January, 2017
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell was invited to participate as a panelist for the 7th Annual Duke Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium at Duke University Law School, Durham, North Carolina. Mr. Idell joined others on a panel entitled: “Lawlapolooza: Contracts, Negotiations, and other Legal Issues in the Music Festival Industry”; January 27, 2017.
September, 2016
Richard J. Idell was invited to speak to a cohort of musicians participating in Creative Sonoma’s Next Level Music Business Education Series and presented a seminar on Music Industry Legal Issues on September 13, 2016.
June, 2016
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell was invited to serve as Instructor and Lecturer for a course in the Wine Executive MBA Program at Sonoma State University entitled: Leadership, Compliance and Governmental Relations. The course which is a mandatory module for MBA candidates covers all of the many legal issues that obtain in running a wine business including ABC and TTB licensing, permitting and other local land use regulation, trademarks and branding, direct shipping to consumers, interstate shipping to wholesalers, mergers and acquisitions, vineyard development and management and international sales.
May, 2016
The Idell Firm’s client Latitude 38 Entertainment presented the third annual Bottlerock® Music Festival in Napa, CA.
April, 2016
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, will be a panelist in the Wine & Craft Beer Symposium: Legal Issues in the Wine & Craft Beer Industry: From Start-up to Succession: “Introduction & Top 10 Things to Know About Your Wine Business” hosted by the Sonoma County Bar Association, Fountaingrove Inn, Santa Rosa, California, April 29, 2016.
Founding Partner Richard Idell will moderate a panel discussion: “Getting your music heard” as part of the Music Industry Conference for artists and members of the music industry sponsored by Creative Sonoma, an agency/division of the County of Sonoma, including Al Evers from A-Train talking about licensing and Julie Schuchard from Tricyle Records talking about marketing and fan base development 2:30 – 3:30, April 17, 2016, Santa Rosa, California.
March 2016
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, will be a Guest Speaker at University of California at Davis School of Law: Entertainment and Sports Law Society on the topic of “Careers in Entertainment Law and Sports Law” on March 30, 2016.
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, participated as Immediate Past Chair in the 2016 Mid-Year Governing Committee Meeting of the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, Vancouver, Canada, March 3-6, 2016
February 2016
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, moderated and was a speaker on a panel regarding music licensing for wineries and tasting rooms presented by the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance and featuring Todd Brabec, held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, February 26, 2016.
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, was a Guest Speaker at Berkeley Journal of Entertainment and Sports Law, Lunch Symposium on the topic of “How to Build a Career in Entertainment Law” at the University of California at Berkeley Law School (formerly Boalt Hall) on February 24, 2016.
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, was appointed Chair of the Governance Committee of the Advisory Board to Weill Hall and Schroeder all at the Green Music Center.
January, 2016
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, will accompany approximately 100 wine industry leaders from California to Havana, Cuba for a wine symposium on California wine; Havana, Cuba, January 31 to February 4, 2016.
October 2015
American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law held its annual meeting in Washington D.C.; Founding Partner Richard Idell, stepped down as Chair and assumed the role of Immediate Past Chair.
On October 6, 2015, California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed Assembly Bill 527 into law. The bill was drafted by Founding partner, Richard J. Idell and was aimed at providing certain Alcohol Beverage Law Tied House exemptions for an entertainment marketing company which is a subsidiary of a live entertainment company located in Napa County, California. The new law which goes into effect January 1, 2016 creates California Business and Professions Code Section 25503.40 which allows the BottleRock® Music Festival, a client of the firm, under certain specified conditions to have sponsorship by alcohol beverage suppliers including the sale of advertising time and space. The legislative sponsor for the bill was Assemblyman Bill Dodd, Democrat and Assemblyman from Napa.
October 1, 2015, Founding Partner, Richard Idell was appointed to the nominating committee of the Advisory Board to Weill Hall and the Green Music Center.
