Katherine Imp

Representative Matters

• Represented the nation's largest nonprofit media organization for Black Americans, reaching 9 million people across multiple platforms, in its production and distribution of media content, including its popular podcasts, as well as its partnerships with other media companies
• Counseled a billion-dollar video-sharing website in its partnerships with high-profile talent, and related SAG-AFTRA compliance matters
• Represented global toy production company in the negotiation of several content production and distribution arrangements, including its multi-project slate arrangement with Walt Disney Pictures and content licensing arrangements with Netflix and other major film studios
• Represented the largest radio station group owner in the United States, in its multi-podcast slate arrangements with media companies like Shondaland, and high-profile talent like Bethenny Frankel and Bruce Bozzi
• Represented American professional basketball player in his financial investments and partnerships in the entertainment industry
• Counseled global toy production company on production, distribution and marketing matters relating to its unscripted format series, which has been adapted by 17 different countries around the world
• Represented Internet and technology company and its global portfolio of brands in a number of its athlete, influencer and celebrity partnerships
• Represented a small media company offering an immersive cinematic dining experience that curates multi-course menus with movie favorites like Ratatouille, Shrek, and Soul Food, in their IP licensing arrangements with major film studios
• Represented multinational corporation and technology company in securing nearly 1 million square feet of studio production space throughout the United States for the production of original content for its streaming platform, including Silvercup Studios and Kaufman Studios in New York, and 7th Street Studios in Los Angeles
• Represented an independent production company in the negotiation of several content production and distribution arrangements, including the documentary feature, Halftime with Jennifer Lopez, the cooking competition, Cooked with Cannabis, and the comedy variety special, Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate, starring Lily Tomlin, Snoop Dogg, Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Neil Patrick Harris and Chelsea Handler, among others
• Represented a leading global children's entertainment company in its multi-podcast slate arrangement with Wondery, which included some of its most popular intellectual property
• Represented an award-winning VFX, digital animation and motion capture company in its production and distribution of movies, game trailers and commercials
• Represented subscription and transaction-based content distribution companies in connection with the acquisition of streaming, on-demand and sell-thru distribution rights for various film and television content
• Represented the world's largest recruiter to the environmental movement in its production and distribution of social media content, television specials and live events, including its partnerships with major television networks like the Discovery Channel and CNN

Outside of her practice, Kate serves as an adjunct professor at USC Gould School of Law, where she teaches LAW 689: Digital Media Transactions. This course provides students with practical foundations through a series of in-class contract negotiation exercises and doctrinal foundations through readings and class lectures. Kate's mentorship of these students often extends beyond the classroom, as she continues to provide her students with mentorship as they enter the workforce.

Kate is also a sponsor and advocate of Unlocked Foundation, a women-founded organization that connects women professionals across different industries with a particular focus on building financial literacy. This included speaking at the Sports, Media & Entertainment Summit in East Hampton, New York, in 2024, which welcomed more than 100 women and their allies and offered educational workshops, insightful panel discussions, and valuable networking opportunities to help attendees close the wealth gap.

Teaching Experience

USC Gould School of Law

• Adjunct Professor, LAW 689, Digital Media Transactions, (2023 – present)
• Guest Lecturer, Entertainment Law in Practice, (2021)
• Guest Lecturer, Entertainment Dealmaking, (2017)

USC Marshall School of Business

• Guest Lecturer, BAEP 475: Entertainment Entrepreneurship, (2015 – present)
• Guest Lecturer, BAEP 460: Seminar in Entrepreneurship, (2021)
• Guest Lecturer, BAEP 450: Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship, (2020)
• Guest Lecturer, BAEP 423: Management of Small Businesses, (2014 – 2019)

UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television, Professional Programs

• Guest Lecturer, Contracts and Negotiations for Entertainment, (2020)

UCLA Extension, Certificates in Entertainment

• Guest Lecturer, The Art and Business of Producing, (2020)

