Ted Baer Biography

Ted Baer Law is an entertainment law firm that specializes in handling legal and business negotiations and documentation (including rights negotiations, which includes, without limitation, negotiations for film and television libraries, talent negotiations, production financing, distribution and completion bond agreements, and production legal) for entertainment companies producing television and feature film projects - including, without limitation, feature and TV documentaries; and also for television and feature film performers, writers, directors, animators, photographers, and producers, in connection with television feature film (including, without limitation, documentary features/clearance for films), interactive media, the internet, licensing and merchandising projects, the representation of individual performers and producers creating entrepreneurial ventures, including drafting of business plans.

J. A. Ted Baer, the founder and principal of the firm, is admitted to both the New York State Bar and the California State Bar, He began his law practice in New York as a judge advocate for the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Upon leaving the Navy, Ted wrote and produced an album of songs, before joining the law department of Columbia Pictures in New York City. A year later he joined the law firm of Arrow, Silverman and Parcher as an associate. In 1976, he left the firm to join the business affairs department of CBS Entertainment in New York, where he eventually ran the New York branch of the department. In 1981, CBS promoted Ted to Vice President, Business Affairs and transferred him to Los Angeles. In 1983, he became Vice President in charge of all business affairs for MGM/UA Television, leaving in 1984 to start his own production company, where he wrote and developed a number of film and television projects. He returned to United Artists in 1985 to help run its new television business affairs office, and finally started his own law firm in 1987, specializing in film and television negotiations.

In addition to practicing law, Ted has written and is producing two screenplays, published a collection of poetry, and had a brief stint at acting with his first (and only) feature role in Ken Loach's "Bread and Roses." Although Ted resides in Santa Barbara, he spends a good deal of time in Los Angeles working with his clients on their projects. Ted has two grown sons, who both excel in their own entrepreneurial ventures and his interests include tennis, writing, cooking and playing the piano. In addition to his law practice, Ted is presently writing short stories, a new screenplay, and new songs He completed his first short story- “For Esme – No Squalor, Just Love” which is being considered for publication by several magazines. He has also completed four new songs which he performs occasionally at open mikes.

Ted is a member of the California State Bar Association and has been on the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Santa Barbara Channels (Public Access Television) (where he was the Board Chair), and the Santa Barbara Symphony.

Educational History

Bachelor of Arts

  • Middlebury College

  • Middlebury, Vermont

Juris Doctorate

  • Duke University Law School

  • Durham, North Carolina

Companies

  • Columbia Pictures Industries
    1974-1975

  • CBS Entertainment
    1976-1983

  • MGM/UA Entertainment
    1983-1984

  • Ted Baer Productions

    1984-1986

  • MGM/UA Television
    f/k/a United Artists Television
    1986-1987

Law Firms

  • SOLE PRACTITIONER, Santa Barbara / Los Angeles
    1987 to Present

  • OF COUNSEL to LAPOLT LAW / Los Angeles
    1/02 to 12/09

  • OF COUNSEL to THE FOX LAW GROUP, AND LAW OFFICE OF MARK TEMPLE, Los Angeles
    1/99 to 12/01

  • OF COUNSEL to COOPER, EPSTEIN & HUREWITZ
    / Los Angeles
    7/92 to 12/93

  • Sole PRACTITIONER/office arrangement with GIPSON, HOFFMAN & PANCIONE / Los Angeles
    1990/92

  • ASSOCIATE WITH ARROW, SILVERMAN & PARCHER / New York City
    1975