The firm operates at the intersection of creativity and the law. It supports projects that bring ideas to life, with recognized expertise in entertainment law (cinema, music) in French and Californian laws.
Whether it involves films, series, music, brands, or innovations, the firm addresses all legal matters related to the protection, development, and promotion of works, talents, and businesses in the cultural, creative, and technological sectors.
FILMS & SERIES
The practice supports authors, screenwriters, producers, and independent studios at every stage of a project’s life cycle — from development to screen.
Counsel Benhamou’s expertise includes international co-productions, adaptation rights, option agreements, screenplay acquisition, writer collaboration, director attachment, production and financing contracts, as well as post-production and distribution agreements. As a lawyer admitted in both California and France, Laurence Benhamou offers strategic and legal support in managing rights and securing international contracts, especially in cross-border collaborations.
She advises on U.S. and European legal frameworks, including specific clauses related to copyright, A.I., moral rights, artists’ rights and authors’ remuneration.
Chain of Title Clearance
Verification of the chain of title, title clearance.
Entertainment Agreements
Production contracts - Business & Legal Affairs
Negotiation and drafting of development, production, coproduction, distribution agreements, with a deep understanding of European and Hollywood practices and strong expertise in copyright law.
European and International Coproductions
The firm handles strategy and negotiation, drafting, and adaptation of production contracts, including Hollywood production contracts, in accordance with French, European, and Californian law. This includes negotiating and drafting coproduction agreements, coordinating transactional work between the various partners, and ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements of the legal systems involved.
REGISTERED REPRESENTATIVE FOR AUTHORS & ARTISTS
Council Benhamou also acts as a registered representative for authors and artists. She represents authors (novelists and screenwriters), directors and music composers, and negotiates their adaptation, writing, commissioning, and publishing agreements.
MUSIC
The firm advises music professionals on all legal aspects of creation and exploitation.
It supports composers, authors, performers, publishers, and producers in drafting and negotiating their agreements, including recording, publishing, synchronization, commissioning, or licensing contracts.
The firm also offers strategic legal counsel on rights management, authorship, royalty distribution, and copyright protection.
It integrates emerging legal challenges such as artificial intelligence in the creation and use of music, and assists clients with international rights and cross-border licensing.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
The firm provides strategic and legal advice for the creation and implementation of projects involving intellectual property assets. This includes identifying and valuing associated rights, protecting them, and negotiating and drafting the contracts necessary to structure the project.
COMPANY CREATION & START-UPS
The firm provides strategic and legal advice for the incorporation of companies by entrepreneurs.
Counsel Benhamou assists with selecting the appropriate legal structure, incorporating, registering trademarks and protecting other intellectual property rights, as well as securing agreements between partners, investors or collaborators