September, 2015
On September 21, 2015, California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed Senate Bill 462 into law. The bill was drafted by founding partner, Richard J. Idell and was aimed at providing certain Tied House exemptions for the facility at Sonoma State University known as Weill Hall and the Green Music Center. The new law which went into effect immediately will allow the facility to have sponsorship by alcohol beverage suppliers and provides for certain benefits to a non-profit that is raising money for the facility. The bill amended Section 25503.6 of the California Business and Professions Code and added Section 25503.34 to the California Business and Professions Code. The legislative lead legislative sponsor for the bill was Senator Lois, Democrat from Davis. Co-authors were Senator Mike McGuire, Democrat representing the 2nd Senate District – North Coast / North Bay and Assemblyman Marc Levine, Democrat representing portions of Marin County and Southern Sonoma County. The legislation provides an exemption, referred to as a “tied-house” exemption, for the Green Music Center to allow advertising space to be sold to beer manufacturers, winegrowers, distilled spirits rectifiers, distilled spirits manufacturers, or distilled spirits agents. The bill also enables the Green Music Center to accept donated product and recognize those entities that make donations, provided that a temporary license has been issued by the ABC.
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell participated as a panelist for the 2015 Napa Wine Industry Financial Symposium® 24th Annual Event on a panel: “The Wine Game with New Rules-Pressure From the Neighbors: A Panel dealing with the on-going debate in Sonoma and Napa Counties on Winery Events and Proposed Regulation”; the moderator was Phillip Kalsched of Carle, Mackie, Power and Ross and co-panelists were Beth Painter, Napa Planner and Tony LeBlanc from Silver Oak Winery. The panel was held September 21, 2015 in Napa, California.
August, 2015
The Idell Firm client, Another Planet Entertainment, together with Superfly presented its annual San Francisco Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park, August 7th to August 9th, 2015. The Idell Firm is counsel to the Festival.
May, 2015
The Idell Firm client Latitude 38 Entertainment, LLC presented the second annual BottleRock rock, food and wine festival in Napa, California on May 19 to 31, 2015. The Idell Firm is counsel to the Festival.
March, 2015
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, was a panelist for a symposium entitled: “Best Practices in Winery Operations: Cutting Edge Concepts and Practices: Charity, Sports & Concert Events” along with co-panelists: Drea Helfer of DH Wine Compliance and J. Daniel Davis of Law Offices of Daniel Davis; March 20, 2015, Napa, California.
On March 12, 2015, Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, was once again a lecturer in the
Wine Business Institute, School of Business and Economics Sonoma State University, presenting a one-day seminar on: Setting up Your Wine Business from a Legal Perspective, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California.
December, 2014
Founding Partner Richard J. Idell, together with Stephen G. Weizenecker of Barnes & Thornburg presented a webinar under the auspices of the State Bar of California Business Law Section entitled: “How To Series: Business Entity and Tax Planning for the Entertainment and Sports Client”; the webinar was held December 18, 2014 and is available for download from the State Bar.
November, 2014
Naiomi Kaufman joined The Idell Firm as an Associate.
Daniel A. Reidy became Of Counsel to The Idell Firm.
The Idell Firm announced it has a satellite office in St. Helena to better serve Napa Valley clients. The office is located at 1230 Spring Street, Suite B, St. Helena, California 94574.
October, 2014
Founding Partner, Richard Idell moderated a panel at the 2014 Fall Meeting of the American Bar Association Section on International Law. The panel is entitled: “Global Distribution Of Entertainment Content In the Digital Era: Rights, Action, Roll ’em”. The Meeting was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 22, 2014.
The American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries held its annual meeting in Los Angeles, California October 9 to 11, 2014. Richard Idell as Chair of the Forum, chaired the meeting.
September, 2014
The American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries held its second annual CLE in conjunction with the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee September 18 to 20, 2014. Founding Partner Richard Idell is Chair of the Forum and participated as a panelist on an ethics panel entitled: “Lawyer Doing Business With Clients and Taking Other Roles: Manager, Agent Or Partner: Ethical Considerations and Pitfalls.”
Effective September 15, 2014, the former firm known as Idell & Seitel, LLP became two separate firms, The Idell Firm and Law Offices of Owen Seitel. The Idell Firm will continue to practice in the areas of live entertainment, film, music and other entertainment endeavors as well as counsel to the wine industry in California. Associates Ory Sandel and Yumi Nam will continue their association with The Idell Firm.
