Production Counsel Attorney Serving Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn has established itself as a major production hub for independent film, television, commercials, music videos, and digital content. Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is the largest studio complex outside of Hollywood, and neighborhoods like Williamsburg, DUMBO, Greenpoint, and Red Hook regularly serve as locations for productions ranging from studio features to branded content. Our firm provides production counsel to Brooklyn-based production companies, directors, and producers who need legal support for every phase of a production.
Production legal work in Brooklyn covers a broad range of needs, from option and purchase agreements for underlying material to crew deal memos, location agreements, insurance compliance, and distribution contracts. Whether you are producing an independent feature at Steiner Studios, directing a commercial in Bushwick, or managing post-production at a Greenpoint facility, our attorneys handle the legal infrastructure that keeps your production on schedule and within compliance requirements.
Our Financial District office is a short ride from most Brooklyn production neighborhoods via the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, F, or R trains. We offer free initial consultations for Brooklyn production professionals.
Production Legal Services for Brooklyn Productions
Production Agreements and Deal Memos
Every production requires a stack of agreements before cameras roll. We draft and negotiate director agreements, producer contracts, crew deal memos, and above-the-line talent agreements for Brooklyn productions. Each agreement addresses compensation, credit, ownership, and the specific working conditions applicable to the production type and budget level.
Rights Acquisition and Chain of Title
Productions based on pre-existing material, whether a book, article, life story, or prior work, require clear chain of title documentation. We draft option agreements, purchase agreements, and life rights releases that establish the production's right to develop and exploit the underlying material. Clean chain of title is essential for securing financing, insurance, and distribution.
Location Agreements and NYC Film Permits
Brooklyn productions shooting on location need properly executed location agreements that address access, fees, insurance requirements, restoration obligations, and liability. We also advise on the permit process through the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, which governs filming on New York City streets, sidewalks, and public spaces. Productions at Brooklyn's waterfront locations, parks, and historic districts may require additional permits.
Production Insurance and Risk Management
Production insurance is required by most locations, studios, and financing entities. We review production insurance policies, including general liability, workers' compensation, equipment coverage, errors and omissions, and cast insurance. We also advise on the risk management decisions that affect insurance coverage, including stunt coordination, use of minors, and pyrotechnics.
Music Licensing and Clearances
Productions that incorporate music, whether recorded tracks, live performances, or original compositions, need proper licensing. We handle synchronization licenses, master use licenses, and composer agreements for Brooklyn productions. We also advise on the clearance requirements for visual elements including artwork, signage, and branded products that appear on screen.
Distribution and Licensing Agreements
After production wraps, the completed work needs distribution agreements that protect the producer's interests. We negotiate domestic and international distribution deals, streaming platform licenses, and sales agent agreements for Brooklyn-produced content across all formats and territories.
What Brooklyn Production Professionals Should Know
Brooklyn's production infrastructure has matured significantly over the past decade. Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard now encompasses multiple soundstages, production offices, and post-production facilities, making it possible to execute entire productions without leaving the borough. The surrounding Navy Yard campus also houses equipment rental companies, set construction workshops, and catering operations that serve the production community.
Beyond Steiner, Brooklyn's diverse architectural landscape, from brownstone-lined streets in Park Slope and Fort Greene to industrial buildings in Bushwick and Gowanus, makes the borough one of the most frequently filmed locations in the country. This popularity means that location owners and building management companies in Brooklyn have become increasingly sophisticated in their contract demands, requiring producers to negotiate more carefully on issues like restoration, overtime fees, and neighboring unit notification requirements.
The Brooklyn production community also includes a growing ecosystem of post-production facilities, color grading houses, sound mixing studios, and VFX operations in neighborhoods like Greenpoint and Industry City in Sunset Park. Productions that plan to complete post-production in Brooklyn should address the specific deliverables, timelines, and ownership provisions in their post-production service agreements.
Why Brooklyn Clients Choose Agarunov Law Firm
- We represent Brooklyn production companies, directors, and producers working out of Steiner Studios, DUMBO, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick, and across the borough.
- Experienced with NYC film permit requirements, location agreements for Brooklyn properties, and the specific insurance demands of New York productions.
- Our Financial District office is accessible from Brooklyn via the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, F, or R trains.
- Boutique firm with direct attorney access for responsive counsel during time-sensitive production schedules.
- Licensed in both New York and New Jersey for productions that cross state lines.
How Our Production Counsel Process Works
- Initial Consultation. We review your production's scope, budget, and legal needs. Free consultation for Brooklyn production professionals.
- Rights and Development. We secure chain of title, draft option agreements, and prepare development documentation.
- Pre-Production Legal. We draft crew contracts, location agreements, insurance review, and permit guidance for your Brooklyn production.
- Production Support. During production, we address legal issues as they arise, including contract amendments, additional clearances, and compliance matters.
- Post-Production and Distribution. We negotiate distribution agreements, handle delivery requirements, and prepare E&O insurance documentation.
Need Production Counsel in Brooklyn?
Schedule a free consultation. We respond within 24 hours.