Damien Alexander Email and Phone Number

A boutique law practice primarily handling real estate and business transactions, as well as media and entertainment law matters. Extensive experience focusing on business and commercial transactions, including core business functions such as employment, corporate governance, contract negotiations and content rights management. Cutting-edge expertise handling and negotiating business and legal affair transactions in the areas of entertainment (music, television and film), emerging media, and technology law, including digital media rights, content production, licensing, marketing and distribution, social media, and intellectual property. Representing a broad range of corporate and entertainment clients from individuals (talent and producers) and startups to multi-million dollar companies through all phases of strategy formulation, including equity through execution. Handle commercial and residential real estate settlements in DC, MD and VA.

A dedicated public servant who serves as a fire rescue volunteer with 20+ years of experience training and supervising probationary and junior fire rescue personnel; standing watch as a duty night Sergeant; responding to, operating in, and managing highly-trained teams in high-stress and immediate danger to life and health environments; and as a 10+-year member of the fire department’s board of directors, serving in a principal leadership role in the overall management of the fire department.

Providing leadership and oversight for the Office of the General Counsel on all agency legal matters. Lead negotiator of the District's Cable Franchise Agreements and/or renewals thereof with Comcast, Verizon, RCN and any future cable or open video system franchisee. Drafting new legislation and regulations, and amendments to existing laws or regulations to implement OCTFME's statutory mission to (i) regulate cable service, (ii) produce content for and manage Public, Educational and Governmental Channels DCN, DCC and DKN and (iii) foster the development of a sustainable creative economy and entertainment/media industry in the District including the administration of the DC Film, Television and Entertainment Rebate Fund and other initiatives. Participate in hearings before the D.C. City Council and Council Committees, concerning OCTFME operations, annual performance, budgets and various matters within the purview of the agency. Advise and consult with OCTFME Director and the Executive Office of the Mayor including Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel, as necessary, on all Regulatory/Legislative and other matters impacting the agency and its initiatives. Daily supervision of Regulatory Team personnel including OCTFME’s consumer services manager, cable inspector and community engagement specialist. Provide legal advice regarding all matters relating to the administration and awards under the D.C. Film, Television and Entertainment Rebate Fund Program. Support Associate Director of Entertainment in structuring and drafting MOUs with other District agencies and non-government entities. Act as OCTFME's FOIA Officer. Chief legal advisor to the OCTFME Director of Operations in overseeing agency’s risk management issues, plans and protocols. Primary responsibility for agency ethics filings and disclosures as well as providing ongoing advice to management and employees regarding District and federal ethics laws.

Senior legal advisor providing virtual general counsel services to media and non-media companies. Provide advice and counsel to clients regarding potential legal risks in connection with their current business operations and strategic planning goals. Negotiated and drafted various talent agreements, composer agreements, and content production and distribution agreements including, but not limited to, film, television series, and digital content. Drafted and negotiated technology-related agreements including, but not limited to, SaaS Agreements, Master Services Agreements, Software Licensing and Maintenance Agreements, TOU and Privacy Policies in connection with clients’ digital and IT operations. Provided transactional and litigation services to clients in connection with prosecuting and resolving clients’ intellectual property enforcement matters on behalf of major music publishers, record labels and book publishers.

Key member of BET's legal team handling critical areas of the company’s corporate operations including business transactions, content distribution & marketing matters, original and acquired programming matters, employment matters, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate governance matters. Provided strategic guidance on workflows and processes to adapt to changing media and content marketing and distribution landscape. Legal advisor to BET Executives and Viacom Content Distribution & Marketing Group with respect to BET’s affiliate relations matters, with responsibility for advising company of its rights and MFN obligations with respect to carriage agreements with U.S., Caribbean, and Canadian distribution partners. Negotiated company’s inbound and outbound licensing of IP related matters including, but not limited to, trademarks, copyrights, television series, motion pictures, and original programming. Licensed digital media products and services to facilitate the distribution and monetization of BET content across multiple non-linear platforms, as well as the management and delivery of BET Mobile Advertisements. Negotiated complex production-related agreements and provided production counsel oversight with respect to BET scripted and unscripted programming such as Changing Lanes a competition docu-series chronicling the search for the next generation of women and minority race car drivers for a spot on Max Siegel’s NASCAR Revolution Racing Team. Principal legal advisor and business partner to the company’s executive leadership team regarding all employment matters, including negotiating and drafting executive employment agreements, leading internal investigations, ensuring compliance with state and federal labor laws. Oversaw all BET litigation matters to include the retention, management, and evaluation of outside counsel. Member of several Viacom Task Force overseeing Privacy, Global Content Distribution and Employment Matters.

Senior legal advisor to client’s General Counsel and business development team regarding the distribution of the client’s Networks and its program services. Advised clients of potential legal risk in connection with their current business operations and strategic planning goals. Negotiated and drafted various production services agreements, security agreements, sponsorship agreements, composer agreements, and music and film license agreements. Provided oversight and/or handled various civil litigation matters for clients. Represented and advised various small businesses, for-profit and non-profit, regarding general legal matters, including, but not limited to, corporate organization, financing, debt collections, employment matters, intellectual property, and governmental regulations and obligations in court and administrative proceedings.

Negotiated and drafted various production services agreements, security agreements, sponsorship agreements, composer agreements, and music and film license agreements for clients. Provided oversight of outside counsel and/or handled various civil litigation matters for clients, including, but not limited to, research and analysis, review of responsive pleadings, discovery response preparations, and settlement negotiations. Analyzed and resolved potential liability issues related to the theatrical and original programming on BET. Represented and advised various small businesses regarding general legal matters, including, but not limited to, corporate organization, financing, debt collections, employment matters, intellectual property and governmental regulations and obligations.

Provided legal research; drafted motions, memoranda and discovery requests. Analyzed discovery responses and deposition materials. Deposed witnesses, and counseled clients on civil litigation matters, primarily in professional malpractice defense cases and related insurance coverage disputes. Assisted small and start up business clients in business planning and intellectual property matters. Represented defendants in D.C. Superior Court under the Criminal Justice Act.