August, 2014
August 24, 2014 a 6.1 earthquake rocked the Napa and Sonoma Valley. The firm took up representation of wineries whose inventory, equipment and buildings were damaged in the earthquake.
August 8, 2014, Founding partner, Richard Idell was elected to the Advisory Board of Weill Hall at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. Weill Hall was completed in 2013 through the generous gift of Sanford I. Weill and Joan H. Weill, who are both board members. Mr. Weill is Chair of the Board and Joan Weill is Vice-Chair. As stated on the website for the Green Music Center: “The crown jewel of the Green Music Center is undoubtedly the 1,400-seat Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall which opened in September 2012 and is considered one of the most acoustically superb concert venues in the world. Designed by architect William Rawn, theatre consultant Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, and acoustician Lawrence Kirkegaard, Weill Hall was designed to replicate the intimacy and acoustics of both Vienna’s Musikverein and Symphony Hall in Boston.Weill Hall is modeled after Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, including a back wall that can be fully opened onto the beautifully landscaped and terraced Weill Lawn.The 1,400 handcrafted seats within Weill Hall were built by the 200-year-old Fancher Chair Company. Made of European steamed beech wood, the chairs feature an open back designed for acoustic-neutrality whether the seat is occupied or empty. Seating in Weill Hall is divided amongst a raked orchestra floor, second floor choral circle, including a choir loft behind the stage, and the third floor balcony boasting spectacular views of the Sonoma Mountains through large windows on the north and east walls. The variable acoustics of the hall are acheived through the use of motorized fabric banners on the east and west walls. By adjusting these banners, the hall can be fine-tuned for the specific genre of music being performed – from a single vocalist to a full orchestra setting.
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, began the 2nd year of his two-year term as Chair of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries.
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, concluded a three week jury trial in Marin County California that resulted in an award of over a 1.35 Million including $577,000 in punitive damages and plus attorneys’ fees and costs for the firm’s client. The litigation concerned a breach of contract action between the firm’s client, a lawyer, and client and involved complex issues of legal ethics and standard of care.
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, acted as counsel to Another Planet Entertainment in the production of the 2014 San Francisco Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, August 8, 9 and 10 in Golden Gate Park.
May, 2014
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, acted as counsel to the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival, May 30, 31 and June 1.
Mr. Idell, Chair of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries was a panelist at the Forum’s Fifth Annual International Legal Symposium on the World of Music, Film, Television and Sports in Miami, Florida. Mr. Idell was a panelist on a panel entitled: “Success Stories In The Entertainment Industry”.
March, 2014:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, was an Instructor in the Wine Business Institute of Sonoma State University, teaching a seminar on: “Navigating the Regulatory Process for Obtaining a Use Permit for a Winery and Tasting Room.
The Governing Committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries held its mid-year meeting in Sonoma, California, Founding Partner, Richard Idell is the Chair.
December, 2013:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell was appointed to the Board of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Association in Sonoma, California for a term of one year.
October, 2013:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, Chaired the annual meeting of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries in New York, New York.
September, 2013:
The American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries presented its annual Nashville program. Founding partner, Richard Idell participated in two programs: “An Update on Conflicts of Interest Issues for Entertainment Lawyers” (Panelist) and “Live Performance Issues: Concerts, Tours, Festivals” (Moderator.
August, 2013:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, began his two-year term as Chair of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries.
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/entertainment_sports.html
August, 2013:
At the Annual meeting of the American Bar Association in San Francisco on August 9, 2013, Founding Partner, Richard Idell moderated a panel: “International Culture Clash Litigation: Round-Up Of IP, New Technology and Privacy Cases Every Practitioner Needs To Know”.
June, 2013:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell was appointed to a special committee of Sonoma County vintners to study and make recommendations to the county on the issue of permitting events at wineries in Sonoma County.
June, 2013:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell has been asked to be a Lecturer in the Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute, teaching a course in March of 2014 entitled: “Navigating the Regulatory Process for Obtaining a Use Permit for a Winery and Tasting Room”. Founding partner Richard Idell is the Chair of the Forum.
