DONALDSON CALLIF PEREZ - Key Persons
Alex Yousefzadeh joined the team at Donaldson Callif Perez in 2015. He works in all areas of the firm's entertainment and media law practice, advising clients through the various stages of corporate structuring, development, financing, production, rights acquisition, clearance, and distribution.
Alex received his B.A. from New York University's Gallatin School in 2012, in the interdisciplinary study of medicine, psychology, and media. After his time at NYU, Alex moved back to Los Angeles and enrolled in the Southwestern University School of Law, where he focused on intellectual property law and practical entertainment courses.
Before receiving his J.D. from Southwestern in 2016, Alex worked at Donaldson Callif Perez as an intern and law clerk, where he assisted the firm's partners with research and clearance projects, familiarizing himself with the fair use doctrine. As a law clerk, Alex also devised several guides to assist Donaldson Callif Perez's clients to locate rights-holders of copyrighted materials, bridging the gap posed by the lack of orphan works legislation in the United States.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Board Member for the International Documentary Association and on the Advisory Board for the Generative AI Initiative
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 to entertainment law, copyright, artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge legal issues by various podcasts and publications, including 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 Latino Law Students Association.
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 serves as a board member for the International Documentary Association and on the Advisory Board for the Generative AI Initiative of the Archival Producers Alliance.
Chris lives in Los Angeles with his wife Maria, his two children Emery and Jack, and their dog Bill Paxton.
Dale joined the firm in 2019 as a clearance and intellectual property law specialist. A skillful and experienced problem-solver and a passionate advocate for free speech, Dale works with independent filmmakers, documentarians, podcasters, and artists to help them tell their stories - and express their art - their way. Prior to joining the firm, Dale spent over 25 years as in-house counsel at Warner Bros., most recently as Vice President and Senior Intellectual Property Counsel. At Warner Bros., she handled a wide variety of domestic and international intellectual property law and transactional matters across all business divisions of the company, providing advice and managing resolution on rights disputes, clearance, distribution, marketing, production, piracy, IP policy and legislative matters. The intellectual properties she managed included franchise properties such as Harry Potter and DC Comics, new feature and television series, and library classics. Prior to joining Warner Bros., Dale was a litigator with Los Angeles based firm Lyon & Lyon, handling trademark, copyright and patent cases, and prosecuting trademarks and copyrights for a varied industry client base. Dale has a particular expertise in international laws relating to copyright, trademark, rights of publicity, moral rights, free speech and fair use. She is a frequent speaker, lecturer, and panelist on a wide range of media and intellectual property topics, and has lectured at numerous universities and law schools including Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Southwestern, Loyola, and the University of Barcelona.
Herlinda Castagnoli joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2021. Driven by her love of film and the arts, Herlinda works in all areas of the firm's entertainment and media law practice, including rights clearance and production legal.
Herlinda received her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Loyola University New Orleans in 2019, where she majored in Political Science and Music Performance with a specialization in classical piano. After graduating, Herlinda went on to pursue her law degree at USC Gould School of Law. While in law school, Herlinda was a member of the Trademark Moot Court team and served on the boards of the Entertainment Law Association and Latino Law Students Association. During her time as a law student, Herlinda also served as a student mentor at Legal Education Access Pipeline where she mentored law school applicants largely from communities that are underrepresented in the legal industry.
Before receiving her JD with a certificate in Media and Entertainment Law from USC in 2022, Herlinda interned at Donaldson Callif Perez during her second summer and third year of law school. During that time, Herlinda gained experience with the fair use doctrine and assisted the firm in its clearance and production legal practices.
Herlinda currently lives in Los Angeles and enjoys spending her free time watching movies and television and seeing live music and comedy. She is grateful to be in the business of supporting filmmakers, producers and their creative goals.
Jacqueline Swett joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2021. Motivated by her love of culture and the arts, Jacqueline works in all areas of the firm's entertainment and media law practice, including rights clearance, production legal, and distribution.
Jacqueline received her undergraduate degree from Occidental College in 2014, where she majored in Art History & the Visual Arts. After graduating, Jacqueline worked in sales for a design company, where she discovered her passion for working in a creative industry. After several years working in sales, Jacqueline attended the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. While in law school, Jacqueline was president of the Gould Art Law Society and senior copy editor for the Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice.
