Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Man of La Mancha Revival Dispute Involves Whether Attorney/Client Relationship Arose
A thorny concern for lawyers is whether — and if so, when — an attorney/client relationship has been formed with a party with whom the lawyer has entered into a business arrangement. Current litigation over an agreement involving theatrical production rights to the Tony Award-winning musical Man of La Mancha (MOLM) offers some perspective on the issue. Abraham v. Leigh, 17 Civ. 5429 (S.D.N.Y.).
The lawsuit grew out of a Jan. 6, 2014, meeting between attorney Robyn Abraham and MOLM composer Mitch Leigh to discuss a 50th anniversary 2015 revival production of MOLM. On January 23, Abraham and Leigh entered into a two-page Talent Agreement, which Abraham drafted, that gave Abraham "the sole and exclusive legal and business rights for six months to represent [MOLM] in England and United Kingdom for the purpose of obtaining initial professional interest" in a revival production.
In 2017, she filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking compensation, claiming she had fulfilled her contractual obligations. The defendants included: Abby Leigh, the executrix for the estate of Mitch Leigh, who died in March 2014; the executrix for the estate of La Mancha book writer Dale Wasserman; and the executrix for the estate of La Mancha lyricist Joseph Darion. Abby Leigh filed a counterclaim against Abraham for breach of fiduciary obligation in the drafting and signing of the Talent Agreement. The executrix alleged that during the January 6, 2014, meeting, Mitch Leigh had hired Abraham as his counsel, but Abraham didn't provide him with "the opportunity[] to seek independent legal advice from other counsel with respect to the Talent Agreement."
This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW.
- Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
- Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
- Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts
Already a have an account? Sign In Now Log In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473
How Secure Is the AI System Your Law Firm Is Using?
In a profession where confidentiality is paramount, failing to address AI security concerns could have disastrous consequences. It is vital that law firms and those in related industries ask the right questions about AI security to protect their clients and their reputation.
COVID-19 and Lease Negotiations: Early Termination Provisions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some tenants were able to negotiate termination agreements with their landlords. But even though a landlord may agree to terminate a lease to regain control of a defaulting tenant's space without costly and lengthy litigation, typically a defaulting tenant that otherwise has no contractual right to terminate its lease will be in a much weaker bargaining position with respect to the conditions for termination.
Pleading Importation: ITC Decisions Highlight Need for Adequate Evidentiary Support
The International Trade Commission is empowered to block the importation into the United States of products that infringe U.S. intellectual property rights, In the past, the ITC generally instituted investigations without questioning the importation allegations in the complaint, however in several recent cases, the ITC declined to institute an investigation as to certain proposed respondents due to inadequate pleading of importation.
The Power of Your Inner Circle: Turning Friends and Social Contacts Into Business Allies
Practical strategies to explore doing business with friends and social contacts in a way that respects relationships and maximizes opportunities.
Authentic Communications Today Increase Success for Value-Driven Clients
As the relationship between in-house and outside counsel continues to evolve, lawyers must continue to foster a client-first mindset, offer business-focused solutions, and embrace technology that helps deliver work faster and more efficiently.