Hetz, Jones & Goldberg, LLC

James T. Hetz, Esq. 

JD, LLM, MBA

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PRACTICE AREAS

Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Law

EDUCATION

The John Marshall Law School Chicago, IL
Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property (1997)

St. Thomas University School of Law Miami, FL
Juris Doctor (J.D.) (1996)

Woodbury University, Burbank, CA
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) (Finance) (2000)

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) (1990)


ENTERTAINMENT LAW

He has extensive experience in the entertainment industry.  As an attorney, he has represented film and television producers, directors, screenwriters, stunt companies, film and television production companies, music bands, songwriters, actors, solo music artists, and independent record labels.

While in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Hetz engaged in work in film and television as a background actor on a full-time basis, eventually earning eligibility for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).  He worked in the production and legal departments in Nu Image/Millennium Films where he handled daily production matters, including script budget review, above the line/below the line agreements and offers, dailies, and preparation of film projects for sale to domestic film distributors, performed copyright chain of title on extensive film library, reviewed, edited and revised film and music publishing, administration, and collection contracts. Film productions included above the line talent like Kiefer Sutherland, Juliette Lewis, William Hurt, Shelley Duval, Courtney Love, Billy Zane, Robert Downey Jr., Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Ron Silver, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dean Cain, Thomas Ian Griffith, Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swayze, Penelope Ann Miller, Kenneth Branagh, Robin Wright Penn, Lynn Redgrave, Dennis Hopper, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs, Anne Heche, Michelle Williams, Marissa Ribisi, Michael Rapaport, Giovanni Ribisi, Skeet Ulrich, Russell Wong, Tom Berenger, Tom Berenger, Jeremy Sisto, and Amanda Peet.

On film and television, he has appeared on-screen with Dick Van Dyke, Patrick Duffy, Gillian Anderson, Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Michael Rappaport, Lisa Kudrow, Ryan Reynolds, Traylor Howard, Lea Thompson.

In the music business, he has been involved in an executive capacity at the independent record company, Wilderness 9 Records.   As a lifelong musician he has a deep appreciation for the struggles independent musicians and music professionals face in the business side of music. In college, he was a bandmate with Jett Beres, bass player for Sister Hazel.

Some of his more notable accomplishments include: negotiating an option contract on a client's screenplay with Hollywood film and television actor Joel David Moore. The deal was originally struck with Sodium Entertainment in Burbank, California. Mr. Hetz also negotiated a four album recording and distribution deal for the artist MADPO aka Queeno with DM Records/Ichiban Records. The deal resulted in the release of MADPO's song "What U Drankin' On" on the compilation CD "Bootleg Crunk" which spent four weeks on the Billboard charts. He has also developed private placement memoranda (PPM) for independent film producers to raise financing for their respective film projects.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Mr. Hetz has a diverse legal background in the areas of state and federal civil and criminal law. He has previously worked in the law firm of United States Senator Mel Martinez where he gained experience in serious personal injury cases such as medical malpractice, wrongful death, auto accidents, and premises liability. He has also worked in a major toxic tort insurance defense firm in Chicago, Illinois where he worked on mass tort cases involving nationwide asbestos litigation claims. In Los Angeles, his legal experience included handling cases against Mexicana Airlines, Bally's Health Club, UPS, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Inglewood, the City of La Habra, the City of Orange, the Russian Republic of Tajikistan, suits involving the notorious "Angel of Death" cases, the Sunset Strip's Key Club, Wells Fargo Bank, Macy's, Coach USA, and 7-Eleven. Additionally, while in Los Angeles, he worked for one of the largest independent feature film companies where he worked on film production, legal and distribution matters.

He has also had the privilege of working as a State Prosecutor for Orange and Osceola Counties where he represented the people of the great State of Florida and victims of crime. While there, he was promoted as sole attorney for the Orange/Osceola County Court Appellate Division, where he handled more than Sixty-Five state of Florida appeals, Petitions for Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition to the Circuit Court and the Fifth District Court of Appeals and the Florida Supreme Court, Petitions for Criminal Record Expungement and Sealing, and Motions for Post-Conviction Relief.

