Janis Nelson represents clients across a broad spectrum of the entertainment industry, including major motion picture studios, independent production companies, producers and creators of animated, new media and multi-platform content and special effects, individual and institutional film, television  and stage producers, book and screenwriters, film, television, stage and commercial directors and performers, and documentary filmmakers.

Ms. Nelson speaks at professional conferences addressing issues such as motion picture financing and production, negotiation of entertainment agreements, and legal ethics issues for entertainment lawyers. In 2012 she was a guest lecturer at Chapman University on the legal aspects of film production.

Ms. Nelson is currently Board Chair of Jewish Women’s Theater in Los Angeles, and has served on the boards of the Los Angeles Ballet, Women In Film and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.

Ms. Nelson is based at the CDAS office in Beverly Hills.

EMPLOYMENT

• Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP, Beverly Hills, CA 2011-present
• Law Offices of Janis C. Nelson, Los Angeles, CA 2005–2011
• Special Project Of Counsel, Kaye Scholer, Los Angeles, CA 2010-2011
• Special Project Of Counsel, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Los Angeles, CA 2009
• Outside Counsel, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Los Angeles, CA 1997-2008
• Special Project Contract Lawyer, Manatt Phelps & Phillips/Mattel Corp., El Segundo, CA 1996-1997
• Wender and Associates, Los Angeles, CA 1994-1996
• Sinclair Tenenbaum, Los Angeles, CA 1989-1993
• Denton Hall Burgin & Warrens, Los Angeles, CA 1987-1989
• Sidley & Austin, Los Angeles, CA 1986-1987

BAR ADMISSIONS

• California (1986)

EDUCATION

• UCLA School of Law, 1986 Los Angeles, CA J.D.
• Articles Editor, Federal Communications Law Journal
• Barnard College, Columbia University, 1971 New York, NY B.A.