On December 8, 2021, Paul Bernstein, Chris O’Brien, and Jim Nelson were recognized in Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report. This recognition honors the top financiers, attorneys, executives, and entrepreneurs who forged the major game-changing deals that changed the showbiz landscape.

Paul Bernstein, chair of Venable’s Entertainment Transactions practice, advises clients on complex corporate matters. Paul…

On October 21, 2021, Sarah Cronin was quoted in Best’s Review on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on insurers in the live entertainment market.

According to the article, over the past 19 months, insurers have been hit with some fairly large losses, particularly in event cancellation coverage. That’s forcing some policyholders to reevaluate where they will…

Most of us know what it’s like to receive a notice that one of our subscriptions has been automatically renewed for another year. As the regulatory landscape of subscription-based offers continues to evolve, federal and state regulators and private plaintiffs have ramped up actions and challenges against companies that sell products and services on an…

With technological innovation continuing to transform how companies do business, more and more entities are looking to forge strategic alliances that leverage the commercial uses of intellectual property and other intangible assets. In this Q and A, Jim Nelson and Bill Russell, co-chairs of Venable’s Technology, Media, and Commercial (TMC) group, discuss their extensive…

Two Illinois state courts recently dismissed defamation claims related to an online article and a disciplinary proceeding conducted by the Champaign Illinois Kennel Club.  Both courts found that the defendants were immunized because the statements in dispute were unactionable opinions and were protected under the innocent construction rule.  See Law Office of John S. Xydakis,…

On June 10, 2021, the Texas Court of Appeals held that a trial court had erred in denying motions to dismiss brought by KHOU-TV and the Houston Chronicle under the Texas Citizens Participation Act (the TCPA), the Texas anti-SLAPP statute.  The three-justice panel held that the plaintiff, Status Lounge, failed to show that the news…

A recent decision in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals may have tax implications for talent who conducts significant endorsement or brand ambassador activities. Generally, endorsement deals often have two components: (1) endorsement services (e.g., public appearances, social media) and (2) licensing the talent’s name and likeness (e.g., for use on print and digital advertisements).…