June, 2013:
The American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries held it video game conference in Los Angeles, California. Founding Partner Richard J. Idell is Chair of the Forum.
May, 2013:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell represented Wolf Family Vineyards in the sale of their premier Napa County St. Helena winery and vineyards; the firm continues to represent Wolf Family Vineyards.
May, 2013:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, represented Nuns Canyon LLC in the acquisition of a 130 acre vineyard in the new Moon Mountain AVA in Sonoma Valley known as the Nuns Canyon Vineyard.
May, 2013:
The American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries held its annual entertainment and sports law symposium in Miami. The 4th Annual International Legal Symposium on the World of Music, Film, Television and Sports, and founding partner, Richard Idell, founding partner, served as a panelist on a panel entitled: “Beyond the Glare of the Press and Paparazzi on the Red Carpet: The Creation, Development, Financing, Production and Distribution of a Successful Independent Motion Picture or Documentary in the United States and Abroad”
February, 2013:
Founding partner, Richard Idell, was appointed Chairman of a special committee of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Grower’s Alliance to act as liaison to the County of Sonoma and other regulatory agencies concerning use permits and licensing including with regard to the issues surrounding special events, events with live entertainment and promotional events. The committee is titled the “Liaison Committee on Winery and Grower Regulatory and Licensing Issues”.
October, 2012:
On October 12, 2012, the Daily Journal, the largest legal newspaper in California, published a feature article on The predecessor Idell & Seitel LLP, featuring its intellectual property and entertainment law practice.
August, 2012:
Founding Partner Richard J. Idell is once again counsel to the San Francisco Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival to be held at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, August 10 to 12. The three-day festival which features musical artists performing on five stages also features great food and wine. Idell Family Vineyards, owned by founding partner, Richard Idell and his wife, Susan, will be pouring their hand-crafted Sonoma wines in the Winelands tent at the festival. www.idellfamilyvineyards.com.
July, 2012:
Yumi Nam has joined the firm as an associate. Ms. Nam is a 2008 graduate of New York University and received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Ms. Nam was previously with the Pranger Law Group specializing in trademark prosecution, copyright protection, domain name disputes, licensing and related issues. Ms. Nam will continue her intellectual property practice with our firm.
March, 2012:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell was appointed to the Planning Committee for the Annual Meeting, Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Law Industries to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 4-6, 2012.
January, 2011:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, was invited to write a chapter for the 2011 publication of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (“IAEL”), to be presented at MIDEM in Cannes, France, January 2011. (A copy of the article is found under publications on this website.)
October, 2010:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, moderated a panel for the American Bar Association, Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law Industries Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The panel was entitled: “Cloud Based Content: Business and Legal Issues”. This plenary session covered the business and economic paradigms associated with Cloud-based content models and myriad novel legal issues presented by these models, including content licensing, copyright, data ownership and privacy issues. The panel explored these issues from the perspective of both content owners and technology companies, including a focus on various content types ranging from music to motion pictures to literary works. Other panel members included: Scott Bain, Litigation Counsel to the Software & Information Industry Association, Washington, D.C., Geoff Ralston, former CEO of Lala Media, Inc., Atherton, CA., David Ring, Executive Vice President, Business Development & Business Affairs, Universal Music Group, Santa Monica, California and Robert Rosenbloum, Greenberg Trauig, Atlanta, Georgia.
September, 2010:
After a month-long trial, a jury in Alameda County found for The Idell Firm’s client Roy Tesconi in an alleged breach of fiduciary duty and fraud case. Tesconi, an East Bay music promoter was accused of mis-leading Angela Reddy with regard to investments she made with another music promoter, Brian Martin. The jury found on a special verdict that Reddy did not reasonably rely on Tesconi in making the investments. The Trial Judge was David Hunter. Tesconi recovered his costs.
