|
|
Philip Alberstat is a Partner at Fuel Industries, a company that produces and finances film, television and branded content.
Prior to joining Fuel, Philip was an agent with the William Morris Agency and a key member of the agency's independent film
division, William Morris Independent. He was involved in the packaging, financing and selling of more than seventy five films. Some
of the many films he was involved with included, "Thank You For Smoking" (directed by Jason Reitman, Juno), Oscar Nominee,
"Away From Her", "Factory Girl", "Bobby" and numerous others. From 1991 to 2004, Philip was a lawyer based in London, England
and held various legal positions. He was a partner with City firm Osborne Clarke and prior to this, was Head of Media at Baker
McKenzie's London office. During this time, he established himself as a leading expert in the areas of film finance and media law.
He was involved in many multi-jurisdiction film and television co-productions and co-financings.
While working as a lawyer, Philip was very active as a writer of numerous books and legal articles. His books include, "The Insiders
Guide to Film Finance" (pub. 2004 Elsevier),"Law And The Media"(pub. Focal Press 2005) and "The Independent Producers Guide
to Film and TV Contracts"(pub. Focal Press 1999). He is on the board of Entertainment Law Review and the British Independent
Film Awards (BIFAS) He was a recipient of the UK's Lawyer/Hifal Award as Solicitor of the Year and is listed in both the Legal 500
and Chambers as an expert in film finance and media law.
In addition to his legal writing he has produced several television and theatrical feature films. He won an Emmy in 2004 for the film,
"The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie", for Showtime. He was previously nominated in 1993 for an Emmy for the film, "The Song Spinner",
(Showtime). Philip holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology) and a Bachelor of Arts (History) from Dalhousie University in Canada and
a Law degree (LLB) from University College London and The London School of Economics.
|
| |
Jeff Begun is a Production Executive at The Incentives Office and was a Business Development VP at Axium International until that
company ceased to exist. He came up with the idea of a payroll company tracking U.S. production incentives, and created the
Complete Guide to U.S. Production Incentives, which is the industry standard. He frequently participates and moderates production
incentives panels around the country.
Before Axium he was an independent producer and writer, with about a dozen films to his credit. Prior to moving to California, he
owned a theatre chain and independent film distribution company in Chicago. Begun completed coursework for a PhD in Cognitive
Psychology at Carnegie-Mellon University.
|
|
|
Jamie Cope joined the West Virginia Film Office in late 2006. While his title in this busy three-person office is Location Services
Manager, Jamie’s responsibilities include everything from location scouting to addressing questions from legislators about the tax
incentive program. Jamie is often the first contact a production makes when coming to West Virginia and, is likely the last person
they see before leaving.
Jamie is one of six members of the Film Credit Development Committee, the group which reviews and approves applications for
West Virginia film tax credits. Recently, Jamie graduated from the Certified Film Commissioner (CFC) program offered by the
Association of Film Commissioners International, one of the first six graduates to do so.
Prior to working with the West Virginia Film Office, Jamie was the President of Destiny Images, Inc. for 15 years, which produced
several award-winning educational animated series and television commercials. Jamie is a graduate of Washington University in
St. Louis, where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree and minor in Fine Art.
|
| |
Ken Dhaliwal has been a partner at Heenan Blaikie since 2001. He is a business lawyer who focuses in the areas of media,
entertainment and intellectual property law. Ken primarily practises in the film, television, book publishing and live theatre industries.
His national and international clients are involved in a wide range of activities from financing to production and distribution. He acts
for banks, investors, film and television producers, distributors, broadcasters as well as creators and artists.
In assisting his clients achieve their transactional goals, Ken brings his extensive industry experience, balanced approach and
goal-oriented focus. He frequently advises them on the areas of Canadian tax incentives, which he combines with international
incentives, treaty co-productions and co-ventures, and structuring productions to maximize the benefits of these programmes. His
experience also extends to working directly and extensively with Canadian guilds and governmental and private agencies on behalf
of his Canadian and foreign clients.
Ken has represented Canadian producers on large budget productions such as Being Julia, The Statement and Where the Truth
Lies. US producers have also benefited from his expertise on projects such as The Big White, Lucky Number Slevin, Land of The
Dead and Nothing But the Truth. Ken has represented several lenders in connection with large budget productions such as The
Messengers, Silent Hill and Slither.
Ken was a founding director of Toronto's ReelWorld Film Festival, and presently sits on the board of The Factory Theatre in Toronto.