Loyola Marymount University, Business Pathways

• Guest Lecturer, Entrepreneurship in Entertainment: Entertainment Law, (2019)

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

• Adjunct Faculty, Business Law, (2014 – 2017)

Hussian College, Relativity School

• Guest Lecturer, Entertainment Law, (2017)

University of Illinois College of Law

• Teaching Assistant, Legal Writing & Analysis, (2008)

Outward Bound

• Wilderness Instructor, Intercept Expeditions for At-Risk Youth, (2007)

• Author, "Top Billing for NFTs," Los Angeles Lawyer, May 2022
• Co-author, "Exploring the metaverse: What laws will apply?" Chambers and Partners, February 2022
• Author, "Networking with Strangers: 6 Ways to Meet People in a New City," Brazen, March 5, 2015
• Author, "Balancing the Right of Publicity and the First Amendment: The Impact of the Hurt Locker Case,"American Bar, pg. 49, March 5, 2015
• Author, "IMDb Fights Back on Age Censorship Law," Screen Magazine, January 11, 2017
• Author, "Jared Leto v. TMZ: The Copyright Battle Continues," Screen Magazine, July 28, 2016
• Author, "Cirque du Soleil's Steel Dream is a Legal Nightmare for Justin Timberlake," Screen Magazine, April 8, 2016
• Author, "From Kesha's Legal Battle to Lady Gaga's Oscar Performance: A Prediction about the Battle against Sexual Harassment," Screen Magazine, March 1, 2016
• Author, "Producer Threatens CHIRAQ: Copyright Violation or Publicity Stunt?" Screen Magazine, December 3, 2015
• Author, "The Netflix Tax that Broke the Camel's Back," Screen Magazine, September 17, 2015
• Author, "Nobody Puts Your Old 401(k) in the Corner: Parody or Trademark Infringement?" Screen Magazine, July 6, 2015
• Author, "Street Legal," Screen Magazine, May 13, 2015
• Author, "What Every Independent Film Producer Should Know About SAG-AFTRA," Screen Magazine, April 15, 2015
• Author, "Did EMPIRE steal P. Diddy's life story? P. Diddy Seems to Think So," Screen Magazine, March 5, 2015
• Author, "The Right of Publicity: Why Marilyn Monroe Still Makes More Money Than You," Screen Magazine, February 18, 2015
• Author, "Why Cutting 'Entertainment Attorney' from the Budget is a Bad Idea," Screen Magazine, January 19, 2015
• Author, "THE INTERVIEW Canceled: FBI Eyes North Korea," Screen Magazine, December 19, 2014
• Author, "Keep it Simple: What You Need to Establish Chain of Title," Screen Magazine, November 19, 2014
• Author, "BATMAN VS... EXTRA? Why You Need to Take the NDA Seriously," Screen Magazine, October 29, 2014
• Author, "Why the Poor Man's Copyright Will Keep You Poor," Screen Magazine, September 24, 2014
• Author, "Employee v. Independent Contractor: Why It Matters," Screen Magazine, August 20, 2014
• Author, "I Want to Tell your Story, Now Gimme the Rights!" Screen Magazine, August 6, 2014
• Author, "The Sole Proprietor Complex: DBA v. Exorbitant Filing Fees," Screen Magazine, June 27, 2014
• Author, "Internet Defamation: Goodbye Right of Privacy, Hello Free Speech," Screen Magazine, April 28, 2014
• Author, "Inside Hollywood: Financing for the Indie Filmmaker," Screen Magazine, April 14, 2014
• Author, "I'll Take One Tax Credit, Please," Screen Magazine, March 24, 2014
• Author, "Overcoming False Peaks: Professional Development Tips for the Young Lawyer" October 1, 2013
• Author, "How to Accomplish Your Big Goals (Even if They're As Crazy As Making a Movie)," Brazen, August 22, 2012
• Author, "Home is Where the Most Economically Beneficial Laws Are: Finding the Best Location to Incorporate Your Business," Illinois Business Law Journal, April 24, 2008
• Author, "Lawyer-Turned-Entrepreneur: How the Collision of Diverse Careers Can Blend into Success, Illinois Business Law Journal," Illinois Business Law Journal, April 7, 2008
• Author, "The Young and the Restless: The Inevitable Trend of New Graduates towards Solo Practice, Illinois Business Law Journal," Illinois Business Law Journal, February 2, 2008