August, 2010:
Founding Partner, Richard Idell, moderated a panel for the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California on August 6, 2010. The panel which was presented by the ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law Industries, where Idell is on the Governing Committee, was entitled “From Music, Film and Art to Motorcycles and Other Sports: Hot Issues and Disputes in Entertainment, Art and Sports Licensing Deals”. This panel explored selected issues in entertainment and art licensing deals and disputes that develop in such transactions. The panel explored issues that include express and implied licenses, publicity rights and privacy, copyright, trademark, grants of rights, clearances, representations and warranties, insurance, indemnity and related issues. The panel included discussion of recent cases and trends in this area. Panelists included: Jessica Darraby, Los Angeles, California, Jann Moorhead, San Rafael, California, Samuel Lewis, Feldman Gale, Miami, Florida and Robert Rieders of Pixar.
March 2010:
Idell Family Vineyards launches its website: www.idellfamilyvineyards.com.
January, 2010:
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell has been appointed to the American Arbitration Association Panel of Neutrals. Mr. Idell, a mediator and arbitrator, in addition to his active trial and transactional practice provides both arbitration and mediation services on a number of court panels as well as privately by arrangement.
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell has been appointed to the Planning Committee for the annual meeting of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 7-9, 2010.
December, 2009:
Founding Partner Richard J. Idell has been elected to a further term as President of the Board of the California Film Institute which presents the Mill Valley Film Festival and owns and operates the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
July, 2009:
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell was appointed as the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law’s representative to the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Advisory Committee.
June, 2009:
The firm client San Francisco Playhouse (www.sfplayhouse.org) has casted the final show of their sixth season, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which will open on June 27, 2009 and run through September 5, 2009. Founded by Bill English and Susi Damilano in 2003, the SF Playhouse is Union Square’s intimate, professional theatre. Also, it has been announced that The SF Playhouse’s critically acclaimed production ofABRAHAM LINCOLN’S BIG, GAY DANCE PARTY, by Aaron Loeb, directed by Chris Smith, was presented as part of the 13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival August 13th through 30th. For tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org
May, 2009:
The Idell Firm client, SHN, opened Spamalot at the Golden Gate theatre which will run May 22 to July 5, 2009: www.shnsf.com
The firm client, Another Planet Entertainment, has announced that it will produce the Treasure Island Music Festival again this year on Treasure Island in San Franciso on Treasure Island, October 17 and 18, 2009: www.anotherplanetent.com
The firm client, Another Planet Entertainment, announced its line-up and dates for the second annual “San Francisco’s Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival” to be held in Golden Gate Park August 28-30, 2009. The lineup includes: Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, M.I.A., Jason Mraz, Ween, The Mars Volta, Theivery Corporation, Modest Mouse, TV on the Radio and more… www.sfoutsidelands.com
May 12, 2009:
An article authored by founding partner, Richard J. Idell, on Force Majeure clauses in live entertainment contracts, was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal: “Must the Show Always Go On? Better Check the Contract”.
May 11, 2009:
Founding partner, Richard J. Idell was interviewed and quoted in the San Francisco, Chronicle front page story on the legal entanglements surrounding claims against music promoter, Brian Martin of Brian Martin Presents. The Idell Firm have represented comedian Ron White in connection with the matter and currently represent Roy Tesconi in a case against Martin.
May 5, 2009:
An article authored by founding partner, Richard J. Idell, on insurance and indemnity issues in live performance endeavors, was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal:“Indemnity Policies Are Crucial To Setting The Stage For A Smooth Live Show”.
April 21, 2009:
An article authored by founding partner, Richard J. Idell, on the centerfold position of live performances in an Artist’s career was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal:“A Concerted Effort”.
April 10, 2009:
The firm client, Another Planet Entertainment LLP, in conjunction with Lucasfilm LTD, presented its long awaited opening of the 90 minute live show, “Star Wars: A Musical Journey”, at the O2 Arena in London. The sold out show featured Star Wars footage and music performed by a live symphony orchestra; the show will tour in other European cities before coming to the United States: www.anotherplanetent.com
March, 2009:
The firm founding partner, Richard Idell, will participate as a panelist for the Law Seminars International Gamer Technology Law Conference/Seminar in Beverly Hills, March 9 to10, 2009. Mr. Idell will participate on a panel entitled: “Litigation Up-date: Top 10 Cases of 2008”.
