and working as a literary agent, prior to law school Judy lived in London for 4 years where she established and published the Karfiol Literary Report, a monthly scouting report of English fiction and non-fiction for independent film and television companies, with subscribers in the US, the UK, France and Australia.

Practice Areas:

Entertainment Law (Motion Picture & Television) Jenna has represented major corporate clients (HBO, Lions Gate), independent film companies (Foresight Unlimited, Media 8 Entertainment) and a variety of producers, distributors, sales agents, and financiers in a broad range of transactions relating to motion picture and television acquisition, development, production, finance and worldwide distribution of projects with budgets ranging from $1 million to over $80 million.

Education:

Pepperdine University, School of Law, Malibu, CA – Juris Doctor: 1995 (magna cum laude)

Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT – B.S. (Finance): 1992 (summa cum laude)

Professional Career (Legal):

Lapin Blanc, Inc.: 2007 – present

CEO

Business and legal affairs consulting services for various clients in independent film acquisition, development, production, finance and distribution.

Media 8 Entertainment: 2003 – 2006

President

Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs

Business Affairs, Inc.: 1999 – 2003

Partner (Co-Founder)

Business and legal affairs representation of various entertainment clients in the motion picture, television, music and internet businesses, including negotiation and drafting of acquisition, development, production, finance and distribution agreements.

MDP Worldwide (aka Behaviour Communications) : 1995 – 1999

Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs

Professional Career (Non-Legal):

Jenna is lead vocalist for all-female rock group, Vixen. Jenna is featured on Vixen releases including the live recording “Extended Versions” (2006 Sony/BMG), and studio album “Live & Learn” (2007 Demolition Records).

Jenna and co-author Kimberly “Momma” Reiner (collectively, The Sugar Mommas) penned dessert cookbook “Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Tells a Story” (2011 Andrews McMeel Publishing), and The Sugar Mommas are resident sweets bloggers on ModernMom.com.

Admissions:

1995, U.S. District Court for Central District of California

1995, California

Practice Areas:

Public Art in Private Development Sarah works with artists, municipalities, developers and real estate attorneys to manage compliance with public art in private development requirements.  She helps guide clients through the process of analyzing and assessing mandatory and voluntary participation in public art programs including developing strategies for community partnerships and accessing incentive programs.  Sarah has extensive experience drafting contracts for every aspect of commissioning public art works.

Public Art Policies and Maintenance Sarah works with clients to ensure that sustainable public art policies are established for institutions, private entities, nonprofits and municipalities.  Once established, policies must be maintained, communicated and revisited as situations evolve.  Sarah is available to draft, revise and modify policies at any stage.

Public Art Maintenance and Management Sarah is experienced with issues of maintenance and collection management and works with clients to ensure that public art is properly maintained and respectfully treated.  In the event of entity restructuring, Sarah is available to discuss the legalities and ethics of art treatment including deaccessioning policies and procedures.

Private Commissions and Collections Sarah works with private clients to assist in commissioning specific works and collecting art in general.  She creates appropriate documentation for clients who wish to purchase new or existing works.  She also advises clients on the necessary precautions to take to protect and build a solid collection.  In the event of questions regarding the status of artwork already purchased, Sarah can help guide clients through the process of establishing good title or negotiating an appropriate resolution.

Artist Agreements Sarah advises artists, galleries and any other clients who work with artists.  She drafts solid, plain-English agreements that appropriately and clearly express the parties’ intentions.

Publishing Sarah works with publishers, authors, and artists to negotiate and secure publishing and licensing agreements.

Education:

University of California Los Angeles Law School: 2011-2012 (Visiting Jurist)

University of Oregon School of Law, Eugene: 1991-1994 (Juris Doctor)

Université Paul Valery, Montpellier, France: 1990-1991

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign:  1987-1990 (Bachelors Degree in History)

Professional Career:

Law Office of Sarah Conley Odenkirk, Studio City, California:  2005-present

Partner in Rosen, Feig, Conley & Lunn, LLP: 2002-2005

Law Office of Sarah S. Conley, Portland, Oregon: 2000-2002

Partner in Kent Conley LLP: 1996-2000

Associate Attorney at Smith, Freed, Heald & Chock, PC, Portland, Oregon: 1994-1995