Jamie Shepard joined the team at Donaldson Callif Perez in 2022. He works in all areas of the firm's entertainment and media law practice, advising clients through various stages of development, production, rights acquisition, clearance, and distribution.
Jamie received his B.S. from Florida State University in Finance and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where he focused on entertainment, sports, and technology. A lifelong supporter of the arts, Jamie spent his time in law school interning pro bono in the general counsel's office at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. After graduating law school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment law, beginning at United Talent Agency, and eventually working for entertainment litigation and transactional practices in town.
When he's not binging the latest television series, films, or documentaries, Jamie is an avid lover of the outdoors and enjoys playing soccer, surfing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, and taking advantage of the beautiful landscape in California and the West. He currently resides in Venice Beach with his dog, Cooper, and is proud to empower artists to express their creativity.
Jonathan joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2019. Jonathan works in all aspects of the firm's practice, including representing filmmakers and media companies through the various stages of production including development, rights acquisition, clearance, and distribution.
Prior to joining the firm, Jonathan was in-house counsel at Beachbody (the world's largest at-home fitness company), where he was responsible for all aspects of production for their premium digital content. This included the development and execution of fully involved requirements for new productions and negotiating partnership deals with large technology vendors for their streaming platform (VOD, SaaS, Cloud, and IT service agreements).
Jonathan graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in Political Science and, during that time, was also an active member of the FSU Marching Chiefs and Student Life Cinema. Following his undergraduate degree, Jonathan attended Quinnipiac University School of Law in Connecticut and was a member of the Civil Justice Clinic and a law clerk at the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. He pursued his passion for media law through his membership with the Sports and Entertainment Law Society and in his third year of law school, was the sole law clerk at ESPN. He received his Juris Doctorate in 2015 with an emphasis and honors in Intellectual Property Law.
Jonathan is driven by a lifelong devotion to the craft of storytelling, and has dedicated his career to the support and protection of that creative expression.
Kelly attended the University of California, Los Angeles and received her bachelor's degree in Music History. After spending four years working for film composer Lorne Balfe, Kelly attended the London School of Economics and Political Science where she earned her master's degree in Media and Communications. Emboldened by the changes she wanted to see in the entertainment industry, Kelly headed back to school, this time at the University of San Diego, School of Law, where she earned her J.D. in 2023.
Kelly currently lives in Los Angeles and is enjoying the renewed opportunity to experience all this vibrant city has to offer. When she's not binge watching the Great British Baking Show with her demanding cat, Blanche, she enjoys spending time outdoors and perusing her local farmer's market for dinnertime inspiration. Kelly joined the team at Donaldson Callif Perez as an intern in 2022 and is thrilled to be part of a passionate team invested in the success of independent filmmakers.
Job Titles:
- Am Everything ( Bungalow Entertainment )
Madison joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2021. Madison works in all areas of the firm's entertainment and media law practice, including rights acquisition, clearance, and distribution. Prior to joining the firm, Madison worked in Business and Legal Affairs at Media Arts Lab, where she advised on all aspects of production legal for a number of international marketing campaigns, and at Verizon Media Group, where she handled negotiations relating to development, financing, and distribution of the company's unscripted slate.
Madison received her B.A. in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University in 2010. After her time at LMU, Madison moved to South Carolina and enrolled in the Charleston School of Law, where she focused on constitutional law courses. After graduating summa cum laude from Charleston School of Law in 2013, Madison returned to Los Angeles and began her own boutique practice, where she counseled a roster of clients, which included apparel start-ups, co-working spaces, and an entertainment-related non-profit organization on a variety of legal matters.
In Fall 2023, Madison began teaching as an adjunct professor with USC's Gould School of Law. Her Entertainment Law course - part of the Master of Studies in Law program - provides nuanced insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the entertainment industry and the role of legal professionals in navigating them.
Madison is passionate about documentary films. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and dog.
Michael is an entertainment attorney who has been fighting for independent filmmakers for over 40 years. In addition to working on films by such industry icons as Oliver Stone, Davis Guggenheim and Lawrence Bender, Michael serves as General Counsel to Film Independent (home of the Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival) and the Writers Guild Foundation.