February, 2009:
Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell has been appointed to the Judiciary Committee of the Bar Association of San Francisco for a one year term. The Judiciary Committee is concerned with the selection of judges for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Supreme Court of California, the California Court of Appeal, first Appellate District and any other court connected with the administration of justice in the City and County of San Francisco. The Committee evaluates candidates for judicial office, including judges under consideration for elevation, and makes a report of such evaluations to the Board of the San Francisco Bar Association in the matter of election of candidates to such judicial offices.
The firm founding partner, Richard Idell, will participate on Saturday, February 7, 2009, as an oral argument judge in the headquarters of the Ninth Circuit for the 18th Annual Saul Lefkowitz National Moot Court Competition in Trademark and Unfair Competition Law. Law Students from around the country participate in this annual trademark and unfair competition Moot Court which is coordinated by the International Trademark Association (INTA).
December, 2008:
The Idell Firm founding partner, Richard Idell, was elected to a fourth term as President of the Board of Directors for the California Film Institute which presents the Mill Valley Film Festival and owns and operated the art house film center, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
November, 2008
Idell Family Vineyards, owned and operated by founding partner, Richard J. Idell will release its 2007 Syrah, “Oscar OFS”, Carriger Road Vineyard, produced and bottled from estate grapes at the Idell Family Vineyards in Sonoma, California.
October 16th to 18th, 2008
The American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law Industries will hold its annual meeting in Los Angeles from October 16 to 18, 2008. Richard J. Idell, founding partner is the Program Chair for the meeting. Mr. Idell is also on the Governing Board of the Forum.
October 3, 2008
The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit will, in partnership with the California Film Institute and the Mill Valley Film Festival, present an evening featuring the, soon to be released, home video version of “Last Days of the Fillmore”. This film, completed in 1972, is a documentary of the closing of the original Fillmore Auditorium in 1972. Bill Graham, rock impresario, founded the famed Fillmore Auditorium in 1967 and eventually had clubs in New York and San Francisco. The use of poster art to present musical events was originated at these venues. Some artists referred to the Fillmore as the “cathedral of rock”. The film which was originally released theatrically by 20th Century Fox, features rare footage of Bill Graham and musical performances by numerous musical artists featured in the film. Richard J. Idell of The Idell Firm LLP is on the Board of the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation and the attorney for the foundation in its efforts to restore the film and release it as a home video product. The foundation has entered into a distribution agreement with Rhino Records for release and distribution of the film. The Mill Valley Film Festival will present clips from the film and a panel discussion featuring Bill Graham Presents and other rock and roll veterans Jerry Pompili, Steve Parish, Herbie Herbert, Raechel Donahue and John Beug. The panel will be moderated by Ben Fong Torres. Following the screening and panel there will be an evening of music celebrating the San Francisco Sound of the late 60’s and early 70’s featuring as house band Moon Alice and special guests such as Ray Manzarek of The Doors and Lydia Pense of Cold Blood. The evening is being produced by the Bill Graham Foundation and the Mill Valley Film Festival.
October 2 to 12, 2008
The California Film Institute will present the Mill Valley Film Festival at various venues in Marin County. The Festival will present hundreds of programs with special filmmakers, actors and producers as guests. Opening Night films this year are: “Religulous” and “The Secret Life of Bees”. Richard J. Idell, founding partner in The Idell Firm is the President of the Board of the California Film Institute. He will moderate a panel on October 4, 2008 at 142 Throckmorton Theatre entitled: “Independent Film, Why Panic?”. The panel will feature the following: Jonathan Dana, Ron Yerxa and Danielle Renfrew.
May 8, 2008
Founding Partner, Richard Idell will joined Whitney Broussard, Esq., Selverne Mandelbaum Mintz, of counsel, Fred Von Lohmann, Esq., Electronic Frontier Foundation, Zahava Levine, Esq., YouTube, General Counsel on a music law panel as part of the San Francisco MusicTech Summitt II:
April, 2008:
Announcing the launch of the Entertainment and Media Advisory Services. This division of the law firm focuses on business challenges and issues facing clients in their entertainment endeavors. Heading this initiative is Morty Wiggins, a veteran entertainment business executive, manager and promoter.
