Abigail E

Legal Advisor

Vicki Davey Productions • Full-time

Mar 2010 - Aug 2022 • 12 yrs 5 mos

In my capacity as Legal Advisor to Vicki Davey Productions, I managed legal matters arising from the creation and commercial exploitation of entertainment properties. I approached each production as a collection of distinct legal rights, ensuring those rights were properly acquired, documented, controlled, and available for the company's intended uses. Before projects advanced, I examined source material, contributor interests, pre-existing contractual restrictions, and ownership records to determine whether production could proceed without conflicting claims. Where necessary, I structured options, assignments, releases, licenses, and permissions to establish the required legal authority. I also advised on negotiations concerning creative participation. Matters under my supervision included compensation, backend participation, screen credit, consultation rights, exclusivity, promotional commitments, sequel rights, adaptation rights, and ownership of commissioned material. This allowed production relationships to be documented with precision from the outset. On the commercial side, I reviewed financing conditions and exploitation arrangements involving broadcasters, streaming platforms, sales agents, distributors, sponsors, and other industry participants. I paid particular attention to territorial limitations, revenue accounting, recoupment provisions, delivery obligations, and reservation of future rights. My work ultimately helped preserve chain of title, prevent unauthorized exploitation of third-party material, secure valuable ancillary rights, clarify participant entitlements, and strengthen the legal readiness of projects presented for financing or distribution. I provided the production company with legal protection extending from initial rights acquisition through the continuing commercial life of each project.