BAR MEMBERSHIPS

He is admitted to practice in all state courts of Florida as well as the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

PROFESSORSHIPS

He has taught at the Barkley School of Law as an associate professor of law teaching courses in Entertainment and Sports Law, Criminal Law, Remedies, and Legislative Law and Statutory Interpretation and was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Barry University School of Law teaching courses in Copyright Law and Intellectual Property Law.  He has recently joined the faculty at Full Sail University developing and teaching their capstone course in the Internet Marketing Master of Science degree progam.

PERSONAL

Married father of four wonderful children. A twenty six year resident of Central Florida and graduate of West Orange High School in Winter Garden. Avid Drummer and First Degree Black Belt and Training Instructor in Tae Kwon Do at Grandmaster Y.K. Kim's Martial Arts World

MEMBERSHIPS

The Florida Bar

Orange County Bar Association

Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Law Committees of the Orange County Bar Association
Florida Bar Entertainment and Sports Law Section
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Screen Actors Guild (SAG)(eligible)

Contact Info:

Orlando Office

Phone: 407-210-6588

Fax: 877-539-6507

JHetz@HetzandJones.com

Jonathan E. Jones, JD

Bio

Contact Info:

West Palm Beach Office

Phone: 561-805-7777

Fax: 561-655-3202

JJones@HetzandJones.com

Scott M. Goldberg

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PRACTICE AREAS

Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property Law, Business Law, Multimedia Rights, Technology Licensing, Litigation

EDUCATION

The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property;  With Honors (1997)



St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami, FL;  Juris Doctor (J.D.) (May 1996)

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (B.A.) and Minor in Business Administration (1993)

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Scott M. Goldberg, Esq., a member of The Florida Bar, has been practicing law for 10 years.  Scott Goldberg’s practice areas include Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property Law, Trademark Law, Copyright Law, Business and Corporate Law, Multimedia rights and licensing, Music Law, and Film and Television transactions.  Scott Goldberg graduated college from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and then went on to attend St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida.  After graduating law school, Scott Goldberg obtained a Master of Laws Degree in Intellectual Property from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois.  Scott Goldberg graduated from the program, with honors, in such areas as Copyright Law, Entertainment Law, Trademark Law, Music Law, Intellectual Property Licensing, Trade Secrets Law and Internet Law.

Scott Goldberg has represented and provided advice to clients in all aspects of the entertainment industry, including: artists, actors, musicians, film and television production companies, record labels, composers, writers, producers, filmmakers, publishers, multimedia, and Internet companies. 

Scott Goldberg’s experience in the entertainment industry has included assisting with distribution delivery legal requirements for independent films, including one of the highest grossing independent films of all time; providing production legal and delivery services for feature independent films that have obtained theatrical distribution and/or national cable network distribution; and, providing production legal services for documentary films.

Scott Goldberg has also worked for a number of years as in-house legal counsel for a multi-million dollar private equity company with over 60 subsidiary and affiliated entities that include portfolios such as: Employment and Human Resources, Real Estate, Construction, Computer Software, Insurance Administration, Franchising, Media & Entertainment Production and Consulting Services.  Scott Goldberg handled merger and acquisition transactions and drafted and reviewed many agreements for the companies’ operations including, but not limited to: Letters of Intent, Line of Credit Agreements, Promissory Notes, Assignments, Consultant Agreements, Security Agreements, Personal Guaranties, Licenses, Stock and Membership Purchase Agreements, Letters of Default, Demand Letters, Vendor Agreements, Lease Agreements and Employment Agreements.

Scott Goldberg has been a guest speaker for the film program at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, for the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association, and for the entertainment business and media program at Full Sail University.  Scott Goldberg has been a guest panelist for the Florida Bar’s 24/7 Online CLE course entitled “What’s The Deal?”; lecturing on business and Intellectual Property issues in connection with film, music and television productions.  Scott Goldberg has also been published in “Screen Talk Magazine” and “Script Magazine.”

PERSONAL

Born and raised in Miami Florida, Scott Goldberg has been a resident of Orlando Florida for 10 years.  Scott Goldberg has family located in Sarasota / Bradenton Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Florida, Brooklyn New York, and Southeast Georgia.  Scott Goldberg enjoys playing the guitar and is known for his extensive knowledge of music trivia.

MEMBERSHIPS

* Member of The Florida Bar
* United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
* Florida Bar Entertainment and Sports Law Section
* Florida Bar Business Law Section

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Contact Info:

Orlando Office

Phone: 407-210-6588

Fax: 866-781-4433

SGoldberg@HetzandJones.com