Ellie L. Heisler

What do you focus on?

My practice involves three main areas of focus, leveraging my experience in entertainment law, my background in brand building, and my passion for food and fashion. I play at the intersection of all three and advise clients on how to navigate and monetize these industries effectively.

Entertainment

I negotiate agreements on behalf of on-camera talent, producers, writers and directors for unscripted and scripted television series and on behalf of content creators and influencers for brand deals, representation and multi-channel network agreements. I also have experience in negotiating production services agreements, option agreements and handling production legal for unscripted and scripted television, documentary and feature projects. In working closely with clients to figure out their short- and long-term objectives, I assist them in creating the right team and associations by engaging an agent, manager, consultant, business manager and guild membership, and by securing rights to a property or content they will need to own or control to bring their goals to fruition.

Licensing

I have secured licensing, and negotiated endorsement, joint venture and co-branded deals for actors, musicians, athletes, unscripted television and YouTube personalities, and influencer and brand clients in many different categories, including apparel, accessories, paper goods, home décor, kitchenware, mobile applications, food, beverage, supplement, fragrance, skincare, cosmetics, snowboards and toys. I also advise clients on building their brands and protecting their intellectual property, and provide strategies for dealing with intellectual property infringement and fair use issues.

Trusted Advisor

I act as a trusted advisor to startup food, apparel and production companies; management companies; and advertising agencies. As an entrepreneur, I offer practical advice based on actual experience for all aspects of operating a business, including protecting the company’s assets, employment matters and fundraising. I anticipate success and help clients get there.

What do you see on the horizon?

Increased crossover from digital talent leveraging their following to enter traditional media and the reverse, which has attracted viewers, ratings and ad dollars to online content creators. As entertainment legal and business advisers, our job is to help clients navigate this evolving environment and diversify the types of content our clients participate in, produce and endorse.

Presentations

• Speaker, “Legal Considerations for Influencers in the Age of Social Distancing,” EIA 2020 | Social Media Influencers, Webinar, October 9, 2020
• Panelist,  “The Shifting Power of Influencers in the Age of Social Distancing,” 44th Annual UCLA Entertainment Symposium, Webinar, August 12, 2020 
• Speaker, “Cause-Marketing + Influencer Engagement,” It Gets Better Global Summit, New York, NY, June 28, 2019
• Speaker, “The New Celebrity: Navigating the Changing Advertising Landscape on Social Media,” Nixon Peabody MCLE Marathon, Los Angeles, January 17, 2019
• Speaker, “Case Study—Social Influencers: What Every Food & Beverage Counsel Needs to Know About Working with Social Influencers,” Food & Beverage Exchange, Chicago, IL, October 16–17, 2018
• Featured speaker at the welcome reception for the incoming class of 2021, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, August 14, 2018
• Panelist, “Leveraging Your Network: How to Build a Book of Business,” Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Young Lawyers Section, Los Angeles, May 16, 2018
• Speaker, “How social media influencers partner with retailers to sell their goods, and the cost-benefit analysis from both sides,” LAEDC Future Forum, Santa Monica, May 2, 2018
• Speaker, “Legal issues facing YouTube content creators,” SelfMADE, Provo, April 20, 2018
• Panelist, “Who will be the Michael Jordan of Esports? Building the Next Generation of Brand Influencers,” Nixon Peabody & XLIVE Reception Series, Los Angeles, March 7, 2018
• Speaker, “The Evolution of Endorsement Deals,” Nixon Peabody Annual MCLE Seminar, Los Angeles, January 2018
• Panelist, “New Media: New Frontiers in Asia Technology and IP Investment,” IBA’s Investing in Asia Conference, New York, December 8, 2017
• Speaker, “#Sponsored,” AdvertisingWeek, New York, September 25, 2017
• Panelist, “Runway Ready: Fashion Law Fundamentals,” American Bar Association, Los Angeles, February 9, 2016
• Speaker, “Multi-platform Distribution: Technology in Entertainment,” Nixon Peabody MCLE, Los Angeles, January 21, 2016
• Speaker, “Fashion Tech: The law of fashion in a digital marketplace,” Nixon Peabody MCLE, Los Angeles, January 21, 2015

Classes Taught

• Celebrity licensing class, Fashion Law Summer Intensive, Loyola Law School, Summer 2016
• Best practices in negotiating and drafting fashion licensing agreements, INTA lead table topic, May 2016
• Negotiations class, Contract Law, USC, Winter 2015
• Licensing classes, Fashion Law, Loyola Law School, Fall 2015
• Celebrity licensing class, Fashion Law Summer Intensive, Loyola Law School, Summer 2015
• Best practices in negotiating and drafting licensing agreements, INTA lead table topic, May 2015
• Licensing class, Fashion Law, Loyola Law School, Fall 2014
• Celebrity licensing class, Fashion Law Summer Intensive, Loyola Law School, Summer 2014