Paul I. Menes is an AV-rated entertainment and digital media transactional lawyer who provides “Creative Law for Creative People” - individuals and entities, from start-ups to award-winners, in the U.S. and internationally.
Why Paul? He has a business mindset and solution-based approach, focusing on his clients’ overall, long-term objectives, not just their individual components.
He has experience on the business and creative sides, not just the legal side, of entertainment and media projects. This unique background gives Paul a deep empathy for his clients’ challenges, and how the delicate balance between the business and creative sides need to be accommodated for a deal/contract to be successful for the parties.
His contracts work. He learned from his many years as a media and IP litigator what can go wrong with contracts, and ways to prevent it. He’s never had a contract litigated that he wrote or extensively revised — except once. His client won.
He works closely alongside his clients, offering advice and strategizing with them. He's passionate about protecting them from the myriad issues that can derail their efforts. He helps creatives successfully navigate a fluid and increasingly complicated environment, and maximize their opportunities.
Paul represents many clients within the entertainment industry, including artists, writers, performers, entrepreneurs, and other creators. He also represents personal managers, agents, executives, and those involved in content production, licensing, distribution, and live events. His services span various media spaces, such as TV, music, film, radio/podcasts, and digital media.
Paul’s digital media clients include social media influencers (Paul’s become known as The Influencer Lawyer®), those in content, software and app creation in both online and mobile portals (for whom he vets and protects their content, and drafts their Terms of Use and Privacy Policies).
Paul also keeps his ear to the ground for new alliances and opportunities for his clients.
EDUCATION
Southwestern University School of Law, Juris Doctorate
University of California, Los Angeles , Undergraduate
BAR ADMISSIONS
California State Bar
Central District of CA
PRACTICE AREAS
Entertainment and Digital Media
Music
Television
Film
Radio & Podcasts
Content and App Creation
Content Production and Licensing
Brand Licensing
Online and Mobile Portals
Personal Managers and Agency Representation
Influencer Law
Influencer Representation
Branding and Endorsement Contracts
Copyrights, Trademarks, and Related Technologies
REPRESENTATION THAT MATTERS
Successfully negotiated contract between prominent beauty influencer client and major studio for planned branded consumer beauty products connected to tentpole movie.
Successfully negotiated early termination for two personal manager clients from their contracts with personal management companies, and negotiated their new contracts with their new management companies.
Successfully negotiated TV/streaming series production deal with major studio for iconic graphic comics series.
Successfully negotiated multi-million dollar contract for digital content creation client to provide original content and services for annual opening ceremony for major series of sporting events.
INTEREST & HOBBIES
Music
Travel
Tai Chi
Enjoys speaking, writing, and is interviewed and quoted frequently.
Board Member for an amazing non-profit, All It Takes.
Read The Just Sayin’ . . .™ Blog
A blog about what you need to know now and why- Learn More.
PAUL’S MUSEXPO INTERVIEW