Judicial Extern for Judge Michael R. Hogan, US District Court, Eugene, Oregon: 1993

Admissions:

2003, New York

2001, California

2000, District of Columbia

1995, Washington

1994, Oregon

Professional Affiliations:

Director’s Council for the Fowler Museum at UCLA, November 2012-present (member)

Americans for the Arts’ Public Art Network Council, January 2012-present (member)

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, 2003-July 2005 (president 2004-2005, board member and member of strategic planning committee)

Fellows of Contemporary Art, 2004-July 2005 (secretary)

Oregon State Bar Computer and Internet Section, 2000-2003 (executive committee member)

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, 2000-2004 (board member)

Art and Law Symposium, University of Oregon School of Law, 2001 (board member)

Northwest Lawyers and Artists, 1995-2002 (board member)

Network of Oregon Artists, 1995-1997 (president 1996-1997, board member)

Publications:

Forthcoming book to be published in Spring 2013 addressing contract issues for creative people.

Forthcoming public art in private development Research Guide.

“Communication, Clarity, and Contracts,” International Sculpture Center Web Special, April 2011.

“Insurance Issues for Design in Pubic Art,” International Sculpture Center Web Special, April 2010,.

“The Relevance Of Authenticity In The Art Market: A Survey Of Claims And A Proposed Solution,” The Art and Museum Law Journal, Volume 1, Fall 2004.

“Copyright Myth Busting,” WrapAround, Magazine of the Advertising Photographers of America, Vol. 1, No. 2 Winter 2003/2004.

“Funding Culture: Fundamental Structural and Philosophical Contrasts Between the US and France,” prepared for the French-American Foundation in New York, April 2003.

“International Art Theft,” Wisconsin International Law Journal, Volume 13, No. 2, Spring 1995.

Authored a series of legal articles in the Art Foundry Journal, serving the bronze foundry community; and the Sculpture Journal, serving the sculptor community, 1996-2002.

Speaking Engagements:

Panel discussion at Art Platform, Los Angeles addressing collectors’ issues at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, September 29, 2012.

Workshop Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission at West Hollywood Recreation Center, June 4, 2011.

Webinar for the Public Art Network on Public Art Contract and Copyright issues. November, 2010 and April 2011.

Speaker at Americans for the Arts Half-Century Summit Public Art Preconference. Panel on Public Art Contract and Copyright issues. June 24, 2010.

Guest Lecturer at GYST workshops in Pasadena, California. Workshop topics included: business, contracts, and intellectual property. 2006-2008.

Instructor for weekend workshops sponsored by the CalArts Alumni Association and the City of Santa Clarita. Workshop topics include: Copyrights, Trademarks, Contracts, Dispute Resolutions and Non-profits 2003-2006.

Speaker on art law topics including public art work commissions and insurance matters; and practicing in the area of art law, at the American Bar Association Sports and Entertainment Law Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, California, October 2004; New York, New York, October 2003; and Nashville, Tennessee, October 2002.

Participant in cultural exchange and conference organized by the French Ministries of Culture and Finance, and the French-American Foundation to address issues of funding for the arts in France and the United States, Paris, February-March 2003.

Presenter for the Center for Cultural Innovation: evening workshop on Copyrights and Contracts, July 2003; day-long workshop on Marketing and Business issues, November 2003 and 2004.

Instructor for the Learning Annex: workshop in copyrights and trademarks for business owners, 2002-2003.

Guest presenter in seminar course taught by Harry Mott, Department Chair of the Digital Media Department at Otis College, April 2003.

Guest lecturer at Lewis and Clark College of Arts Senior Seminar, Portland, Oregon, April 2002 and 2003.

Guest Lecturer at Japanese American National Museum, September 2002.

Featured Speaker and Panel Moderator at the Art and Law Symposium, University of Oregon School of Law, November 2001.

Featured in “Women Making a Difference,” The Business Journal, Portland, Oregon, November 2001.

Instructor of International Protection of Intellectual Property, Portland Community College International/Small Business Development, May 2001, October 2000.

Panelist on Visual Media Piracy panel for the University of Oregon’s Law and Entrepreneurship Center Seminar, October 2000.

Seminar co-organizer and lecturer on trade secret law, Intellectual Property seminar in May, 1998, Portland, Oregon with the firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP.

