How important is a lawyer

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CyanJaguar

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hi guys,

I just wanted to know. Is it of utmost importance to have a laawyer when signing a contract or negotiating a deal?

I have heard that so called "entertainment lawyers" out there just want your 50 grand and usually end up helping the label and hurting you.

any info appreciated
 
It's a good idea to get any lawyer, whether "entertainment" or whatever, to look over any contract before signing it. When I was signing a contract for some retail store space, I was unsure of all the contract mumbo jumbo, so I had a lawyer take a look over the contract with me, and adjust things accordingly. Well worth the $100.

Rev E is the legal expert around here, maybe he will have some more info.
 
CyanJaguar & Emeric,

Yeh. It's definetly a good idea to hire a lawyer before signing a label. It's actually a great idea to get one to negotiate the deal for you. Many of the sob stories that you often hear about in the industry (Courtney Love, N'Sync, TLC, or someone that you may know) could have been solved simply by getting good counsel. One thing that people often don't think about is that a deal is always a matter of offer/acceptance. You NEVER should just accept a deal without negotiation. NEVER, EVER! There's no such thing as clauses that can't be changed. Everything is negotiable.

And remember that "no" is still a word. If the deal isn't right, say no and walk away with your life and integrity. Compromising on a point (a percentage of retail) maybe, but cross collaterizing publishing and artist royalties, never. Signing agreements that prevent you from EVER rerecording songs that you wrote, NEVER. There are a whole bunch of "nevers" that I could suggest, but the list goes on for a long time.

Contracts can be negotiated by non-lawyer types if they have experience in the music business, but they should be a last resort. Labels hire lawyers. Law has it's own unique language that "common folk" may not be aware of, so it's a good idea to hire a lawyer who knows the language and legal code and is on your side. I would stick with entertainment lawyers exclusively. Attorneys in other law specialties won't know what is generally acceptable in the recording business.

Oh... and when I finish law school, I expect to be at the top of your list of "top gun" legal eagles! :D

Rev E
 
Oh.. and by the way CJ, a good lawyer is worth every penny. However, $50,000 sounds a bit two high for my tastes. Most of the lawyers that I'm aware of bill at about $100 - $150 per hour. Unless you've got some deal with them to get a percentage of your recording advance (which I don't suggest for a bunch of reasons), your attorney fees should be in the range of $5-10k. (Think about it 50-60 hours to negotiate your agreement... That should be plenty).

It's not like they have to write the agreement from scratch. They're simply reviewing the record label's agreement and negotiating changes. The time involved should be in discussing your needs with you and telling you what the contract means.

Rev E
 
Thanks a lot Rev. E

I see exactly what you mean. THanks for also shedding the light on the "no"s and the "nevers".

How can one make sure that one is getting a good lawyer and not just a so-called.

If you feel that your lawyer is duping you, how can you back out. THanks
 
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