He is the industry's go-to attorney for fair use (a doctrine in United States copyright law permitting limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the rights holders) and other clearance- and rights-related issues.
Michael graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law, Boalt Hall in 1967. His book Clearance & Copyright, now in its fifth edition, is used in over 50 film schools and has become the standard industry reference book. Michael also wrote Negotiating for Dummies (now in its second edition and translated into eleven languages), Fearless Negotiating (published in hardback in 2007 by McGraw Hill) and The E-Z Legal Guide to Trademarks & Copyrights.
Founding partner Michael Donaldson changed the landscape of rights clearances for filmmakers when he successfully negotiated with major entertainment insurance providers to offer fair use endorsements on E&O insurance policies, allowing many films to be made utilizing the fair use doctrine.
Michael has been such a supporter of the independent film community that he was awarded the Amicus Award by the International Documentary Association.
Natalie joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2021. Natalie specializes in representing filmmakers through development, financing, production, rights acquisitions and distribution.
Natalie is passionate about helping independent film makers structure projects from the ground up to fruition. Prior to joining the firm, Natalie established her own production legal and business affairs practice specializing in film, television, and new media, where she guided domestic and international projects of all budget levels through financing, development, production and distribution. Natalie routinely negotiated rights acquisition agreements, investment agreements, talent agreements, above-the-line and below-the-line production documents, music licenses, composer agreements, and distribution agreements, and interfaced with guilds and unions on behalf of her clients. Her business affairs experience includes structuring offers for and negotiating deals with A-list talent, and creating the profit sharing structure for independently financed productions.
Natalie is also strongly skilled in negotiating settlements to resolve disputes. Formerly an intellectual property litigator, Natalie has prosecuted copyright and trademark claims, and has appeared before the Northern and Central United States District Courts of California.
Natalie graduated magna cum laude from UCLA in 2005 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Political Science, and obtained her J.D. from the U.C. Berkeley School of Law, Boalt Hall in 2008. She enjoys film festivals, and has been a SXSW Film Mentor offering one-on-one business affairs and legal guidance for filmmakers. Natalie is a yogi, and a mother of two.
Sarah Schwarzman joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2019. Fueled by her passion for storytelling and independent film, Sarah represents clients producing film, television, and web content primarily in matters concerning rights clearance, production legal, and distribution.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Sarah graduated from Boston University in 2010, majoring in film and television studies. After college, Sarah worked at The Gersh Agency in Film Finance & Distribution, assisting clients with packaging and selling distribution rights to their films. Sarah has also worked in scripted television production and produced a "parody" web-series that she now realizes likely constituted copyright infringement.
Thankfully, after sidelining her web-series dreams, Sarah attended Southwestern University School of Law where she graduated cum laude with an honors designation in Southwestern's Entertainment and Media Law JD concentration in 2020. While in law school, she served as Senior Lead Articles Editor of the Southwestern Law Review, received a Biederman Scholarship award from Southwestern's Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute for her academic achievements, and worked as a teaching assistant in legal writing. Additionally, Sarah interned at VICE studios in business affairs, Voltage Pictures with a focus on distribution agreements, and Donaldson Callif Perez, where she continues to work.
Sarah currently lives with her two mini-poodles, Herschel and Fievel, and is grateful to be in the business of empowering filmmakers and the creative process.
Victoria attended the University of California, Irvine and received her bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminology, Law, and Society in 2016. While attending USC Gould School of Law and earning her J.D. and Media and Entertainment Law Certificate, Victoria served as treasurer of the Entertainment Law Society, secretary of the Latinx Law Students Association, and was a semi-finalist and board member in USC Gould's Hale Moot Court Honors Program.
Before law school, Victoria worked as a legal assistant at a boutique bankruptcy firm in Orange County. During law school, she worked as a legal intern for California Lawyers for the Arts in 2021 and interned at Donaldson Callif Perez during her second summer and third year of law school. She has volunteered with the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law since 2021.
Victoria currently lives in Los Angeles where she enjoys spending time with friends and her Yorkshire Terrier, Archie. A lifelong lover of the arts, Victoria feels extremely lucky to be able to help creators shape and execute their vision.