Barkin Smith LLP

Jill Smith, a founding partner of Barkin Smith, is a specialist in handling all facets of sophisticated and complex entertainment transactions. Actors, producers, directors, screenwriters, authors and production companies frequently seek her strategic counsel on a wide variety of fundamental matters. From Academy Award-winning celebrities to rising stars, Jill’s clients recognize and benefit from her attentive personal service and vast knowledge of all business and legal aspects related to the development, production and monetization of media.

Jill’s 360° industry perspective is a result of her many years in private practice as well as her in-house experiences at Jim Henson Pictures and Dustin Hoffman's Punch Productions, Inc. Jill's varied experience includes structuring, negotiating and documenting all manner of agreements relating to the development, production, financing, distribution and exploitation of motion pictures and television series.

A true industry veteran, Jill has been a strong advocate for her clients in handling elaborate acquisition of rights agreements, first-look contracts and all forms of talent agreements. Jill's diverse experience has included spearheading the review and oversight of overhead and development expense budgets, the creation of business plans and the negotiation of employment and termination agreements. Jill has an acute understanding of production realities, making her sensitive to the particular exigencies associated with production and its unique business and legal challenges. With her breadth of experience, Jill is particularly qualified to understand the needs and practicalities of her clients.

Jill previously was a partner in the Entertainment Department of Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Negotiated agreements for creators and producers of various Discovery Channel and Animal Planet shows including "I'm Alive", "Wild Recon" "Feeding Frenzy," and certain "Shark Week" programs

Prepared and negotiated agreement on behalf of production company for director of "Twilight"

Negotiated (and renegotiated) agreement for a writer-producer of "One Tree Hill"

Reviewed and negotiated agreement for an award-winning lead actor of “Meet the Fockers”

Handled all production legal work for upcoming release "Remember Me"

Structured and negotiated agreement for a Supervising Producer of "Kitchen Nightmares"

			Jill L. Smith Partner Jill Smith, a founding partner of Barkin Smith, is a specialist in handling all facets of sophisticated and complex entertainment transactions. Actors, producers, directors, screenwriters, authors and production companies frequently seek her strategic counsel on a wide variety of fundamental matters. From Academy Award-winning celebrities to rising stars, Jill’s clients recognize and benefit from her attentive personal service and vast knowledge of all business and legal aspects related to the development, production and monetization of media. Jill’s 360° industry perspective is a result of her many years in private practice as well as her in-house experiences at Jim Henson Pictures and Dustin Hoffman's Punch Productions, Inc. Jill's varied experience includes structuring, negotiating and documenting all manner of agreements relating to the development, production, financing, distribution and exploitation of motion pictures and television series. A true industry veteran, Jill has been a strong advocate for her clients in handling elaborate acquisition of rights agreements, first-look contracts and all forms of talent agreements. Jill's diverse experience has included spearheading the review and oversight of overhead and development expense budgets, the creation of business plans and the negotiation of employment and termination agreements. Jill has an acute understanding of production realities, making her sensitive to the particular exigencies associated with production and its unique business and legal challenges. With her breadth of experience, Jill is particularly qualified to understand the needs and practicalities of her clients. Jill previously was a partner in the Entertainment Department of Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Illustrative Professional Experience Negotiated agreements for creators and producers of various Discovery Channel and Animal Planet shows including "I'm Alive", "Wild Recon" "Feeding Frenzy," and certain "Shark Week" programs Prepared and negotiated agreement on behalf of production company for director of "Twilight" Negotiated (and renegotiated) agreement for a writer-producer of "One Tree Hill" Reviewed and negotiated agreement for an award-winning lead actor of “Meet the Fockers” Handled all production legal work for upcoming release "Remember Me" Structured and negotiated agreement for a Supervising Producer of "Kitchen Nightmares"





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