The Firm describes the mission of the division as follows:
The introduction of digital media is the catalyst for major changes affecting the traditional entertainment business. These changes have created exciting opportunities while also posing significant challenges. Until the new digital media business models replace the traditional revenue streams the key to success during this time of transition is to plant a foot in both worlds. This new division offers services that bridge traditional entertainment businesses, where much of the revenue still lies, and the emerging digital media marketplace. We offer our expertise and services specifically in the areas needed:
- Physical and digital distribution
- Intellectual property rights
- Licensing
- Entertainment industry contract negotiations (film, music and digital rights)
- Exclusive on line publishing
- Career development
Morty Wiggins’ resume follows:
Career Biography
Morty Wiggins launched his career in the music business over twenty five years ago promoting concerts in Sonoma County, California. Frustrated at not being able to grow as a promoter (all of Northern California was considered Bill Graham’s territory), in 1983 Morty went to work for the world – renowned concert promoter and artist manager Bill Graham. During his 15 successful years at Bill Graham Presents Morty became one of the Vice President / partners and signed for management representation the “multi- platinum” recording artists Sheryl Crow, the Gin Blossoms, Aaron Neville and “gold” recording artists Monster Magnet and the Neville Brothers, amongst others.
In 1996, Morty was recruited by A&M Records to become their General Manager.
He oversaw the marketing, sales, promotion, publicity, and creative services departments, created and executed quarterly budgets of seven million dollars and scheduled the release of 40 to 50 new releases and over 100 promotional singles.
A&M Records was shuddered with the merger of Polygram Records into Universal Music. In November 2000 Morty conceived, developed and executive produced the music television series, “Live at the Fillmore”, which he syndicated monthly in select cable markets. Episodes featured such up and coming acts that went on to break including Cold Play, Pete Yorn, Lincoln Park and others.
In January 2001 Morty launched and was named President of the independent record company for Tower Records, 33rd Street Records where he developed a novel approach to licensing finished masters from established touring artists. Morty then took on Tower’s independent distribution business, Bayside Entertainment Distribution, and ran Bayside profitably ($25M annual sales) until the sale of the company.
In October 2005 Morty accepted the position of President at the digital media company Outhink. He successfully negotiated some of the first exclusive production contracts for videobloggers and advertising revenue share agreements with publishing sites including Yahoo and Blip.TV. Morty also launched the Outhink podcasting site Towerpod.com which was one of the first websites featuring DRM free full length songs in the MP3 format.
Morty is currently a board member of NARAS and the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation and is happily married to his wife Debbie and a father of three; Jacob, Isaac, and Emunah.
March 10, 2007:
Richard J. Idell, founding partner of the firm has been named Program Chair for the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries. The announcement was made at the Spring Governing Committee Meeting. Mr. Idell was appointed to the Governing Board in October of 2007. Prior to that appointment he served as Sponsorship Chair. The Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries will be held from October 16 to 18, 2008 in Los Angeles at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.
March, 2008:
Richard Idell will be presenting at Law Seminars International’s conference on Gamer Technology Law, March 27 & 28, in Beverly Hills, CA. Addressing online gaming, social networking litigation, globalized game production and other cutting-edge topics, this program will show you have to navigate the legal and business maze required to get a video game to market. Mr. Idell will discuss “The Litigation Horizon” including what people need to know about product liability and class action law suits, potential plaintiff theories, tips for calculating your exposure, and defensive strategies.
You may view the full program agenda and register here: http://www.lawseminars.com/seminars/08GAMECA.php
February 22, 2008:
Founding partner, Richard J. Idell was elected to the Board of Grajonca Foundation and named Vice-President of the Board. Grajonca Foundation is a San Francisco based foundation that, among other projects, celebrating the philanthropy and life of Bill Graham, is restoring the 1971 film Last Days at the Fillmore and creating a Bill Graham Museum in San Francisco. In addition, the non-profit will produce the annual Bill Graham Justice Award dinner each year.
