Production Counsel Attorney in New York
New York is the largest production market on the East Coast and the second largest in the United States, supporting thousands of film, television, commercial, and digital content productions each year. The city's production infrastructure includes major studio complexes, a deep talent pool, established equipment and service vendors, and a permitting system that facilitates filming across all five boroughs. Our firm provides production counsel to production companies and producers working throughout New York, handling the legal framework that supports productions from development through distribution.
Production in New York involves a regulatory and business environment that is distinct from other production markets. The city's filming permit system, union landscape, tax credit programs, and the concentration of talent representatives and distribution companies all create legal considerations that production counsel must navigate efficiently. Whether you are a New York-based production company managing multiple concurrent projects or an out-of-state producer bringing a production to New York, our attorneys provide the legal support your production requires.
Our office is located in the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. We offer free initial consultations for production professionals working in New York.
New York Production Legal Services
Production Entity Formation and Structuring
New York productions typically operate through single-purpose LLCs formed specifically for each project. We form production entities, draft operating agreements that accommodate producer relationships and investor participation, and structure the entity to facilitate financing, production cash flow, and eventual distribution revenue. For production companies operating ongoing businesses, we maintain corporate governance and handle the transactional work that supports multiple active projects.
New York Film Tax Credit Compliance
New York State offers one of the most significant production tax credit programs in the country, providing credits on qualified production expenditures for eligible projects. We advise on program eligibility, application procedures, and the compliance requirements that productions must meet to qualify for and receive credits. The program has specific requirements regarding the types of productions, spending thresholds, and documentation that must be maintained throughout production.
Union and Guild Agreement Compliance
New York productions frequently operate under collective bargaining agreements with SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, and Teamsters. We advise on the obligations created by these agreements, negotiate side letters for production-specific accommodations, and ensure that talent and crew contracts comply with applicable guild minimums while protecting the production's interests on matters beyond guild coverage.
Rights Acquisition and Chain of Title
We handle all aspects of rights acquisition for New York productions, including literary property options and purchases, life rights agreements, remake and sequel rights, and the chain of title documentation required by financiers, distributors, and E&O insurance carriers. Clean chain of title is the foundation of every production's legal package and must be established before financing or distribution can be secured.
Talent Agreements Across All Levels
We draft and negotiate agreements for above-the-line talent, including directors, writers, producers, and lead cast, as well as below-the-line crew agreements, day player contracts, and background performer vouchers. New York talent agreements must account for both guild requirements and the specific deal terms negotiated with individual representatives.
Distribution and Exploitation
We negotiate domestic and international distribution agreements, streaming platform licenses, sales agent arrangements, and the full range of exploitation agreements for completed New York productions. We also handle delivery requirements, which include technical specifications, legal documentation, music cue sheets, and insurance certificates that distributors and platforms require before accepting delivery.
What You Should Know About Production in New York
New York's production market operates at a scale that creates both opportunities and complexity. The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment processes thousands of filming permits annually and has developed systems to coordinate productions across the city's neighborhoods. Understanding how this system works, including the notification requirements, police coordination procedures, and seasonal filming patterns that affect availability of popular locations, helps productions plan more effectively and avoid scheduling conflicts.
The New York production labor market is heavily unionized, and productions of any significant scale typically operate under multiple guild agreements simultaneously. The interaction between SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, and Teamsters agreements creates a complex compensation and working condition framework that production counsel must navigate. Non-union productions can operate in New York but should be prepared for organizing activity, particularly at established studio facilities.
New York's tax credit program is a significant factor in the economics of production in the state. The program's annual allocation is finite and competitive, and productions must apply and be accepted before beginning principal photography to be eligible. The credit calculation, documentation requirements, and audit process are detailed, and productions that do not maintain proper records during production may face reduced credits or disqualification. Planning for tax credit compliance from the outset of production is essential.
Why New York Clients Choose Agarunov Law Firm
- We represent production companies and producers working across all five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, and the greater New York production market.
- Experienced with the full range of New York production legal needs, from entity formation and tax credit compliance to distribution agreements.
- Located in the Financial District with access from all major transit lines.
- Boutique firm providing direct attorney access for responsive production legal support.
- Licensed in both New York and New Jersey for cross-state productions.
How Our Production Counsel Process Works
- Initial Consultation. We assess your production's scope, financing, and New York-specific legal requirements. Free consultation for production professionals.
- Development and Structuring. We form the production entity, secure rights, and structure financing arrangements.
- Pre-Production. We draft all production agreements, coordinate tax credit applications, and review insurance and permit requirements.
- Production. We provide ongoing legal support during filming, addressing contract issues, guild compliance, and clearances.
- Post-Production and Distribution. We handle delivery, distribution agreements, tax credit documentation, and ongoing exploitation.
Need Production Counsel in New York?
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