Take the tenacity, eloquence and advocacy skills of a
FORMER TRIAL LAWYER.
Blend with the discretion, precision and negotiating savvy of a
BOUTIQUE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER.
Mix with a strong work ethic, an intelligent, down-to-earth approach and a
PASSION FOR PROBLEM SOLVING.
THE RESULT: SJE LAW. A BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM WITH A UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW.
Our multifaceted background gives us an exceptional perspective from which we strive to meet and exceed our clients’ goals—whether launching and growing a small business, starring in a popular television series, producing a feature-length motion picture or protecting precious intellectual property assets. We provide big-firm experience and sophistication, in a boutique setting, with a personal touch.
Entertainment & Media
We offer strategic counsel to clients across the entertainment industry, including writers, directors, producers, showrunners, actors, authors, on-screen talent, animators, composers, songwriters, production and new media companies, and entertainment executives. Our services include all aspects of film and television development, production, distribution, financing and related commercial transactions.
Intellectual Property
We are passionate about protecting our clients' valuable intellectual property assets, including copyrights, trademarks and rights of publicity. Our services run the gamut from IP licensing, registration and contract negotiation to copyright termination to vigorously enforcing and defending our client's IP rights.
Business Formation & Corporate Transactions
Our corporate services include startup formation and a variety of commercial transactions in an array of industries, including licensing and general counsel representation. Let us become your trusted partner to help launch, grow and protect your business.
Pre-Litigation Dispute Resolution
We have over a decade of experience handling high-profile litigation matters in the entertainment, real estate, beauty, financial & healthcare industries. These matters include contract and business tort disputes, intellectual property, privacy, false advertising and unfair competition, corporate governance, professional liability defense, partnership and employment disputes. We specialize in pre-litigation counseling and resolution, mediation, brief writing, and strategic counseling and analysis.
SARA JASPER EPSTEIN, ESQ.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Sara graduated with departmental honors from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science in Symbolic Systems and went on to earn her law degree from UCLA School of Law. Before founding SJE Law, PC, Sara spent eight years as an entertainment and business litigator at the firms of Alschuler Grossman LLP and Bingham McCutchen LLP, where she vigorously represented her clients in high-stakes, multimillion dollar cases, followed by two years of intellectual property and contract negotiation experience at the entertainment transactional boutique Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Carlo LLP. In law school, Sara externed for the Hon. Stephen V. Wilson, United States District Court for the Central District of California, and was a member of the Moot Court Honors Program. She is admitted to practice in the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Sara has been recognized as a 2023 and 2024 Southern California “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine. From 2015 to 2018, Super Lawyers ranked Sara as one of the 50 “Up-And-Coming” Women Lawyers in Southern California, and she was also recognized from 2015 to 2017 among the Top 100 Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in Southern California. For eight consecutive years, from 2013 to 2020, Sara was named a Southern California “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers.
Publications include: Slam Dunk or Personal Foul? A dispute over an advertiser’s tribute to Michael Jordan makes new law, published in California Lawyer Magazine’s “Expert Advice” column, and Too Clever by Half?: The Tension Between Section 203 of the Copyright Act and Freedom of Contract, published in BNA’s Patent Trademark & Copyright Journal.
Below is just a representative sample of our diverse experience handling complex legal matters over the past decade:
Entertainment & Intellectual Property
Represent actors, producers, writers, directors, composers, reality stars and above-the-line crew in connection with the drafting, negotiation and enforcement of talent agreements in film and television.
Enforce and protect celebrities' valuable rights in their names, photographs and likenesses against infringement.
Negotiate executive employment agreements for film and television industry executives.
Register trademarks for new and growing businesses to protect their valuable brands.
Represent Grammy Award-winning songwriter in connection with termination of copyright transfer.
Negotiated settlement agreement governing the allocation of valuable intellectual property assets between heirs of internationally renowned author.
Advise and defend publishing company executive in connection with litigation and favorable resolution of highly contentious partnership dispute involving dozens of literary titles.
Serve as production counsel for live-action and animated feature-length films, scripted and unscripted television programs. Recent production work includes negotiation of a talent agreement for an Academy Award-winning actor.
Draft and negotiate option/purchase and development agreements governing the acquisition and exploitation of written material on behalf of writers and rightsholders.
Spearheaded production legal in connection with large-scale miniseries event broadcast on the History Channel.
Negotiated and documented settlements of profit participation audits for Academy Award-winning actor.
