Cliff Lovette is a seasoned executive-level attorney with a wide-array of sophisticated Internet, media, entertainment, ...
Cliff Lovette
404-583-4095 (mobile)
[email protected] www.linkedin.com/in/clifflovette
In-House Counsel Summary A seasoned executive-level attorney with a wide-array of sophisticated Internet, media, entertainment, and technology transactional experience.
Select Qualifications Created and managed three in-house legal departments designed to fast track deal-making, reducing turnaround times by up to 40%. Instituted best practices to craft and revise 100+ practical, readable agreement templates in high tech, e-commerce, digital media and entertainment sectors. Provided executive-level strategic legal counsel that reduced high-cost outside firm charges by 45%, saving over $250,000+ annually in legal fees. Entrusted by company leaders to spearhead negotiations for dozens of $10,000,000+ contracts. Established and cultivated user-friendly/open-door rapport with employees and executives, resulting in honors such as “Executive Employee of the Year”.
Professional Experience Macquarium, Inc., Atlanta, GA 2010-2014 Macquarium is a user experience firm that creates cutting-edge solutions for clients such as Deloitte, Lowe’s, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Yahoo, and Chick-Fil-A.
General Counsel Reported to the COO and Chairman/Owner; managed a wide range of deal-making activities and HR support
services that included creating and negotiating master services agreements, statements of work, employment/contractor/vendor agreements, and various other agreement templates. Revised and modernized contract templates that fast-tracked negotiations and vastly improved internal, vendor, and client contract compliance and administration by over 50%. Provided HR legal support, advised senior executives, and managed outside counsel resources, reducing legal costs by over 40%. Provided additional General Counsel services to affiliated e-commerce companies, such as Misterart.com, Art Supply Network, and Texas Art Supply. Delivered production-related legal services to a motion picture CG animation studio, Electric Eye Entertainment.
Defintion6, Inc., Atlanta, GA 2011-2012 Definition6 provides award-winning new media and digital marketing solutions for clients such as HBO, Univision, Nickelodeon, Turner, GE, Mitsubishi, Coca-Cola, and Facebook.
General Counsel (part time) • Created in-house legal department that reduced outside legal expenses by 75% and $100,000+ and significantly reduced avoidable legal risks; led transactional contracting activities, and advised HR services. • Reporting to the COO and CEO/owner, cultivated a highly supportive in-house legal culture. • Revised entire array of legal document templates; fast-tracked legal review and approvals processes.
Cliff Lovette, Page 2 Lovette Entertainment Law Group, Ltd. Atlanta, GA 1999 -2010 Lovette Entertainment Law Group was a boutique firm representing emerging and high profile clients in music, film, TV, radio, literary and digital media.
Attorney/Founder • Managed this three attorney boutique firm with clients that included Usher, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Antonio “LA” Reid. • Spearheaded negotiations of multi-million dollar recording agreements, motion picture performance agreements, sponsorship agreements, merchandising agreements, TV appearances, and concert tours and promotions, and literary and life rights acquisition deals. LaFace Records, Inc. Atlanta, GA LaFace Records was one of the most successful joint venture record labels in the U.S.
1992-1998
SVP – Legal and Business Affairs Reported to CEO and industry legend, Antonio “LA” Reid; created their in-house legal department and was recognized at the Executive Employee of the Year. Provided across-the-board legal services in support of international platinum and multi-platininum recording artists such as Usher, OutKast, Toni Braxton, Pink, and TLC. Negotiated multi-million dollar agreements with the industry’s top entertainment counsel and motion picture and record industry executives. Cultivated approachable, employee-friendly rapport with company’s creative and administrative personnel. Katz, Smith & Cohen, PC Atlanta, GA Katz, Smith & Cohen was a premier boutique entertainment law firm.
1989-1992
Senior Associate Reported to internationally recognized entertainment attorney, Joel Katz. Provided transactional legal services to firm’s high profile entertainment clients, including Willie Nelson, Dallas Austin, Waylon Jennings, and Jimmy Buffet. Entrusted with primary representation of many of firm’s clients while spearheading the upgrade of many of the firm’s contracting templates.
Education Doctor of Law B.A. – Philosophy
Emory University Atlanta, GA Tufts University
Medford, MA