He is a frequent speaker and commentator on the film and television industry in Canada, and has been interviewed by the Globe
and Mail, the Financial Post and the Toronto Star newspapers as well as CBC Newsworld Business News. Ken has been
peer-rated as a leading entertainment lawyer in Lexpert magazine's annual survey.
|
| |
Anthony Gudas is a CPA and the managing member of Tax Credit Finance, LLC (“TCF”). Anthony specializes in the syndication
and brokering of state tax credits since 2002. In that time Anthony has been involved in over fifty historic and fifteen film tax credit
financings totaling over $200 million in syndications.
Anthony is extensively involved in Federal and State historic tax credits, State motion picture production tax credits, tax planning,
incentives negotiations, public finance and site relocation and expansion consulting. Since 2002 TCF has evolved into a major
placement agency for transferable Historic and Motion Picture Production tax credits in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
New York, North Carolina, Georgia and Michigan.
TCF is currently involved with approximately $120 million of Historic and Film Credit/Rebate transactions that will mature between
now and 2011. Anthony is recognized in New England as one of the top business incentives and public finance professionals in the
area. In 2005 TCF began pre-funding Motion Picture Production tax credits in the various States referenced above as well.
|
| |
Warren Nimchuk is a member and partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers Vancouver office Technology, Information,
Communications, and Entertainment tax practice. Warren is a regular speaker at entertainment industry conferences and is well
known in Canada, US and abroad for his expertise on matters relating to the film and television industry. He is acknowledged as
one of the leading tax advisors in Canada and also has extensive experience in finance structuring and tax credit planning. He
provides services to many US producers and major studios as well as top tier Canadian film and television producers,
broadcasters, sales companies, touring entertainers and gaming companies. Warren has assisted with drafting incentive
legislation in the past and continues to act as an advisor to various Canadian provinces, US states and foreign jurisdictions in
respect of incentives related to film and television distribution and the financing of feature films.
|
|
|
Jeff Sanders is co-managing partner of Roberts Ritholz Levy Sanders Chidekel & Fields LLP. His practice is focused on complex
transactions involving intellectual property assets, often representing clients in the media, technology and communications
industries. Jeff acts as counsel to investors, private equity funds, operating entities and financial institutions.
Prior to joining Roberts Ritholz, Jeff was a partner at a large national firm, where he headed its media and entertainment practice.
Prior to that, Jeff was the vice president of business affairs and senior counsel for the media and entertainment division of Winstar
Communications, where he was responsible for the company's venture capital and media company operations. While at Winstar,
Jeff negotiated the company's acquisitions of BMG's film division, Wellspring Media, Individual.com, numerous television stations
and other motion picture, television and Internet companies. Jeff played key roles in structuring Winstar's joint ventures with
Microsoft, CBS and others. He also had supervisory responsibility for the business and legal affairs staff at Winstar's film, radio and
Internet operating divisions.
Jeff also has considerable experience in litigating matters specific to the entertainment and media industries, including Equity
Broadcasting Corp. v. Paxson Communications Corporation (termination of network affiliation agreements, AAA 2004); Leve v.
Franklin Capital Corporation, (dispute regarding sale of radio programming company, 2d Cir. 2005); Sandoval v. New Line Cinema,
(motion picture copyright infringement dispute, 2d Cir. 1998); Leifer v. Castle Rock (theft of idea case involving network television
program, Sup Ct. N.Y. City 1997).
|
|
|
David Steinberg is a business lawyer, and partner at Heenan Blaikie, specializing in the areas of entertainment, media and
intellectual property. David primarily practices in the film, television, music, and book publishing industries. He acts for film and
television producers and distributors, broadcasters, Internet service providers, publishers, creators and manufacturers of home
entertainment products and merchandise. David advises his clients in both Canada and the United States on matters related to film
and television financing, production and distribution, the licensing of intellectual property for integrated media products and the sale
and acquisition of rights.
David is a dynamic advisor who consistently applies a pragmatic approach to his practice. As a result, he has developed strong,
long-lasting relationships with his clients. David is highly service-oriented and committed to assisting his clients in achieving their
goals. He combines superior legal skills, industry experience and an adaptable approach to communicating and negotiating in all
types of business transactions.
David is a frequent speaker and lecturer on various media and entertainment law related topics in both Canada and the United
States. He is peer-rated as “repeatedly recommended” in the annual Canadian Legal Lexpert® survey and is recognized as one of
Canada’s leading lawyers in the area of entertainment law in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Woodward/White).
|
|
