10100 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90067

310.282.2327

310.919.3952

Ivy Kagan Bierman
Partner

Ivy Kagan Bierman's practice includes the representation of entertainment and related companies in labor, production, distribution, technology and other business matters. She handles both transactional and litigation matters for clients.

Ms. Bierman is one of a select few of Entertainment Industry labor lawyers looked to by film and television production companies, cable networks, distribution companies, film finance companies, Internet and mobile companies, national advertisers and advertising agencies for representation in guild and union matters. She regularly counsels entertainment and advertising companies with respect to the SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, AFM, Teamsters and IATSE agreements. She also negotiates separate agreements and waivers with the guilds and unions for entertainment and advertising clients. She was one of the first attorneys to negotiate interactive and multi-media agreements with SAG, the WGA and the DGA.

Ms. Bierman strategizes with film and television production, distribution and finance companies with respect to the WGA, SAG-AFTRA and DGA negotiations and potential strikes. She advises national advertisers and advertising agencies with respect to the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract negotiations and potential strikes. She also regularly protects film and television production companies during guild and union organizing campaigns and advises them with respect to their obligations and rights during picketing and strikes.

Ms. Bierman currently advises clients with respect to the guilds' and unions' evolving positions regarding reality television, brand integration and the development and exhibition of content over the Internet and mobile devices.

Ms. Bierman also regularly provides sexual harassment, discrimination and non-fraternization training tailored to Entertainment Industry companies with "edgy" programming content. She handles investigations of sexual harassment claims and violations of non-fraternization policies in connection with high profile television series and works closely with television network attorneys to resolve such claims.

Ms. Bierman’s litigation practice is also focused on the Entertainment Industry. She is currently defending several television production companies against wage and hour class action lawsuits. She previously represented several television production companies and payroll companies in a series of Entertainment Industry-wide wage and hour class action lawsuits which were settled favorably for the firm’s clients. Ms. Bierman also regularly defends entertainment companies and payroll companies against wage and hour claims before the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. She also represents entertainment companies in investigations by the Labor Commissioner’s Bureau of Field Enforcement and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and defends them against citations arising out of such investigations. Ms. Bierman also defends clients against guild and union grievances and arbitration claims and unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board.

In addition, Ms. Bierman represented Panavision International, L.P. in its preeminent lawsuit against a cyber-squatter before the District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Ms. Bierman currently represents the largest independent television production company in the world and one of the largest payroll service companies in the Entertainment Industry.

Publications/Speeches

Speaker, Advanced Media and Technology Webinar Series - Practical Application of the Guilds' New Media Agreements to the Real World (March 15, 2011)
Guest Lecturer, Trends in Television and Emergence of Multiplatform & Evolving Media, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, Los Angeles, California (February 8, 2010)
Speaker on Music Panel with respect to Guilds and Unions, University of Miami Law School Entertainment and Sports Conference, Miami, Florida (February 5, 2010)
Program Chair and Speaker, CLE International 6th Annual Conference on Film, TV & New Media Law, Los Angeles, California (January 21-22, 2010)
Speaker, USC Gould School of Law 2009 Institute on Entertainment Law and Business, Los Angeles, California (October 17, 2009)
Speaker, Global Representation of Writers and Directors, Association of Talent Agents (ATA) Seminar, Beverly Hills, California (September 23, 2009)
Speaker, Broads Circle Breakfast: Women in Entertainment, Los Angeles, California (May 13, 2009)
Guest Lecturer, Entertainment Industry Guild and Union Issues, UCLA Film School, Los Angeles, California (January 26, 2009)
Speaker, 19th National Advanced Corporate Counsel Forum on Advertising Law, Las Vegas, Nevada (June 5-6, 2007)
Speaker, Understanding Guild Issues: A Practical Discussion with Industry Experts, Los Angeles, California (April 23, 2007)
Speaker, Maximizing Branded Entertainment Deals, New York, New York (March 27-28, 2007)
Moderator, 31st Annual UCLA Entertainment Symposium, Los Angeles, California (March 2-3, 2007)
Speaker, Product Integration Panel, Atlas International Film & TV Summit, Los Angeles (February 2007)
Speaker, Understanding Guild Issues: A Practical Discussion with Industry Experts, Chicago, Illinois (October 26, 2006)
Speaker, Understanding Guild Issues: A Practical Discussion with Industry Experts, New York, New York (October 24, 2006)
Speaker, Madison Ave Meets Music Row, Nashville, Tennessee (October 10, 2006)

Media Mentions

Women Making a Difference: 2009 Honorees Los Angeles Business Journal
SAG Negotiators Meet Today By Jay A. Fernandez, The Hollywood Reporter
SAG-AFTRA Ads Contract Up By Jay A. Fernandez, The Hollywood Reporter
Lawsuit Hits Snag By Dave McNary, Variety
SAG's Endgame is Still a Mystery By Leslie Simmons, The Hollywood Reporter
Women of Achievement 2008 Century City News
Reality TV's Bid for Respect Gets Legal Lift By Nicholas Taborek, Los Angeles Daily Journal
No-Strike Pacts on Yari Agenda By Leslie Simmons, The Hollywood Reporter
TV Workers Claim They Were Denied Overtime Pay, Meal Breaks By Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times
Reality Strikes By Joel Russell, Los Angeles Business Journal
Scribes, Studios Back in the Ring for Next Round By Carl DiOrio, The Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood Plays the Dating Game By Dave McNary, Variety
Striking Out Into the Unknown By Kellie Schmitt, The Recorder
Strike Makes More Work for Lawyers By Alexa Hyland, Los Angeles Daily Journal
Hollywood Writers Picket; Fans to Feel the Effect Today By Gary Levin, Bill Keveney and Peter Johnson, USA TODAY
Mediator to the Rescue, Maybe By Carl DiOrio, The Hollywood Reporter
WGA May Delay Strike By Dave McNary, Variety
Unions Resist 'Temptation' By Leslie Simmons, The Hollywood Reporter
Hold on WGA, AMPTP Talks By Carl DiOrio, The Hollywood Reporter
To SAG, Product Placements are a Sore Spot By Carl DiOrio, Backstage.com
For the Main Event: Reps Vs. Studio Execs By Carl DiOrio, The Hollywood Reporter
Striking a Pose By Dave McNary, Daily Variety
Mobisodes - Mobile Entertainment By Debra Kaufman, The Hollywood Reporter
Women Get a Break at Hollywood Law Firm By Frank Swertlow, Los Angeles Business Journal

Affiliations

Board of Directors, Women in Film
Board of Directors, Anti-Defamation League
Member, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Board Member, Hollywood Radio and Television Society
Member, Anti-Defamation League Entertainment Industry Council
Member, Motion Picture & Television Fund Professional Advisory Network
Former Chair, Entertainment and Labor Sections, Century City Bar Association

Distinctions

Named in "Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business," in California Labor & Employment, (2009-2012 editions)
Named "Best Lawyer" in Labor Law, The Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward White, Inc. (2013)
Named among "Top Labor & Employment Lawyers" in California by the Daily Journal (2011 and 2012)
Named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in L.A. Law” report (2010)
Named "2008 Woman of Achievement" by the Century City Chamber of Commerce
Named "Top Lawyer" in The Hollywood Reporter, ESQ.’s “Power Lawyers Top 100” list (2007-2010)
Named in "Southern California Super Lawyers" in Entertainment & Sports and Employment & Labor, a Thomson Reuters business (2007-2013)
Honored as Women’s Image Network’s Outstanding Woman (WOW!) for 2006

Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1984, cum laude

Duke University, B.A., 1980, magna cum laude

California

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

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