Robert Seigel is an entertainment attorney who is a partner in the law firm Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP which specializes in film and theatre as well as television, publishing, art, new media and intellectual property matters on a transactional and litigation basis. He has represented such clients as directors, producers, writers, distribution companies and foreign sales agents concerning development, production, marketing, distribution and exploitation in film, television, music and new media.

He has represented the award-winning independent films “FORTY SHADES OF BLUE” (Capital Entertainment/First Look) directed by Ira Sachs and starring Rip Torn (winner of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Grand Jury Prize), “BROTHER TO BROTHER” (Wolfe Video) and “WHAT ALICE FOUND” starring Judith Ivey (Castle Hill). He has served as Production Counsel for such projects as “10 & WOLF” (ThinkFilm) starring James Marsden, Giovanni Ribisi and Brad Renfro with Dennis Hopper, "DUMMY" (Artisan/Lion's Gate/Curb Entertainment) starring Adrien Brody and Milla Jovovich, SWIMMERS” starring Sean Hatosy, Sarah Paulson and Cherry Jones (Skouas/Netflix/Sundance Channel) which had its world debut at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and “INTERVIEW” the Theo van Gogh remake directed by Steve Buscemi and starring Buscemi and Sienna Miller.

He has served as Production Counsel for such recent projects as "PHARAOH'S ARMY" (Cinepix Film Properties) starring Kris Kristofferson, Chris Cooper and Patricia Clarkson, “NATIONAL LAMPOON'S PLEDGE THIS!” starring Paris Hilton, “RUNAWAY BOYS” starring Aaron Stanford and Robin Tunney, and “WASHINGTON HEIGHTS” (MAC Releasing).


He has represented such documentaries as the critically and financially successful “ TREMBLING BEFORE G-D” (New Yorker Films), the Emmy-Award winning “TELLING NICHOLAS,” “SISTER HELEN,” the Academy Award-nominated documentary "ON TIPTOE: GENTLE STEPS TO FREEDOM,” “RUTHIE & CONNIE: EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE,” and “SHELTER DOGS,” the last five of which premiered on HBO/Cinemax.


He has also been involved in the development, marketing or distribution of the films “UNDER HELLGATE BRIDGE ” (CAVU Releasing/Lion's Gate Entertainment), "THE HOLY LAND" (CAVU Releasing/Hart Sharp Home Entertainment), and "DECEMBER BRIDE" (Fox Lorber/Orion Home Video). He consulted on the films “PIECES OF APRIL” (United Artists) and "EYE OF GOD" (Castle Hill) starring Martha Plimpton and Hal Holbrook and the documentaries “THE BRANDON TEENA STORY” (Zeitgeist Films) and “RHYME AND REASON” (Miramax).

Mr. Seigel has also represented the producer, director and/or screenwriter for such projects as the Academy Award-nominated "BLOOD TIES: THE LIFE AND ART OF SALLY MANN," (Strand Releasing), “IT HAD TO BE YOU" starring Natasha Henstridge and Michael Vartan (Regent Entertainment), “MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA” (Tartan Films) starring Randy Quaid and which won the Critic's Prize at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, "WEDDING BAND" starring Deborah Gibson, Dom DeLuise and Mo Gaffney, (Atmosphere Entertainment), "DIRTY LAUNDRY" (Trident Releasing/Artistic License) starring Jay Thomas and Tess Harper) and "DEAR JESSE" (Cowboy Booking International/Cinemax).

Mr. Seigel has represented such television projects as the ABC News "TURNING POINT" special "MASTER THIEF: ART OF THE HEIST," the "GREAT PERFORMANCES" specials "SAM SHEPPARD: STALKING HIMSELF," the Duke Ellington tribute, "SWINGIN' WITH DUKE" (PBS) and "BRAVO PROFILES: JULIE TAYMOR" (Bravo).

Mr. Seigel has written articles on business and legal topics for such publications as INDIE SLATE (for which he is a Contributing Editor), Entertainment Law & Finance , The Independent (for which he was a Contributing Editor), the magazine for the Foundation for Independent Film and Video, The Off-Hollywood Reporter/FILMMAKER, the magazine for the Independent Feature Project, International Documentary (the magazine for the International Documentary Association) and The Benjamin Cardozo Journal of Arts & Entertainment Law. Mr. Seigel has lectured on issues concerning the motion picture industry at the School of Visual Arts , the Association for Independent Film & Video, the Independent Feature Project, the Avignon /New York Film Festival, New York University , Seton Hall Law School and the School of Visual Arts .

His other clients include writers, directors, producers, composers, film and video distributors/sales agents, a marketing company and music companies.

ROBERT L. SEIGEL
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
COWAN, DEBAETS, ABRAHAMS & SHEPPARD LLP
41 MADISON AVENUE —34TH FLOOR
NEW YORK , NY 10019