Business Formation and Corporate Transactions
Provide outside general counsel services to support growing businesses in an array of industries, including the negotiation and drafting of client service agreements, nondisclosure agreements, employee and independent contractor agreements, strategic partnership and referral fee agreements, registration and licensing of intellectual property.
Successfully prepare H-1B and O-1A visa applications to enable professional services firm to employ foreign workers in scientific specialty occupations.
Advise publishing company and CPA firm in connection with negotiated resolution of heated partnership disputes.
Successfully represent global company in connection with complex assignment of U.S. trademark rights.
Provide counsel and negotiate terms of employment, severance and non-compete agreements for clients in the digital media, consumer products and financial industries.
Register trademarks and counsel clients in the entertainment, retail, professional services, and design industries regarding the protection of their valuable intellectual property.
Assist with formation and documentation of corporate business entities.
Counsel clients with respect to general business strategy, corporate communications, trouble-shooting business agreements and relationships.
Entertainment and Business Litigation
Served as trial counsel for international real estate developer in three-week jury trial involving over $1 billion in real estate. Responsible for drafting motion that resulted in extraordinary reversal of $65 million jury verdict based on a finding of jury misconduct, which was affirmed on appeal.
Prosecuted complex entertainment industry profit participation action on behalf of producer and creator of the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
Successfully defended Screen Actors Guild in corporate governance dispute involving renegotiation of collective bargaining agreement; achieved dismissal of related appeal.
Won dismissal of Morgan Stanley subsidiary from putative federal class action for alleged unlawful call recording in violation of California’s Invasion of Privacy Act.
Defended and advised medical products company against Lanham Act claims for false advertising, false designation of origin, false patent marking; Crafted arguments based on FTC opinions; drafted cease-and-desist letters and complaints against competitors.
Successfully represented Fortune 500 beauty company in connection with various internal and employment-related matters; managed forensic investigation related to potential fraud claims.
Successfully represented University in high-stakes real estate dispute arising out of lease agreement; managed junior associates and large-scale e-discovery effort.
““Sara Epstein is one of the most honest, professional, efficient and hardworking lawyers I have worked with. Her attention to detail is unmistakable and remarkable and I always feel like she has my back, protecting me and my business. Sara’s calm demeanor yet fierce knowledge of law makes her an asset to my company, one that I can’t live without.”
”
““I have had many lawyers in my career, yet Sara Epstein is the only one who consistently works overtime to make sure I am protected. No matter how big or small the opportunity may be, she takes the time, energy and attention to detail needed to get me the best deal. Sara has been instrumental in furthering my career and helping me choose the most beneficial situations. I am grateful and lucky to call Sara my lawyer.””
“ “Sara is simply fantastic. She is smart, friendly, readily available to take calls and easy to work with. I had never sought out legal guidance prior to Sara, but needed an attorney overnight when a national television opportunity came my way — Sara guided me through the entire process of negotiating my contract, explaining each and every step with my best interest in mind. She was able to negotiate many points of the contract in my favor, and the final deal was better than I could have imagined. And, I got the job!””
““I had a legal problem concerning Music Publishing that all the co-writers and publishers couldn’t figure out and I was at wits end to find my way through a complete maze. A friend suggested Sara Epstein and that she could find a way to the actual truth of what was going on with a song I’d co-written 30+ years ago. After everyone said, ‘Forget it Bill. This thing is too complicated,’ Sara came through like a champ and not only got me what I was hoping for but found a path to a lot more. I think she’s either a genius or a magician; maybe she’s a bit of both. Thank you, Sara. “”
““Hiring Sara was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In the Entertainment Industry we are sometimes faced with some less than honorable or professional people, but lucky for me, Sara is not one of them. Finding Sara was a dream come true. She is extremely intelligent, kind, easy to work with, patient, thorough, honest and aggressive (in a good way). She approaches everything with integrity and thoughtfulness. I feel very fortunate to have a lawyer I like and trust, and I hope we continue to work together for a long time.” ”
““When approached by a major celebrity for a film and TV option agreement on a tetralogy in the literary estate I inherited, I was referred to Sara Epstein. And Sara was amazing! She firmly, politely and shrewdly negotiated a contract that truly benefits both parties. Sara kept this negotiation going to a successful conclusion when it could have derailed a couple times. Knowing well the market for book deals, she guided everyone’s outrageous demands to compromises that worked for all. I can’t recommend Sara enough for her superlative legal expertise, negotiating strengths, and good humor and goodwill. Well done, Sara! Thank you so much, Sara!””
SJE Law, PC
520 Broadway, Second Floor
Santa Monica, California 90401
Office: 310.579.9566
Fax: 310.579.9566
sara@sje-law.com
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