Ed Labowitz, who in 2005 rejoined the firm in which he was a partner from 1994-1998, is a 1970 graduate of The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs of Princeton University and received his J.D. in 1973 from Boalt Hall School of Law of the University of California at Berkeley.
Ed started his career as a litigator at Loeb & Loeb. From 1976-1980, he was assistant counsel and then Vice President, Business Affairs of the production and distribution operations of Filmways Television. In 1982, he became Vice President, Business Affairs of ABC Motion Pictures, until he returned to private law practice in 1985.
Between 1985 and the present, Ed has been a partner at Gipson, Hoffman & Pancione, Coudert Brothers, LLP, and this firm.
Ed’s clients have included entertainment companies from the United States and over 25 countries. He has advised clients in such areas as co-production and film financing, film library acquisitions, television network and syndication agreements, domestic and foreign independent and studio distribution arrangements, copyright matters, theatrical stage and live event productions, and the creation of and licensing activities of domestic and foreign cable and satellite television networks and platforms.
Ed’s practice includes representation of international telecasters, producers, distributors, writers, directors, and actors.
Ed represented the Independent Producers Association (affiliated with AFMA, now known as I.F.T.A) in its successful negotiations with the Directors Guild of America in creating the first collectively negotiated low budget independent agreement between producers and the DGA.
In his spare time, Ed plays guitar and banjo and sings in clubs with a ‘60’s style folk music trio.