Kurt R. Klaus, Esq., Partner, Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, PLLC

Kurt R. Klaus, Esq., is a media/entertainment business and legal affairs attorney – backed by years of in-house, law firm, and Of Counsel experience. He was Director, Business and Legal Affairs at 21st Century FOX/National Geographic Channels for four and one-half years.

Acknowledging that media is ever changing- Kurt believes it is a privilege to work on media/entertainment matters that bring new challenges at a rapid pace- viewing these as means to learn, lead, and grow and thus opportunities to help clients advance their endeavors at a timely pace. Kurt uses a proactive approach to identify and implement collaborative and often cross-functional solutions and risk mitigation options. He simultaneously supports senior executives and multiple other stakeholders across a variety of matters.

Kurt provides business and legal counsel mirroring the needs of emerging and conventional media/content landscapes. He designs, implements, and supports legal frameworks for digital and conventional media content and related asset development, creation, production, distribution, and exploitation. He supports legal aspects of neighboring branding, marketing, and social media functions and partnerships including direct-to-digital production and influencer engagements.

Kurt regularly functions as lead attorney on domestic and international transactions involving many of the world’s leading media companies and provides creative and practical guidance with related legal and business strategies. He has been legal counsel to top world brand corporate marketing departments, in-house legal departments, social media departments, deal leads of branded content, television networks, content syndication/licensing departments, independent producers, production companies, web designers, TV talent, musicians, music composers, recording studios, digital game developers, and media entrepreneurs on a wide variety of media, intellectual property, project financing, and corporate organization matters.

Outside of legal practice, Kurt was an executive in two mid-sized media production and distribution companies and functioned as a producer, assistant director, and production manager of television commercials and corporate films (140+ projects), earning 16 regional and national awards. Kurt also worked in the production departments of multiple LA-based studio feature films. In addition to a Juris Doctor, Kurt holds a M.S. in Communications (Advertising) and a B.S. in Recording Industry.