Periodic Guest lecturer at University of Oregon School of Law, Lewis and Clark College, Portland State University; Oregon College of Arts and Crafts; Chemeketa Community College; the Oregon Glass Guild; and the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry, 1995 to 2002.

Practice Areas:

Entertainment Transactions Julia represents clients in a broad range of acquisition, development, production, and distribution transactions for low to high-budget feature films, short films, and documentaries, which includes but is not limited to, negotiating and drafting all forms of acquisition, development, production and distribution agreements, analysis of chain-of-title and copyright issues, and production counsel services.

Marketing and Advertising Julia represents clients in connection with the marketing and advertising of consumer products, feature films, short films, and documentaries, which includes but is not limited to, negotiating and drafting draft new media, online and traditional marketing agreements (including website, hosting and other online services agreements, sweepstakes, contest, promotion, production, special events, publicity, marketing, and advertising services, and content license agreements), and advising clients on social media campaigns, website builds and Federal Trade Commission issues.

Corporate Counsel Julia works with clients who have new or existing entertainment, media and consumer product companies that may not have in-house counsel, and in consultation with other attorneys if required, represents them in various aspects of their business, which includes but is not limited to, negotiating and drafting employment, settlement, and confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements, and working one-on-one with clients to establish legal policies, procedures and best practices for the operation of their businesses.

Education:

Juris Doctor, Southwestern University School of Law, SCALE Program: 2004

Bachelor of Arts, Linguistics, University of California, Santa Barbara: 1990

Professional Legal Career:

Counsel, The Walt Disney Company: 2007-2011

Associate Attorney, Business Affairs, Inc. (a California law corporation): 2004-2007

Professional Non-Legal Career:

Producer, Solaris Films: 1997-2004

Freelance Production Executive, Director’s Associate, Production Coordinator and Assistant to Director: Alcon Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Kintop Pictures, MDP Worldwide, New Line Cinema, and Touchstone Pictures: January 1992-2001

Admissions:

2004, U.S. District Court for Central District of California

2004, California

Bar Associations:

Beverly Hills Bar Association

Professional and Civic Associations:

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: 2000-2002 (community volunteer)

Public Counsel, Los Angeles: 2002-2007 (volunteer Guardian Ad Litem)

California Lawyers for the Arts

Publications:

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author with Peter Dekom: Negotiating and Drafting Motion Picture Production Agreements and Documents: Production Risk Management, Key Boilerplate Provisions, and Common Provisions in Talent Agreements, 2012

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author, Annotated Literary Option Purchase Agreement Template with Alternative Language, 2012

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author, Annotated Producer Agreement Template with Alternative Language, 2012

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author, Annotated Actor Agreement Template with Alternative Language, 2012

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author, Annotated Key Crew Agreement Template with Alternative Language, 2012

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author, Annotated Location Agreement Template with Alternative Language, 2012

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author, Annotated Location Release Template with Alternative Language, 2012

Lexis Practice Advisor, Entertainment Transactions: Author, Annotated Clearance Release Template with Alternative Language, 2012

Practice Areas:

Criminal Defense Neil has joined Rufus-Isaacs, Acland & Grantham as our lead criminal defense attorney. All criminal and quasi-criminal matters are handled by this firm, from misdemeanors such as driving under the influence, petty theft, resisting arrest and simple assault, through the most serious felonies, including murder, attempted murder, shaken baby syndrome matters, drug cases, felony assault and battery, domestic violence, robbery and white-collar crime.

Consultation Currently primarily focusing his practice on criminal defense, Neil is available for consultation on all criminal and quasi-criminal matters.

Voiding Convictions Neil has also developed a highly successful line of practice voiding convictions subject to attack on constitutional grounds.

Civil Litigation Neil continues to represent plaintiffs in personal injury and general tort matters, as well as handling appellate cases, both civil and criminal, before all California courts.

Education:

George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, Scotland; 1958-1971

University of Dundee, Scotland; 1971-72

University of St. Andrews, Scotland; 1972-73

University of Glasgow, Scotland; 1979-81

Degree: Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.)

