Susan Rabin

Of Cousel

Susan Rabin has been honored on the Super Lawyers list for six consecutive years. In fact, she has been selected a “Southern California Super Lawyer” for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Susan serves Of Counsel to our firm. She has worked in a consultant capacity with Universal Pictures.Susan, with her more than 24 years in entertainment law, advises and supports the firm on a wide range of entertainment matters including drafting and negotiating deals in film, television, and music and in copyright and trademark disputes and enforcement matters.

She also brings her experience serving as production counsel on feature films, preparing and managing company formation, financing agreements, rights acquisitions, chain of title, releases, talent deals, crew contracts, compliance with Guild regulations, insurance, distribution, music clearance and supervision.

Susan chairs the Beverly Hills Bar Association entertainment section and moderates seminars on industry issues. She previously headed her own firm in San Francisco and has been a law professor teaching entertainment and copyright law at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law, Golden Gate University School of Law, University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco State University, and Monterey College of Law. Susan is active with the Los Angeles Copyright Society.

Education:

J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco CA. Law Review: Moral Rights and the Realistic Limits of Artistic Control, 14 Golden Gate 447
M.A., Broadcasting, Northwestern University, Evanston IL
B.S., Speech/Theatre, Northwestern University, Evanston IL
A.S., Music, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco CA, (Dean’s List)

Workshops:

“Protecting, Enforcing Publishing Rights,” LAWIM, Los Angeles, May 2010
“Clearing Music Rights for Film and TV,” Beverly Hills Barristers, Beverly Hills, Feb 2010
“Setting Up an Independent Record Label,” CA Lawyers for the Arts, San Francisco, 2000

Honors/Awards/Special Positions:

Chair – Entertainment Law Section, Beverly Hills Bar Association. 2009–2010
Co-Chair – Entertainment Law Section, Beverly Hills Bar Association. 2008–2009
“SUPER LAWYER” – (Law & Politics/LA Magazine). 2006–2011
Vice President – Board of Governors, NARAS (San Francisco). 1993–1999
Marin Arts Council Playwriting Grant. 1999
Chair – Entertainment Law Section, Bar Association of San Francisco. 1992–1998

Publications:

The Role of Production Counsel in Independent Film, Los Angeles Lawyer. Oct. 2008
Authorship Issues in Entertainment Contracts, Los Angeles Lawyer. May 2006
Contracts of Adhesion, Los Angeles Lawyer. Feb 2006
Creating Independent Record Labels, Los Angeles Lawyer. June 2005
Public Performance of Music, All Access Magazine. March April 2005
Work for Hire Change in Copyright Law/Napster, Museletter. Aug 2000

Teaching:
University of West Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles
University of San Francisco Law School, San Francisco CA
San Francisco State University, San Francisco CA
Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco CA
Monterey College of the Law, Monterey CA
Courses in Legal Aspects of the Entertainment Industry, Copyright, Contract Law, Film Production Agreements, Music Publishing, Recording Agreements, Trademark, Digital Rights, Compliance with Guild Agreements.

Professional Associations:
Beverly Hills Bar Association Board of Governors
Beverly Hills Bar Association, Executive Committee, Entertainment Section
Los Angeles Copyright Society
California Copyright Conference
Association of Independent Music Publishers
American Bar Association Committee on Entertainment
USC/BHBA Symposium on Entertainment/Syllabus Committee

Practice Areas

Entertainment Law

Entertainment Contracts
Entertainment Finance
Entertainment Law
Entertainment Liability
Entertainment Litigation
Entertainment Syndication
Motion Picture Finance
Motion Picture Production & Distribution
Motion Pictures and Television
Multimedia Law
Music Copyright
Music Licensing
Music Publishing
Business Litigation
Art Law
Artists Rights
Interactive Multimedia Law
Video Law
Newspaper Contracts
Publishing Contracts
Trade Secret Misappropriation
Theft of Trade Secrets

Trademark Law

Trademark Licensing
Trademark Infringement
Internet Trademarks
Trademark Litigation
Trademark Prosecution
Trademark Protection
Trademark Registration

Copyrights
Copyright Infringement
Copyright Licensing
Copyright Prosecution
Copyright Litigation
Copyright Protection
Copyright Registration
Internet Copyright Law

Professional Sports Laws

Sports Contracts
Sports Facilities Development
Sports Injury
Sports Licensing
Sports Marketing Law