Media & Entertainment
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+1 416 979 2211About
Provided by Goodmans LLP
Goodmans is recognized worldwide as a leading Canadian entertainment law firm. Our Entertainment Law Group represents a large cross-section of major North American film, television, digital media and publishing companies, as well as many individual directors, authors and screenwriters, actors and film and television personalities.
We assist our clients with structuring and optimizing production financing, negotiating international co-productions and CRTC co-ventures, arranging Canadian content tax credit applications and assisting in sales to distributors and broadcasters in Canada and abroad. We advise our domestic and foreign clients on Canadian tax and legal issues such as film tax credits and Canadian withholding tax, preparing talent contracts, dealing with Canadian guilds and unions and advising on Canadian foreign investment rules and domestic broadcast regulatory requirements.
Chambers Review
Goodmans is a renowned Toronto-based law firm and a major force in the entertainment sector. Its entertainment group provides legal services to prominent players in film, television and online entertainment services. It represents domestic and international clients across the spectrum of their commercial issues, spanning financing, transactions, international projects and co-ventures as well as talent agreements. The team also offers coverage of specialist areas such as digital media and federal and provincial film, foreign investment and tax issues affecting the film industry.
Work Highlights
- Goodmans continued to provide ongoing advice to Amazon Studios, in relation to productions produced or post-produced in Canada which stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Incredible client services, up-to-the-minute experience in industry trends, and a review of our legal needs with a mind to helping us grow our business. Their experience is always market-leading."
"Deep industry knowledge, good connections to/understanding of the US and international markets. Great consistent and timely service."
"Their breadth of knowledge is unsurpassed in the Canadian entertainment law sphere. They are always extremely responsive and have taken the time over many years to really get to know our business."
"The hallmark of Goodmans' media and entertainment function is their outstanding client service, dedication to excellence and relentless pursuit of protecting current and future interests."
"They are knowledgeable of our business, available and a well-rounded group of lawyers who are able to provide guidance all from in-house. They truly are amazing!"
"Incredible client services, up-to-the-minute experience in industry trends, and a review of our legal needs with a mind to helping us grow our business. Their experience is always market-leading."
"Deep industry knowledge, good connections to/understanding of the US and international markets. Great consistent and timely service."
"Their breadth of knowledge is unsurpassed in the Canadian entertainment law sphere. They are always extremely responsive and have taken the time over many years to really get to know our business."
"The hallmark of Goodmans' media and entertainment function is their outstanding client service, dedication to excellence and relentless pursuit of protecting current and future interests."
"They are knowledgeable of our business, available and a well-rounded group of lawyers who are able to provide guidance all from in-house. They truly are amazing!"
Notable Practitioners
David Zitzerman provides guidance on a host of corporate, regulatory and production deal structuring issues to a broad client base of film studios, television producers and OTT streaming services. He is based in Toronto, where he heads the entertainment law group at Goodmans.
"David is really at the cutting edge of the legal entertainment field. He knows everything that is going on and is brilliant."
Jaclyn Seidman is a Toronto-based lawyer at Goodmans who advises on production and financing matters for Canadian and international film and TV producers. She also assists clients with IP portfolio acquisition and protection issues.
"Jaclyn is the most dedicated and passionate counsel I have ever worked with. She is part of our backbone as we approach all legal matters with confidence and ferocity."
Tara Parker is based in Toronto, where she is a partner in Goodmans' entertainment law practice. She advises Canadian and international film and TV production companies on production and financing issues.
"Tara is a phenomenal lawyer. I trust her experience and advice implicitly. She has been an incredible asset to our company, which has allowed us to grow significantly in the past few years."
"Tara is a savvy, trusted, go-to lawyer for bigger deals and complex legal issues related to finance, chain of title and deal structure."
"Tara is extremely knowledgeable and really cares about our business. Our business is stronger because we are lucky enough to have Tara supporting us."