• Co-presenter, "Unconventional Campaigns, Conventional Rules: How to Go Viral – Safely," DLA Piper's Consumer Goods and Retail Speaker Series, January 22, 2026 – Presented with Staci Trager (IPT; Los Angeles, CA)
• Co-presenter, "Life Cycle of Endorsement/Influencer Deals: Spotlight on SAG-AFTRA Considerations," DLA Piper's Consumer Goods and Retail Speaker Series, October 30, 2024 – Presented with Stacy Marcus (IPT; New York, NY)
• Co-presenter, "Best Practices for Engaging Athletes, Celebrities, and Influencers to Promote Your Business," DLA Piper's Consumer Goods and Retail Speaker Series, May 15, 2024 – Presented with Staci Trager (IPT; Los Angeles, CA)
• Co-presenter, "NFTs: Securities Law, Entertainment Unions, Licensing Strategy," Lexology, November 2022 – Presented with Mark Radcliffe (Technology; Palo Alto, CA), Martin Bartlam (Structured Finance/Securities; London, UK) and Michael Fluhr (Litigation; San Francisco, CA)
• Co-presenter, "Employment Issues in the Entertainment and Retail Industries," DLA Piper's Consumer Goods and Retail Speaker Series, November 2022 – Presented with Julie Dunne (Employment; San Diego, CA) and Vani Parti (Employment; San Diego, CA)
• Co-presenter, "Employment Law in Entertainment," National Retail Federation, July 2022 – Presented with Julie Dunne (Employment; San Diego, CA)
• Presenter, "NFTs and the Guilds: Understanding the Implications of Exploiting NFTs under Collective Bargaining Agreements," Practicing Law Institute, June 2022
• Co-presenter, "NFTs: Key Business and Legal Issues," DLA Piper's Technology and Sourcing CLE Training Series, June 2022 – Presented with Mark Radcliffe (Technology; Palo Alto, CA)
• Co-host, "Is the Metaverse the virtual, wild, wild west?" DLA Piper's Media, Sport and Entertainment Law Podcast, June 2022 – Hosted with Ryan Black (IPT; Vancouver, Canada) and Tom Ara
• Co-presenter, "Employment Law Trends in the Media, Sport and Entertainment Sector," DLA Piper's Media, Sport and Entertainment Speaker Series, May 2022 – Presented with Julie Dunne (Employment; San Diego, CA), Jonathan Exten-Wright (Employment; London, UK) and Jan Colhoun (Employment; London, UK)
• Panelist, "Managing Risk Through Insurance: The Nitty Gritty of Protecting Your Production," Producers Guild of America, August 3, 2017
• Panelist, "Entertainment Law: Nuts & Bolts," Pepperdine University School of Law, March 30, 2016
• Interviewee, "WBAI 100th Anniversary Video," Women's Bar Association of Illinois, June 25, 2014

Other Notable Speaking Engagements

• Pepperdine University School of Law
• University of Illinois College of Law
• UNC Asheville
• Producers Guild of America
• The Blackhouse Foundation
• Roadmap Writers
• Socialexis

• "Top Billing for NFTs," Los Angeles Lawyer, May 2022
• "Kate Imp '09 featured in Variety's 2019 Legal Impact Report," Illinois Law Alumni Reporter, April 17, 2019
• "Katherine Imp and Beauty Beneath The Dirt," Illinois State Bar Association, June 2013
• "What it Takes to Succeed at Your Passion Project," Alexis Grant, July 2012
• "Lawyer Documents Epic Journey," Amicus Curious, October 2011