Chris L. Perez

Chris L. Perez,
Partner

Contact Information

P (310) 277-8394
F (310) 277-4870
[email protected]

Chris specializes in all aspects of the firm’s practice, including representing independent producers and production companies through development, financing, production, rights clearance and distribution. He has helped hundreds of productions secure the E&O insurance necessary to distribute their films and has established himself as an advocate for artists’ rights.  In addition to representing filmmakers, Chris serves as counsel to writers, podcast producers, radio personalities, museums and foundations.

Chris regularly lectures on production, distribution, financing, and clearance issues at various law schools and producing programs around the world and regularly contributes op-ed pieces for publications including the Daily Journal, LA Lawyer and Realscreen.  Chris is also co-author of the 5th Edition of Clearance & Copyright, the industry’s leading book on rights clearances in film and television.  He is often asked to provide expert authority on entertainment law, copyright, artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge legal issues by various podcasts and publications, including The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Forbes.

Chris has also been a leader on several of the firm’s advocacy projects since 2008, including the landmark Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) exemptions secured for filmmakers, for which he was recognized as one of California Lawyer’s “Attorneys of the Year.”  He has been recognized for several other prestigious awards by Variety, California Lawyer and U.S. News.

Chris graduated from the University of Michigan, where he produced, directed, and wrote several student films. He earned his JD at the USC Gould School of Law, where he remains actively engaged with the Latinx Law Students Association and teaches an intellectual property practicum in which USC law students advise students from the USC School of Cinematic Arts on their films and series.

Chris serves as a board member for the International Documentary Association, where he chairs the organization’s advocacy efforts.  He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Generative AI Initiative of the Archival Producers Alliance. 

Prior to working with Donaldson Callif Perez, Chris worked for California Lawyers for the Arts, Technicolor, and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School.

Chris lives in Los Angeles with his wife Maria, his two children, and their dog Bill Paxton.