The attorney-client privilege relationship is something we take very seriously; so the answer is no, we are not offering to represent you unless you and BAI mutually agree to such representation, and we enter into a formal agreement setting forth the terms of our representation. This agreement would generally include a description of the initial services to be provided, payment to BAI of a retainer/deposit, and a description of our mutual responsibilities. If you think your business can use BAI’s services, please do contact us. 

BAI is a California law corporation, and all of BAI’s attorneys are members of the California bar. Steve Monas is a member of the California and New York bars.

For most services, BAI charges its clients on an hourly basis, at varying hourly rates depending on the seniority of the attorneys. Current hourly rates are: 

Steve Monas:
$400/hour

Tom Moglovkin:
$400/hour

Douglas McClure:
$350/hour

Suzanne Tierney
$300/hour

Elizabeth Elliott Hopkins:
$225/hour

Contract Administration:
$125/hour

Wherever appropriate, junior attorneys and legal assistants work with BAI’s senior staff, to keep the costs of legal representation appropriate to the project. 

For certain specialized services, including production counsel and contract administration, BAI will work with clients on a pre-negotiated flat fee basis.

Traditionally, in the studios, business affairs were the executives (often attorneys) who negotiated the business points of deals, and legal affairs drafted the contracts to memorialize those deal points. In the independent world that we come from, companies could typically afford only one department and this distinction disappeared.  BAI provides the full range of business and legal affairs services.

We have long joked that in-house business executives were “attorneys in denial.”  By extension, we are the “law firm in denial.”  We feel our name is perfectly descriptive of our niche and the services we provide.

Well, yes, if they’re willing to spend 20 years in the film business learning the deals and getting to know the players. We’ve been in the business for our entire professional careers, and we’re still learning new deals every day.

We have been approached many times to provide this service (and have even undertaken it at one point) but this is the kind of thing you should find a talent attorney and/or agent to handle for you. Remember, we represent the dark side…