Patricia V. Mayer - Attorneys - Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP ~ Full service entertainment law firm

Legal Expertise

Entertainment law, including the development, production, financing, and distribution of motion pictures, television movies and series, home video and interactive projects. Intellectual property, copyright and unfair competition law. Literary publishing, merchandising, and licensing, recording and music publishing. Entertainment lending and financing and related matters.

Representative Matters

Represented a major motion picture studio in negotiating a 24-picture output deal with a leading independent production company.
Represented a major motion picture studio in a joint venture with an independent distributor to distribute tent pole films.
Represented private investors in investing development money in tent pole film series on a fully recourse basis.
Represented a film production/distribution subsidiary of a major entertainment conglomerate in a rent-a-system deal with a large independent producer.
Represented entrepreneurs creating an independent distribution company in negotiations with banks, pay television outlets, subdistributors and mezzanine and equity financiers.
Represented a team of writers and artists optioning a book and art series for motion picture production as tent pole films for major studio.
Represented an internationally known photographer in a book deal with top end publisher of art books.
Represented a start-up production company in acquiring remake and sequel rights in a hit motion picture.
Represented a major independent production company in engaging star talent for tent pole films.
Represented fund raisers to structure and close P&A fund documentation.
Represented a theater producer in structuring a theater fund for both West End and Broadway productions.
Represented a financier investing completion funds in a specialty release film.
Represented a venture capitalist in creating an animation company inclusive of creation of corporation, engagement of executives, mezzanine financing arrangement, purchasing of literary properties and engagement of talent.
Closed an investment by a major international conglomerate in an existing animation production company.
Represented North American and European production companies in disputes with guilds regarding payment of residuals.
Arbitrated a case between a European film fund and a well known US independent production and distribution company regarding an overall arrangement.
Represented several screenwriters on sales of screenplays to production companies and directors on engagements by production companies.
Represented VOD platform deals with content providers.
Advised start-up technology company on business structure.
Represented European copyright owner in dispute with DGA.
Served as "Outside General Counsel" to European television production company in forming US subsidiary, engaging all employees.
Represented European production company on sale of format and engagement of executive producer by studio and network for hour-long prime-time series.

Partner - Los Angeles

Email Patricia V. Mayer

Phone:

(310) 312-3117

Fax:

(310) 312-3100

Practice Area

Industry Focus

Major studios, independent financiers, producers and distributors for all media, including foreign companies doing business in the U.S. and U.S. companies doing business abroad

Education

University of California Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1986
University of California Los Angeles, B.A., 1980
Cambridge University, Hughes Hall College, M.A., 1983

Court Admissions

California
England
Wales

Professional Recognition

"Leading Lawyers in Media and Entertainment," Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2005-2011)
"Best Lawyers in America, Entertainment Law," Best Lawyers (2010-2012)
"Top 5% of lawyers in Southern California," Southern California Super Lawyers (2009)

Publications and Presentations

Speaker, The Global World of Television and The Legal and Business Issues Around Format Sales, Center for International and Comparative Law Annual Symposium (February 2011)
Speaker, Film and Television Financing, Chapman College (November 2010)
Speaker, Co-Productions , International Programme, The Resource Center of Glasgow (November 2010)
Speaker, Corporate and Strategic Partnerships; and Pitching and Packaging Film and Television Both for International Productions and for Potential US Sales, Screen Leaders EU, Barcelona, Spain (November 2010)
Speaker, Expanding Your Media Business to the US, Screen Leaders EU, Dublin, Ireland (June 2010)
Speaker, Art of the Deal, Women in Film (May and July 2010)
Speaker, Copyright Protection and the Licensing of Remakes and Sequels, FICCI Frames, Mumbai, India (March 2010)
Speaker, The Law and You, Digital Hollywood (October 2009)
Speaker, Protectability of Television Formats and Other Reality TV Programs, Women in Film International (June 2009)
Economic Stimulus Provision Seeks to Stimulate California Film Production, MS&K IP & Technology Alert (April 2009)
Speaker, Clearing Up Issues of Clearance, Women in Film International and Networking Seminars (Spring 2009)
Speaker, Innovative Ways to Finance Motion Picture Production in Europe: The Belgian Tax Shelter and Other Investment Opportunities (March 2009)
Speaker, Defamation, Publicity, Privacy, Women in Film International (March 2009)
Speaker, Basics of Film Finance Distribution (March 2009)
Speaker, Idea Submission Law, Women in Film International (February 2009)
Speaker, The Basic Economics of the Film Industry , Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, Co-Productions and Soft Money, Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, Is Your Chain of Title Missing a Link?, Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, European Production During a US Strike, Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, The Serious Business of Casual Games: Rethinking the business models for game development and game exploitation, Casual Connect Seattle (July 2007)
Speaker, US Film and TV Finance, PACT (2007)
Speaker, A Primer on SAG, DGA and WGA Issues for Independent Producers, Women in Film (2006)
Speaker, How to Access US Financing for Film Including Subsidies: State by State , PACT (2006)
Speaker, Motion Picture Co-Productions, KOTRA (September 2005)
Speaker, The Industry Co-Production and Distribution, KOTRA (September 2005)
Speaker, Hot Topics in Hollywood - Labor Relations, Indecency, Branded Entertainment, Piracy, Probability, PACT (2005)
Speaker, Media Relations for Government Officials - Legal Limitations on How and What Reporters Can Collect and Write (2005)
Speaker, How Intellectual Property Industries Finance Development and Collect Revenues (2004)
Speaker, Hot Topics in Hollywood , PACT (2004)
Author, SAG Global Rule One , SJ Berwin Media Annual (2004)

