Fees
If you would like a custom quote for the services you require, please feel free to use the Prospective Client Inquiry form on the Contact page. In order for us to give you a quote, please be as specific as possible about your needs. We will either call or email you in response.Flat Fees
Most people want to know what their legal fees will be before they commit.
So that clients may budget a predictable amount for legal services, Mr. Cooper offers flat rates where the scope of work can be clearly defined in advance.
This applies to discrete services such as business formation; trademark or copyright registration; comprehensive production legal services for a motion picture production; certain individual phases of production, post-production, or delivery; or simple contract review or drafting. Flat rates take into account the exact services you need and your budget, but in most cases do not include any negotiation.
Flat fees must be paid in full before work begins.
Click here to view a chart of current Fees for Services.
Initial Telephone Call
There is no charge for your first 10-15 minute phone call with Mr. Cooper to discuss your film project and legal needs. Please understand, however, that he cannot give legal advice to non-clients, so you should not expect to receive legal advice during this initial call. The purpose of this first conversation is to provide you with information about how an attorney can help you, evaluate the scope of work required, and give you an estimate of cost.
After the intial 15 minute call, if you have a specific legal question you want answered but are not ready to engage an attorney, additional half-hour telephone consultations may be available at a rate of $90 per half-hour, paid in advance via PayPal. (Such additional telephone consultations are in the sole discretion of the attorney and are subject to a conflicts review.)
Initial In-Person Consultation
If you would like to meet with Mr. Cooper in person, the charge for the initial consultation is a flat fee of $350, payable in advance (the appointment is not confirmed until payment is received).
This initial meeting lasts approximately 75 minutes, but there is some leeway at no additional charge. During that time, Mr. Cooper can discuss your project or other matter in detail, review your script or rough footage (if applicable), assess the types of issues that may arise in your project, give you legal advice and, if additional work is required, give you an estimate of its cost.
Sometimes, this single meeting is all that is required to resolve a legal issue or set a course of action. There is no further obligation after the initial meeting unless you enter into a fee agreement with Mr. Cooper.
Hourly Rates
For services that require negotiation, meetings, discussions of alternative courses of action, extensive legal research, or otherwise for which a time frame or scope of work can not be readily defined in advance, Mr. Cooper charges an hourly rate of $250 per hour. An initial non-refundable retainer is required with hourly fee arrangements. The amount of the retainer depends upon the scope of the help you need. The hourly rate and amount of retainer may be negotiable.Deferred Or Contingent Fee Arrangements
Generally, Mr. Cooper does not provide legal services on a contingent fee or deferred fee basis.
In case you are not familiar with these terms, "Contingent" means that compensation is calculated as a percentage of money received from a transaction. "Deferred" means that payment is made at some point in the future, usually when a client receives money for his/her project from others.
In exceptional circumstances where a filmmaker or writer is not able to afford our standard legal fees, but has received an offer for their high-potential film or television project, Mr. Cooper may agree to a deferred or contingent fee arrangement, subject to certain restrictions. PLEASE NOTE, however, that deferred or contingent fee arrangements may be offered only after Mr. Cooper has reviewed all the elements of your project (such as script, budget, people involved, marketing plan, and any financing or distribution arrangements) and has agreed to take a risk with you. Also be aware that, with such arrangements, Mr. Cooper requires that you agree he is authorized to receive payments in trust for you, deduct the amount owed him, and remit the remaining balance to you.
Production Consulting Fees
Compensation for production consulting services is negotiable based upon your production’s requirements, but generally includes a fixed or hourly fee, a profit participation in your project, and some form of producer credit. If Mr. Cooper provides consulting services in addition to legal services, consulting fees are calculated separately from fees for legal services on the same production, and may require separate agreements.DVD Seminar Series
Mr. Cooper is featured on the video/book DVD series, "What Every Filmmaker Needs to Know About the Law," distributed by Cekent Concepts, Inc. This DVD series is an affordable way for filmmakers to get their legal questions answered without the high cost of paying an attorney's hourly rate. The material is presented in a manner that is designed to be accessible for lay people. The current four volumes in the series are Setting Up Your Company, Rights, Negotiation, and Contracts. Each volume includes a video lecture/slide presentation with a companion book on the same disk.
Mr. Cooper's clients are eligible to purchase this set from Cekent Concepts at a special discounted price. For production clients, Mr. Cooper requires the purchase of the set at the outset of representation, so that many common questions are answered quickly, conveniently and completely. Please note that Mr. Cooper's law practice is engaged only in providing legal services and does not sell the DVDs.
Click here for more information about the DVD set.Mediation Fees
Mr. Cooper's current fee for serving as a mediator is $350 per hour, with a three-hour minimum per session, due when the mediation is scheduled, and all parties must agree to attend. In addition, there is an initial advance payment of $250 per mediation (not per session) to cover the administrative costs of convening the mediation, reviewing documents, and other preparation. The total due in advance is $1,300 (the time reservation is not confirmed until payment is received). The parties to the dispute typically share the costs of mediation equally (i.e., if there are 2 sides to the dispute, each would pay a deposit of $650), but the parties may specify otherwise.
If it is necessary for us to arrange a conference room or other space for the mediation, the cost of the room would be in addition to the costs specified above and any deposits would be the responsibility of the parties.