Lance Rosen Speaks To Prost Amerika

Lance Seth Rosen counsels clients on the diverse business and legal aspects of the media and entertainment industries. A widely respected Intellectual Property / Entertainment Lawyer, Mr. Rosen has a broad range of experience in, and intimate knowledge of, the many industries that produce and deliver arts, entertainment and information, in all formats and media.

Mr. Rosen's clients over the years have included motion picture and television production companies, recording studios, music labels, performing artists, television stations, museums, foundations, screenwriters, journalists, athletes, broadcast reporters and anchors, authors, publishers, agents, hardware, software and e-commerce companies, and investors. Mr. Rosen began his legal career with the Proskauer, Rose law firm in Los Angeles. He was of counsel with Garvey Schubert Barer and Davis Wright Tremaine, and a partner at Koler, Rosen & Fitzsimmons in Seattle.

Prior to becoming a lawyer Mr. Rosen was a professional actor with many television, film and stage credits.  He also founded two theatre companies, where he produced and directed several plays.

 

 

Prost Amerika: What types of cases make up the majority of your workload?

Lance Rosen: You can’t be a full time private practice entertainment lawyer in the northwest and focus on just one angle within one facet of the entertainment industry. In New York or Los Angeles, it’s possible to be an entertainment lawyer who works solely on film finance deals, recording agreements, book deals, stage agreements, game industry licenses, industry tax issues, guild grievances or copyright litigation. You can also establish yourself primarily as a studio / producer’s lawyer or an artist’s lawyer. A Seattle entertainment law practice is necessarily eclectic.

Today, for example, I worked on star actor agreements for an independent film producer, on a book & film deal for a biography of a 1950’s swing dancer’s life story and on the music sound track rights for a film already in release. That’s just the film cases and it’s not an unusual day. It’s a wide spectrum. I have a lot more diversity in my practice than most LA or NYC entertainment lawyers can have. I know because I was one a long time ago and you get typecast. I thought it would be hard to keep up on new developments over such a wide array, but I’ve been doing this a long time and I think I keep up pretty well. I feel in league with my big city counterparts.

Prost Amerika: What does it mean to practice entertainment law in Seattle?

Lance Rosen: I have the most interesting clients of any lawyer in town.

Recently Seattle has experienced its “Summer of Film” with many feature films being made here. We asked Lance how that has affected his work and found out that it was also a case of his labors helping to bring that about.

Lance Rosen: Sure. it creates more opportunity for actors, craftpersons, producers, writers, and yes, lawyers – as well caterers, dry cleaners, hotels, car rental companies, and lumber yards. I’m very proud to have been a founder of the tax incentive program administered by WashingtonFilmworks, grinding through the legislative process with Don Jensen, Marty Oppenheimer, John Comerford, James Keblas, Amy Dee, Jim Hedrick, Jim Baker, Rick Fasio, Steve Salamunovich, Donna James, committed union reps, and many others on a unified two year campaign. We created something from nothing. It’s part of our collective legacy. I hope it grows and thrives.

Prost Amerika: What is the oddest case you've had to deal with?

Lance Rosen: I deal with creative artists so I’ve had a lot of very odd situations. Looking back at the end of a day over a happy hour drink, they all seem at least a little weird. The oddest one ever ?…. Can’t do, even if I wanted to. Confidentiality prevails. Too bad because there have been some real good ones.

Prost Amerika: Do the particular temperaments of those in the creative community present any challenges different from other fields?

Lance Rosen: I think so. I was an artist first, so I’m at home with them but I’ve also discovered that there are many “artists” at work in the business community too, producing a record, financing a movie, running a game company -- there’s a lot of artistry involved in those endeavors. Business can be an art.

Prost Amerika: How did you decide that entertainment law was the branch you wanted to specialize in?

Lance Rosen: John Lennon, “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” To avoid despair and cynicism, you have to live with a deep conviction that you’re in control and make choices - even while another part of you knows life is also a series of accidents and random events. My career is a combination of a choice that led to an accident that led to more choices that were sidetracked by a random event, and so on — like everyone’s life. Besides, these days no one is one thing permanently. I’ve got a 16 year old who discovers new things about herself every day. It’s beautiful to see. When she’s out on her own in a couple of years or so, I’ll probably make a choice to do some other random thing.

I went to UCLA law school in my late 30’s thinking I’d come out as a public defender or perhaps a district attorney. It didn’t happen. I think more than half of my law class at UCLA wanted to become entertainment lawyers. Only two of us did as far as I know – my friend Bob who had been a rock ‘n roll singer with no interest in entertainment law and me. Neither one of us expected it. I’m looking ahead to at least one more new big adventure while I’m still healthy. It’ll be planned carefully and then change en route in ways I can’t foresee.

Prost Amerika: Lastly, any amusing anecdotes you want to tell me?.

Lance Rosen: It is a joy and intellectual challenge to represent a company negotiating with an artist at 10am and then at 3pm negotiating on behalf of a different artist in a deal with a different company, essentially switching perspectives. I think I can argue against most everything I’ve argued for. it’s an enjoyable dance so long as I maintain my integrity and sense of humor.

September 22, 2008