Kendra Dousette

Accomplished attorney with a comprehensive background in the entertainment industry, specalizing in contract negotiation and review, developing legal frameworks for business, and implementing compliance stragegies and policies.

Sierra/Affinity LLC, an Entertainment One/Hasbro Company, Los Angeles, CA 2015 – 2024

Senior Vice-President of Business and Legal Affairs

Managed business and legal affairs for motion picture development, production, sales, financing, distribution, marketing, and publicity; specialized in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements. Analyzed intellectual property rights and territory issues aligning with company policies and applicable U.S. and international laws. Developed strategies for contractual disputes, claims management, and litigation oversight.

Prepared detailed legal memoranda, contract summaries, spreadsheets, and reports.

• Negotiated and secured multi-million-dollar distribution agreements with major U.S. studios and major U.S. streamers, including Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Netflix, Amazon, and Apple +.
• Finalized lucrative agency agreements for in-house and third-party independent productions for U.S. and international sales of dozens of high and low budget films.
• Drafted and negotiated writer, director, actor, and rights agreements for multiple in-house productions in compliance with the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America, and Writer’s Guild of America collective bargaining agreements.
• Reviewed and finalized vendor agreements for VFX and other service providers, software licensing agreements for rights management databases and collection agencies, as well as agreements relating to employment, including employment agreements and termination/settlement agreements.

Partner

Oversaw all business and legal matters for motion picture development, production, and distribution. Negotiated deals and drafted agreements across various industry roles, including acquisitions of underlying rights, licensing, marketing, publicity, and employment. Provided corporate and financial advisory services, including the formation of special purpose entities and structuring co-financing arrangements.

• Secured significant investments through a meticulously drafted development and production investment agreements for several mid-level budget productions.
• Established a California LLC for a film production projects, ensuring legal and tax compliance, and drafted operating agreements tailored to client specifications.
• Performed copyright registration and recordation of documents with United States Copyright Office.

Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs

Led domestic and international distribution operations, focusing on contract negotiation and distribution agreement drafting. Supervised delivery processes and distributor compliance to uphold contract standards. Innovated gross receipts participation models, improving financial oversight and distributor accountability.

• Enhanced contractual frameworks for international distribution deals, increasing compliance rates and reducing conflicts.
• Developed and implemented gross receipts participation models that optimized revenue tracking and improved financial transparency for stakeholders.

Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs

Directed business and legal affairs for a diverse portfolio of film projects, managing both high and low-budget productions. Evaluated and resolved intellectual property issues, ensuring alignment with advertising, publicity, and promotional requirements and restrictions. Led legal discussions and contract preparations for U.S. and international distribution.

• Streamlined intellectual property evaluation processes, significantly reducing legal discrepancies and enhancing marketing campaign efficiency.
• Played a pivotal role in establishing and refining U.S. and international distribution agreements, fostering better relationships with distributors and enhancing market penetration.

Legal Assistant

• Conducted legal research and analysis of relevant issues connected with workers’ compensation claims and drafted court documents such as requests for hearing and deposition, as well as legal correspondence.
• Maintained contacts with insurance companies and their attorneys to assure prompt payments of benefits to clients.

Juris Doctor

Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA

Bachelor of Arts in English Literature

California State University, Northridge, CA