Speaker, The Global World of Television and The Legal and Business Issues Around Format Sales, Center for International and Comparative Law Annual Symposium (February 2011)
Speaker, Film and Television Financing, Chapman College (November 2010)
Speaker, Co-Productions , International Programme, The Resource Center of Glasgow (November 2010)
Speaker, Corporate and Strategic Partnerships; and Pitching and Packaging Film and Television Both for International Productions and for Potential US Sales, Screen Leaders EU, Barcelona, Spain (November 2010)
Speaker, Expanding Your Media Business to the US, Screen Leaders EU, Dublin, Ireland (June 2010)
Speaker, Art of the Deal, Women in Film (May and July 2010)
Speaker, Copyright Protection and the Licensing of Remakes and Sequels, FICCI Frames, Mumbai, India (March 2010)
Speaker, The Law and You, Digital Hollywood (October 2009)
Speaker, Protectability of Television Formats and Other Reality TV Programs, Women in Film International (June 2009)
Economic Stimulus Provision Seeks to Stimulate California Film Production, MS&K IP & Technology Alert (April 2009)
Speaker, Clearing Up Issues of Clearance, Women in Film International and Networking Seminars (Spring 2009)
Speaker, Innovative Ways to Finance Motion Picture Production in Europe: The Belgian Tax Shelter and Other Investment Opportunities (March 2009)
Speaker, Defamation, Publicity, Privacy, Women in Film International (March 2009)
Speaker, Basics of Film Finance Distribution (March 2009)
Speaker, Idea Submission Law, Women in Film International (February 2009)
Speaker, The Basic Economics of the Film Industry , Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, Co-Productions and Soft Money, Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, Is Your Chain of Title Missing a Link?, Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, European Production During a US Strike, Women in Film (2009)
Speaker, The Serious Business of Casual Games: Rethinking the business models for game development and game exploitation, Casual Connect Seattle (July 2007)
Speaker, US Film and TV Finance, PACT (2007)
Speaker, A Primer on SAG, DGA and WGA Issues for Independent Producers, Women in Film (2006)
Speaker, How to Access US Financing for Film Including Subsidies: State by State , PACT (2006)
Speaker, Motion Picture Co-Productions, KOTRA (September 2005)
Speaker, The Industry Co-Production and Distribution, KOTRA (September 2005)
Speaker, Hot Topics in Hollywood - Labor Relations, Indecency, Branded Entertainment, Piracy, Probability, PACT (2005)
Speaker, Media Relations for Government Officials - Legal Limitations on How and What Reporters Can Collect and Write (2005)
Speaker, How Intellectual Property Industries Finance Development and Collect Revenues (2004)
Speaker, Hot Topics in Hollywood , PACT (2004)
Author, SAG Global Rule One , SJ Berwin Media Annual (2004)

Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations

Founding Member, Motion Picture and Television Fund [501(c)(3)]
Audit Committee, Motion Picture and Television Fund [501(c)(3)]
Board of Directors, Sullivan Canyon Preservation Association [501(c)(3)] (2005-2010)
Chair, Sullivan Canyon Preservation Association [501(c)(3)] (2008-2009)
Panel of Arbitrators, Legal Committee, MILA Drafting Committee, and Territories Committee, Independent Film and Television Alliance

Other Career Experience

Senior Solicitor, SJ Berwin, Media and Communications (2000-2003)
Senior Vice President, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1992-2000)
Production Counsel, TriStar Pictures (1990-1992)
Associate Production Counsel, MGM/UA Communications (1989-1990)
Associate, Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro (1987-1989)