February 9, 2008:
The firm Founding Partner, Richard Idell, will serve as an oral argument judge for the annual Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court competition held every year in the Ninth Circuit Building. Mr. Idell has participated in this event regularly for several years.
January, 2008
The firm Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, has been invited to speak on a panel of international lawyers at MIDEM on January 27, 2008 in Cannes, France. Mr. Idell has been asked to speak on a number of topics of interest to the assembled international group of entertainment lawyers. He will speak on: Sunday, January 27, 2008, “The IAEL Update Seminar- What You’ll Need to Know in 2008”. This panel is sponsored by the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers. Mr. Idell is a long-time member of that group. MIDEM is the largest music conference in the world with nearly 10,000 music and technology professionals attending from 90 different countries including representatives of the recording, publishing, live, digital, mobile and branding sectors. The conference is held annually in the South of France. The website is: www.midem.com
December, 2007:
The Idell Firm, LLP Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, was elected December 12, 2007, to a fourth term as President of the California Film Institute. The California Film Institute is a California Public Benefit Non-Profit, based in San Rafael, California which presents the prestigious Mill Valley Film Festival each October and also owns and runs the restored art deco theater in San Rafael, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center. The website for the California Film Institute is: www.cafilm.org; for the Mill Valley Film Festival is: http://www.mvff.com/node/2633; and for the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center is: www.cafilm.org/nav0_2.html.
November, 2007:
The firm Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, spoke at the 32nd Annual State Bar of California Intellectual Property Law Institute at its meeting in Monterey November 8 to10, 2007. The panel was “Piracy: Injunctive Relief from the Trenches.” He was joined on the panel by Michael Page of Keker & Van Nest.
October, 2007:
The firm announces that they successfully defended Trees Foundation of Redway, California in a breach of contract/fraud claim. The jury trial concluded on October 9, 2007, in the Humboldt County Superior Court, with a verdict of no liability for the Trees Foundation. Richard Idell was the trial lawyer. Ory Sandel was second chair counsel.
The firm Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, was elected to the Governing Board of the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries. Mr. Idell previously served as Sponsorship Chair. The website for the Forum is: http://www.abanet.org/forums/entsports/
September, 2007:
The firm Founding Partner, Richard J. Idell, has been selected to serve on the Bar Association of San Francisco Panel of Mediators. Mr. Idell has extensive experience in hundreds of mediations and settlement conferences throughout his three decades of practicing law. The website for Mr. Idell’s listing is: http://www.sfbar.org/adr/panelists/idell.aspx
Summer of 2007:
The firm Founding Partner, Richard Idell, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Playground, a non-profit which is described on its website as follows:
Mission of PlayGround
The mission of PlayGround is to support the development of significant new local voices for the theatre. More than just a play development program, PlayGround focuses on the creation of a true theatre community by nurturing the collaborative process between first-time or early development playwrights, and established professional actors and directors. With a particular focus on the ten-minute form, PlayGround creates a microcosm of the greater theatre scene, allowing for experimentation and risk-taking as well as the honing of style and technique.
History
Since its founding, PlayGround has developed and staged more than 400 original ten-minute plays by 137 early-development writers. In the process of staging those works, PlayGround has helped to identify some of the leading emerging writers in our community and, at the same time, has engendered the creation of a true community of theatre artists, bringing together more than a hundred Bay Area actors, directors and playwrights. For most if not all of the participating writers, PlayGround is the first professional staging their work has received and serves as their introduction into the professional theatre community.
During the past ten seasons, PlayGround has produced sixty-two monthly staged readings of original ten-minute plays and completed each season with a fully produced festival celebrating the top emerging writers of the past year. PlayGround’s alumni have gone on to win both local and national honors for their short and full-length work, including recognition at the Humana Festival, Sundance Festival, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, the Love Creek/Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival, and The Drama League’s New Directors-New Works series. Directors and actors participating in PlayGround are among some of the most distinguished local theatre professionals, regularly working on leading Bay Area stages such as ACT, Berkeley Rep, Magic Theatre, San Jose Rep, and California Shakespeare Theater, among others.
The website for Playground is: www.playground-sf.org