Entertainment Law

Introduction

Boylan Code's entertainment law practice is one of the most extensive in Upstate New York, providing legal representation to professionals in the music, film, and professional sports industries. Clients include national and international recording and performing artists, publishers, managers, agents, composers, independent filmmakers, writers, artists, as well as NFL and NHL athletes. Boylan Code is a member of the Primerus network of attorneys, a network of independent AV rated (highest legal quality rating) law firms having offices throughout North America.

Music Industry

National and international recording artists, composers, performers, managers, recording studios, independent record labels/distributors, composers, agents, promoters, and many other professionals in the music industry have retained the legal services of Boylan Code for nearly two decades. Boylan Code also served as counsel on the famed Woodstock '99. Clients span all styles of music, including, pop, hip hop, rock, metal, alternative, classical, folk, new age, easy listening and country, Typical services include:

Recording and distribution contracts.
Publishing contracts.
Management and agency contracts.
Trademark and servicemark counseling and registration.
Music licensing.
Artist's name image or likeness, counseling and licensing.
Copyright and other intellectual property counseling and contracts.
Negotiation and preparation of long term multi-million dollar performance contracts to single engagement contracts under one thousand dollars.
Merchandising contracts.
Business entity and counseling and formation (e.g., partnership, corporation, limited liability company).
Tax counseling.
Asset diversification and protection.
Litigation services relating to all of the foregoing, plus patent litigation.

Independent Film Industry

Boylan Code represents independent filmmakers in all aspects of the independent filmmaking process, from inception to sale for filmmakers wishing to make a film with budgets ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars. Typical services include:

Private placement financing (providing business and legal advice in the preparation of the business plan and private placement memorandum).
Secured and unsecured traditional financing counseling and representation.
Business entity formation (partnership, corporation, limited liability company, and not for profit corporations).
Employment law issues (relating to cast and crew) and payroll issues.
Actor and crew contracts.
Screen Actors Guild (SAG) contract counseling.
Copyright counseling and procurement.
Location agreements.
Product placement.
Trademarked product releases as well as trademark and licensing
Life story contract rights and right to privacy counseling.
Insurance counseling.
Tax incentives relating to film production as well as general tax matters.
Performer releases.
Music licensing counseling.
Sales agents.
Film, video and broadcast licensing.
Litigation services relating to all of the foregoing.

Additionally, Mark Costello, the chair of Boylan Code's entertainment practice group, has raised funds for, written, produced and sold a full length feature film. Given Mr. Costello's business experience in this area, when requested, Mr. Costello is available to provide business services to clients in all stages of film production. Through our relationships in the film production industry we often are able to assist in the procurement of cast and crew members, a casting director, insurance, SAG payroll processing, production crew members, and low rate music licensing from burgeoning songwriters.

Sports, Publishing and other Entertainment Industries

Boylan Code represents members of the National Football League and the National Hockey League, providing a host of personal and business legal services to those clients. Additionally, Boylan Code represented orchestras, fiction and non-fiction writers, artists, artisans, designers and other many others, in a wide variety of legal matters.

Entertainment Law Practice Area Attorneys

Attorneys providing principal and ancillary services to the Entertainment Law practice group include the following:

Mark Costello, partner, Syracuse University, JD 1979, magna cum laude. Admitted to practice in New York and Texas. Mr. Costello is a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Entertainment, Art and Sports Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and has provided entertainment legal services, including litigation services, to clients since 1987. Mark has co-written and co-produced a feature length film, currently being distributed in fifteen countries around the world.