Additional Honors: Winner of the Politics Prize (1981); Certificate of Merit (Civil Law); Certificate of Distinction (Politics)

California Bar Examination was taken after successful completion of one and a half years of the State Bar Law Office Study Program (1986)

Professional Career:

Selected Civil Verdicts

Naranjo, et al v. City of Los Angeles: $1.4 million (police misconduct, L.A.P.D.);

Bell v. County of Los Angeles: $475,000.00 (police misconduct, L.A.S.D.);

Byrd, et al v. City of Los Angeles: $475,000.00 (police misconduct, L.A.P.D.);

Mercado v. City of Los Angeles: $160,000.00 (police misconduct, L.A.P.D.);

Simpson v. County of Los Angeles: $100,000.00 (jail beating, L.A.S.D.);

Jansen, et al v. M.S.I.: $2.3 million (fraud);

Medina v. Rockwell, et al (in association with Bernard L. Nizinski, Esq.): $1.8 million (construction accident)

Reyes v. Stanton: $1.1 million (art theft);

Sanchez v. K-Mart: $140,000.00 (false imprisonment. Neil’s first jury trial);

Civil Settlements

Neil has concluded hundreds of cases by way of settlement prior to trial. Of these cases, the following matters were of particular professional satisfaction to him:

In 2010 he negotiated a $900,000.00 settlement with the County of Los Angeles in the case of Silva v. County, the largest ever settlement for a County Jail medical negligence case. The settlement occurred after the trial court denied repeated attempts by the defendant to excise plaintiff’s civil rights cause of action from the lawsuit, ruling there was sufficient evidence generated by plaintiff to allow a jury to determine whether or not the County exhibited “deliberate indifference” towards plaintiff, as per the Supreme Court ruling in Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97 (1976);

In a personal injury matter, Neil was able to secure a six-figure settlement for an high school senior and upcoming track and field athlete named Ramon Gomez who suffered soft tissue injury in a rear-end accident which, although not disabling, caused a small fall-off in Mr. Gomez’s track times sufficient to eliminate him from pursuing his dream of participation in future Olympic Games;

In a bad faith matter in which an insurance company took diametrically opposed positions in the determination of liability for the uninsured motorist claim and the subsequent 3^rd party liability claim of the passenger of his client, Neil secured a six-figure settlement from State Farm;

In a case involving a minor child, Neil was able to negotiate a seven-figure structured settlement for the child after a car in a McDonald’s parking lot struck him. The theory of liability centered on the faulty design of drive-thru area;

The re-negotiation of a fair royalty structure for legendary cult filmmaker Kenneth Anger prior to the DVD release of his seminal works such as “Scorpio Rising”, “Lucifer Rising” and “Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome” as “The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vols. 1 and 2”.

Criminal Defense

Neil has achieved consistently excellent results for his clients in criminal matters. He has become sought-after for his expertise in several areas, including “shaken baby syndrome” cases and the voiding of convictions that violate an individual’s constitutional rights, the latter of which is highlighted by a 100% success rate to date.  To date, none of his clients accused of murder have been convicted of that charge.

Currently focusing his practice on criminal defense, Neil is available for consultation on all criminal and quasi-criminal matters at the firm’s standard rate.

Appellate Work

Neil has argued before the appellate courts on a variety of civil and criminal causes.

As a law clerk, he wrote the successful appellant briefs in the case of Rose v. City of Los Angeles which overturned the trial court’s summary judgment adjudication as to the applicability of the “fireman’s rule” to the case. Thereafter the matter was tried in Los Angeles Superior Court by Johnnie Cochran, Jr., Esq., who secured a $2.1 million verdict in plaintiff’s favor. (Rose v. City of Los Angeles (1984) 159 Cal.App.3d 883).

Neil also briefed and successfully argued the case of Hesse v. Best Western International (1995) 32 Cal.App.4^th 404 which held that California courts could exercise general jurisdiction over the defendant under the “minimum contacts” rule in regard to a plaintiff who was seriously injured while vacationing at a Best Western hotel in Mexico.

Pro Bono

Neil has performed legal services on many occasions for persons unable to afford representation, primarily in the field of civil rights, landlord/tenant and harassment.

Each Tuesday he is available for free legal consultation at the Antigua Coffee House, 5703 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90042 between the hours of 6.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m.

Bar Associations:

The State Bar of California

American Bar Association

The British American Bar Association of S. California