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Kevin M. Murphy and Jan E. Simonsen

For over a decade, Carr Maloney has represented major concert promoters, event production companies, entertainment venues, clubs, convention centers, regional sports arenas and sports league sponsors.  We advise these clients in business/commercial matters, insurance issues and all types of litigation. 

The Firm understands that our entertainment and special event clients have business and commercial concerns unique to their industry.  For example, entertainment events frequently require the involvement of many different entities, including promoters, producers, venues, security, local authorities, stage management, and others.  This, in turn, creates unique challenges for risk management, risk sharing, indemnity agreements and insurance policies, all of which call for careful attention to the legal as well as the business components.  Cross-coordination of contracts is vitally important, but too often overlooked.  Local codes and statutes must also be observed, and several national codes may or may not be implicated.  Finally, it is usually helpful to have legal input into the relationship between talent, promoter, venue, and others who present an event.

Litigation in the entertainment and special events field has become more common as the business has become more complex.  We have represented entertainment entities in contract negotiations, contract review, and contract litigation.  We represent promoters, producers, venues, security companies and other entities involved in lawsuits brought by injured or disgruntled patrons.  Our cases have involved serious personal injury or property damage and high profile special events.  We have gone behind the scenes at numerous such events, and we understand the roles of the many entities and moving parts that contribute.  That knowledge, and our work with contracts, codes, and local authorities in preparing for such events, provides a significant advantage when the time comes for litigation.

We assisted in the formation of entities that insure entertainment and special events, venues and companies.  We have been called upon to draft policy language for these clients’ unique insurance needs and to advise on insurance regulatory issues.  Carriers who insure such entities have asked us to act as coordinating counsel and manage insurance related litigation on a national basis.

Risk Management is an important issue for entertainment and special events businesses.  We offer risk management services to companies that operate in the entertainment and special events fields.  This includes review and preparation of contracts, indemnity provisions, waivers of liability, waivers of subrogation, warning signs and documents, and releases. We also work with clients as they form entertainment plans, ventures, and tours to assist in the negotiation and documentation of such arrangements.  Finally, we advise such clients, before the start of tours, shows, etc., on risk management techniques that can be implemented by producers, promoters, and event planners.

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