The Art of the Entertainment Deal

In order for any lawyer to be a successful advocate for their client or law firm they must become an excellent dealmaker. However, the secrets to the art of deal closing can seem incredibly elusive to even the most initiated. What are the fundamental tenets of being a good dealmaker, and how does one focus on honing these skills?

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia sits down with Cohen Gardner LLP Co-Founder Jeff B. Cohen, a former child actor best remembered for his role as Chunk in The Goonies, to discuss dealmaking in the context of the law. The conversation opens with Jeff providing insights into his experiences behind the camera as a child actor and how this unique upbringing influences his perception of entertainment dealmaking. Within these recollections he also discusses how Machiavelli’s “The Prince” aided him after his acting career ended and how these teachings inspired his book “The Dealmaker’s Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood.” Jeff provides a glimpse into his methodologies and why he thinks it’s so important for lawyers to effectively manage their time. He then provides a few of his personal commandments and best practices that any legal professional can use to become a more effective and successful dealmaker.

Jeff B. Cohen co-founded Cohen Gardner LLP in 2002 and focuses on transactional representation for clients in the entertainment, media and technology verticals. His first book, “The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood” was published by the American Bar Association's imprint Ankerwycke in 2015. Jeff received his Juris Doctor from UCLA Law School with an emphasis in business law and his undergraduate degree from The University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business. While at UC Berkeley, Jeff served as President of the Associated Students of the University of California.

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