• About m.e.t.a.l.® IP

    For more than 20 years, m.e.t.a.l.® IP has served as legal counsel for many successful media, entertainment, tech, action sports, lifestyle brand companies, joint ventures, and projects. Examples of our clientele are production companies (feature films, documentaries, reality TV shows, and other content projects), content houses (IP owners, marketplace websites, and brand collaborations), music libraries/catalogs, and micro talent agencies (brand ambassador, influencers, eSports commentators).

     

    We stay current on cutting-edge legal issues by continuously interacting with policymakers, guilds, and other leading organizations, including the United States Copyright Office, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, The Recording Academy, and the Intellectual Property Law Section of the California Lawyers Association, and we incorporate this knowledge into our daily practice.

     

    The following three core tenets guide the firm:

    • We provide exceptional customer service AND stellar results! There is no excuse for a delayed response to a client inquiry with today's technology.
    • Giving back and "paying it forward" are part of our culture. We sponsor community events, mentor young lawyers, and donate our time as presenters, panelists, and legal commentators.
    • We believe in diverse representation. We are a minority-owned law firm that has thrived with a diverse clientele for two decades.

    Click to see our fee schedule for our representation packages and flat fee services. We also offer contract reviews and consultations.

    Richard B. Jefferson
    Richard B. Jefferson, Esq.,
    Firm Principal

    Experience

    • Over 20 years of experience in entertainment, intellectual property, and small company (corps/LLC) governance
    • Worked in the legal & business affairs department at a major record label and was counsel for several independent record labels, music publishers, film companies, and television projects.
    • Represents:
      • Grammys® nominees and winners
      • Oscar® nominees and winners
      • Video gaming and Esports agencies
      • Premium music libraries and catalogs
      • Music publishing companies
      • Indie film productions
      • Scripted and Unscripted television productions
      • Animation projects
      • High-profile social media influencers and personalities
      • Apparel and merchandise companies
      • Celebrity and legacy brands

    Speaking Engagements

    • NATPE Presenter
    • SXSW Presenter
    • OmniCultural TV Fest
    • NFTE Speaker
    • NYFA PitchFest Judge
    • Urban Network/MIQ
    • Uplifting Minds II
    • LA Post-Production Group
    • BADWest
    • DCON
    • SEASAC Songwriter's Bootcamp
    • Black Enterprises

    Professional Affiliations

    • California Lawyers Association-IP Section
    • Beverly Hills Bar Association
    • Los Angeles County Bar Association
    • Los Angeles IP Law Association
    • ASCAP
    • AIMP
    • The Recording Academy (Grammys).

    Noteworthy

    • Former Instructor - New York Film Academy
    • Founder and Managing Partner of m.e.t.a.l. law group in 2003
    • Founder of Lawyers Rock®
    m.e.t.a.l. IP Company Counsel

    m.e.t.a.l Company Representation

    We represent companies in the media, entertainment, tech, action sports, and lifestyle brand industries, including music, film, television, apparel, gaming, influencer, and digital platforms.

    • Serve as company counsel
    • Draft, review, negotiate contracts, Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) deals, and licensing agreements
    • Structure ventures (partnerships, joint ventures, LLCs, corporations)
    • Issue DMCA takedown notices to infringing websites and media platforms (i.e., TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)
    • Protect Intellectual Property
    m.e.t.a.l. IP Production Counsel

    We represent indie films, documentaries, reality TV shows, and digital content projects.

    • Serve as production counsel.
    • Option, acquire, and clear rights.
    • Draft, review, and negotiate co-production, cast, staff, crew, talent, location agreements, E&O opinion letters, and other needed documents.
    • Protect IP
    • IMDb

  • Fee Schedule

    Click to see our fee schedule for our representation packages and flat fee services. We also offer contract reviews and consultations.

     

    Click on the word link above or SCAN the QR Code below to see our Fee Schedule

    Fee Schedule

     

  • Notable Successes

    5,000+

    We have prosecuted and maintained over 5,000 federal copyright and trademark registrations and consistently license IP (music, screenplays, animations, and other property rights) to major companies.

     

    We have represented companies owned by Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar Winners, professional athletes, and other High Net Worth entrepreneurs in ventures involving their innovative lifestyle brands.

    2,500+

    We have served as production counsel for over 1,000 film, television, SVOD, digital content, and emerging tech projects.

     

    We have negotiated international deals for clients with companies in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Switzerland, and Vietnam.

    2,500+

    We have structured over 1,000 special purpose vehicles and legal entities to best protect our clients assets.

     

    We have implemented many deal structures and established the proper legal relationship to protect our client's best interest, including partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, and corporations.

    500+

    We have successfully defended or settled over 500 Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) opposition or cancelation proceedings.

     

    We have conducted seminars on the evolving new frontiers of law including IP/Brand Protection and Business and Legal Affairs.

  • Press and Media Mentions

     Firm Highlights, Articles, Quotes, Etc.

     

  • "I highly recommend m.e.t.a.l. to anyone seeking professional, competent, and seasoned entertainment, trademark, and business attorneys. Simply put, their representation added value to my company by providing valuable insight, perspective, and strategy that proved to be extremely effective."

    - Media/Entertainment Client

    "m.e.t.a.l. is a great law firm. My attorney was always personable and really went the extra mile to make sure that we were aware of what was going on with our matter and what our options were. Plus we successfully settled!"

    -Client With A Dispute

    "m.e.t.a.l. helped form my LLC and ran me through the trademark process. He also created contracts for my company. I am happy with the results!"

    -Social Media Influencer

    "Attorney Jefferson was easy to work with, an absolutely brilliant Attorney, able to contribute creative ideas when needed. He instinctively knew what to say, & how to say it, in an eloquent, professional manner."

    -Entrepreneur Client

    "We hired m.e.t.a.l. and received wonderful advice and fast service on some contracts we needed for a theatrical feature-length motion picture. Not only did we feel safe, but also learned a lot about the business from the way he explained everything to us..."

    - Film Producer Client

    "Nothing more important than having legal counsel that you can TRUST, follows through in detail, is insightful and saves you time and money (long-term)..."

    - Entrepreneur Client

  • Client Deals

    Notable Client Deals Negotiated by m.e.t.a.l.® IP

  • Referral Firms

    New York | London

    New York

    Entertainment | IP | Real Estate

    London

    IP | Tech | Marketing | Media

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