DWTSurge Contract Entertainment Production Attorney (Los Angeles)

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking an experienced entertainment production attorney for engagement through the firm's alternative-track contract attorney and staffing program, DWTSurge. The selected attorney will work with the firm's Media & Entertainment practice group and be dedicated to supporting a large institutional client with unscripted television production matters. The selected attorney will be expected to work on-site and on-set in Los Angeles, CA during filming but may otherwise work remotely. Attorneys must hold active bar admission in California.

This contract position will support one of the firm's institutional clients with legal production matters for an unscripted competition television production. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: negotiating and drafting production agreements, including above-the-line agreements for talent, hosts, and producers; license agreements; appearance and materials releases; location agreements; and vendor agreements; and providing hands-on clearance, risk, and practical legal guidance during production to support creative, production, and other client teams.

This role is client facing and requires a high-level of commitment to excellent client service and responsiveness. Applicants must have demonstrated practical experience handling production legal in unscripted television programming and be comfortable and skilled at managing multiple competing priorities, meeting expedited deadlines, and have a demonstrated attention to detail. Attorneys should be able to work independently and exercise good judgement, but should also collaborate easily with various business stakeholders, other lawyers, and support staff to meet objectives within short deadlines.

This at-will contract position requires the selected attorney to be available for full-time on-site and on-set work in Los Angeles, CA for approximately 6 months (currently scheduled from May - August 2026 and again from November - December 2026, subject to change). For the remainder of the contract, available work is expected to be part-time and as-needed and may be performed remotely. While the engagement is at-will, there is a possibility of an extension or renewal of the contract for successful candidates, although any extension or renewal is not guaranteed. We are looking for attorneys interested in establishing a long-term, alternative track working relationship with DWT on an exclusive basis.

The ideal candidate will have:

• 5+ years of unscripted television production legal experience either in-house with a studio or production company or with a major law firm or established entertainment boutique law firm.
• Residency in Los Angeles and active bar admission in California.
• Demonstrated experience managing unscripted television production matters. Experience with competition shows and live and/or recorded shows in front of a live audience preferred but not required.
• Entertainment transactional experience including familiarity with clearance work, licensing, SAG rules, and a variety of production legal issues.
• Ability to draft, respond to, and revise agreement drafts quickly to meet the client's often-expedited timelines.
• Ability to handle multiple contracts and transactions while managing excellent follow-up and follow-through practices.
• Availability to work full-time on-site hours in LA during the contract period for approximately 6 months (currently from May-August 2026 and November-December 2026, subject to change).
• Availability to work part-time remote hours during the contract period outside of the on-site dates.
• Availability to adhere to a regular schedule and availability for occasional work on evenings or weekends, if and as needed.
• Strong ability to support and stay connected with a remote, distributed team.
• High-level of responsiveness and client service abilities.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent writing skills, strong attention to detail, and ability to produce high quality work product with minimal supervision and direction.

Please note that this is a contract position managed by DWT's flexible attorney program, DWTSurge. Compensation will be paid on a fixed salary basis, commensurate with experience and skill level (see below). This role is eligible for benefits. Due to the structure of the DWTSurge program, DWTSurge employees are not eligible for the firm's pro bono, DEI, and other activities or opportunities outside of the above stated scope of work. We are interested in candidates electing to pursue a more flexible way of providing continuous, high-value legal services to the firm and our clients. If you are interested in a more traditional law firm position, please check the DWT careers page for lateral opportunities.

Salary Range

The annual salary range for this position in California is $135,000 - 150,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate's education, training, experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Additional benefits include:

• First Stop Health Telemedicine: Speak with a licensed physician or mental health counselor 24/7, covered by the firm
• TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program: Receive support with mental, financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing
• Voluntary Pet Insurance
• Milk Stork: Virtual lactation consulting, breast milk shipping and nutritional testing covered by the firm

Wellness Benefits:

• Peloton App
• Headspace App

CALIFORNIA STATE AND WASHINGTON STATE

Paid sick leave is accrued on a biweekly basis at a rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked.

All applications should be submitted via LinkedIn or by sending a resume and cover letter directly to DWTSurge Recruiter, Zo Melcher at zoemelcher@dwt.com. The DWTSurge Recruiting team will be in touch as we review your application materials.

We are not accepting third party submissions for this opportunity.

We are an AmLaw 100 law firm with eleven offices nationwide. We are relentlessly committed to client service and look for candidates who share that commitment. At DWT, client service means having empathy for each client's and each lawyer's work and personal pressures, business objectives, and legal needs; anticipating their needs; and having the capabilities and commitment to deliver what matters most to them.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. It brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP fosters a culture where all talented individuals-including those who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession-can have, and can see, paths to success. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion sits on four pillars: Community, Growth, Education, and Engagement. Learn more about the firm's commitment to DEI here: www.dwt.com/dei.

In order to support our effort to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive law firm, we request that you voluntarily provide demographic data. All self-reported demographic information is stored securely in a manner that is compliant with DWT's privacy and security policies and is only accessible by authorized members of the Talent Acquisition and HR Departments; it is not shared with any of the hiring decision-makers.

It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment-related decisions without regard to an employee's sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws. To review our Anti-Harassment Policy, click on this URL, https://www.dwt.com/-/media/files/policyagainstharassmentdiscrimination.pdf?la=en&hash=66A1B0095748A5E76B0B8A00773F5246.

As an equal opportunity employer, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP values the diversity of our work force and the knowledge of our personnel. Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for specialty occupation petitions are displayed electronically in accordance with notice requirements pursuant to U.S. Department of Labor regulations, and public access files are available pursuant to regulation. See 20 CFR * 655.734, 655.760.

Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email humanresources@dwt.com.