294.2 sec. 001 - Entertainment Law in the TV Industry (Fall 2026)
Instructor: Rafael Gomez (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 1
Grading Designation: Credit Only
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meetings:
F 3:10 PM - 6:10 PM
Location: Law 132
From October 16, 2026
To October 23, 2026
Sa 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Law 132
From October 17, 2026
To October 24, 2026
Course End: October 24, 2026
Class Number: 32864
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 39
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 81
As of: 06/06 07:37 AM
Taught by a practicing Los Angeles entertainment attorney, this course will introduce students to the day-to-day practice of entertainment law in the television industry. Through a combination of lectures and in-class negotiations, students will explore (i) the legal basis and structure of key television agreements (e.g., writer, producer, director, and actor deals), (ii) best practices for successfully negotiating these entertainment agreements, and (iii) other key legal issues that arise in connection with the development, production, and distribution of TV content. By the end of this course, students should be able to identify, analyze, and propose solutions to the most common issues that arise in the day-to-day practice of entertainment law in TV.
INSTRUCTOR: Rafael Gómez-Cabrera serves as Executive Vice President and Head of Business Affairs, at AMC Networks ("Mad Men", "The Walking Dead", "Breaking Bad", "Interview with The Vampire") in Los Angeles, California. He is also the former head of business affairs at USA, SYFY and Peacock part of NBC Universal. His practice over the last two decades has focused on the entertainment industry and involves negotiating writer, actor, director, and other entertainment agreements with Hollywood agents and attorneys. Prior to entering the entertainment field, Rafael was an attorney in the mergers & acquisitions department at Baker & McKenzie’s Chicago office and a management consultant at McKinsey & Company’s Chicago & Miami offices. Mr. Gómez-Cabrera holds a J.D. from Harvard University.
We also have special academic rules for these condensed courses:
-Students must attend each course session and cannot attend any course session remotely (even for illness or emergency situations).
-The Registrar’s Office will drop a student who does not attend each course session.
Due to the condensed nature of this course, in-person attendance at all course sessions is mandatory. Absences cannot be excused for any reason, including illness or emergencies. The Registrar’s Office will drop any student who misses a session.
Attendance at the first class is mandatory for all currently enrolled and waitlisted students; any currently enrolled or waitlisted students who are not present on the first day of class (without prior permission of the instructor) will be dropped. The instructor will continue to take attendance throughout the add/drop period and anyone who moves off the waitlist into the class must continue to attend or have prior permission of the instructor in order not to be dropped.
Exam Notes: (TH) Take-home Final Exam
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 3 hours
Course Category: Intellectual Property and Technology Law
If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment.
Class materials may also be available on bCourses.berkeley.edu
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Required Books are in blue
- The Business of Television
Ken Basin
Edition: Second Edition 2025
Publisher: Focal Press
ISBN: 9781032012988
e-Book Available: unknown
Price: $45.00
Note: prices are sampled from internet bookstores. Law-school Bookstore prices are unavailable at this time.