Dean Cheley

Dean Cheley is an entertainment attorney who offers expertise in all areas of the entertainment industry, including structuring deals and negotiating contracts for individuals and corporations involved in the film and television industry. He works with book authors, screen writers, performers, directors and producers, as well as institutions such as studios, networks, guilds and talent agencies. Prior to joining the firm, Dean litigated numerous types of entertainment disputes, including copyright and trademark infringement, rights of publicity, breach of contract and partnership disputes.
Mr. Cheley received his law degree in 2006 from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall), where he was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award and was Executive Editor of The Berkeley Technology & Law Journal. While at law school, he interned at the Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic, where he authored comments on behalf of media archives, filmmakers and libraries in response to a US Copyright Notice of Inquiry concerning orphan works and exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Prior to his career in law, Mr. Cheley worked as a producer and consultant for companies developing new media technologies, e-commerce, and branded entertainment. He brings this experience to bear advising his clients with regard to copyright, trademark, licensing and other IP matters, as well as marketing and other promotional activities related to the entertainment industry. Dean earned his bachelor’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Digital & New Media Studies, an Interdisciplinary Program sponsored by faculty in the schools of Design, Film and Television and Communication. Last year he was named Top Dealmaker by Variety magazine.
Dean is periodically invited to teach seminars for UCLA’s film program, and gave a “Fair Dealing vs. Fair Use” lecture at the 2017 Entertainment & Media Law Symposium in Toronto.

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