Corporate
The firm advises clients on a range of corporate and related matters, ranging, for instance, from choosing and forming a legal entity to negotiating and managing joint ventures. We have over 20 years of practical, hands-on experience with operational and other business matters. In addition, Derek served for 14 years as an in-house legal and business affairs executive, and he also has functioned as sole legal counsel for two start-up cable television networks. We represent an array of businesses, including startups, growing enterprises, established companies, and investors.
Our work includes advising clients on strategic transactions involving entertainment, media, and new technology assets, such as acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, and related due diligence matters.
The firm's clients appreciate and benefit from our participation in the corporate decision-making process and our 24/7 availability. We understand the need for and value of tempering legal matters with a commercial perspective in negotiations, and the advantages of making business decisions by balancing the legal implications and risks against the commercial benefits and strategic rewards. We therefore work with our clients to help them crystallize their plans and goals and to view these in a strategic perspective.
We have advised clients on, and drafted, negotiated, and closed, a diverse range of corporate matters and deals, including the following:
- Forming and structuring the governance framework of business entities, including corporations and limited liability companies
- Drafting the necessary organizational and governing documents, such as the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreement, or partnership agreement
- Employment agreements
- Structuring, forming, and operating joint ventures
- Strategic transactions (and related due diligence matters), including acquisitions, divestitures, and mergers
- Strategic investments, such as through private placements
- Collateralizing intellectual property, such as copyrights
- Early and late stage financings
- Managing and administering intellectual property assets
- Outsourcing agreements
- Master services agreements
- Independent contractor agreements
- Nondisclosure agreements
- Agreements for the assignment and ownership of intellectual property created by employees or independent contractors
- Risk management issues
The firm's corporate-matter clients have included the following:
- Businesses at every stage of development, including startups
- Private equity and venture capital firms
- investors
- Senior managers and executives (for employment agreements)
- Artists and performers
- Songwriters
- Artist managers
- Online advertising services
- Advertising, marketing, and branding firms
- Software developers,
- Multimedia Internet services
- Producers of live entertainment events
- Talent managers
- DJs
- Bands
- Club owners
- Recorded music companies
- Music publishing companies
Derek Dessler
212.729.8233
Email
Derek Dessler is an attorney with over 20 years of experience focusing on entertainment and media, new technology, the arts, and related corporate and intellectual property matters. He delivers effective counsel, strategic guidance, an in-depth knowledge of his clients’ industries, and sound business judgment. More