About Ivy
Ivy Kagan Bierman: Leading Entertainment Labor Attorney
Ivy Kagan Bierman is a recognized leader in entertainment law, specializing in labor, production, distribution, and technology matters for a diverse range of clients. With a deep understanding of guild and union agreements, she strategically advises and represents film and television production companies, digital companies, networks, distribution companies, and national advertisers navigating the complexities of the entertainment industry. Known for her proactive approach and extensive experience, Ms. Bierman is frequently sought after for representation in guild and union negotiations, acting as a critical voice for her clients across a broad spectrum of agreements including SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, AFM, IATSE, and Teamsters.
Ms. Bierman’s career has been marked by groundbreaking achievements, having been among the first to negotiate interactive, multimedia, and secondary digital channel agreements with key guilds and unions. She possesses a strategic mind, working closely with production, distribution, and finance companies to anticipate and address potential strikes and negotiations surrounding WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and DGA matters. Her expertise extends to advising national advertisers and advertising agencies regarding SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract negotiations and proactively protecting entertainment companies during guild and union organizing campaigns.
Currently, Ms. Bierman is at the forefront of advising clients on the evolving positions of guilds and unions concerning critical issues like reality television, brand integration, and the development and exhibition of digital content. This forward-thinking approach reflects her commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and ensuring her clients remain competitive. Recognizing the importance of creating a safe and equitable environment, she routinely provides tailored sexual harassment, discrimination, and non-fraternization training for entertainment companies with “edgy” programming, along with handling investigations of claims and violations, often working in close collaboration with network attorneys to achieve favorable resolutions.
Ms. Bierman’s litigation practice is equally robust, consistently defending entertainment companies in a wide variety of cases. She has successfully represented television production companies and payroll companies in numerous industry-wide wage and hour class action lawsuits, securing favorable settlements for her clients. Her expertise extends to defending entertainment companies against wage and hour claims before the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, conducting investigations by the Labor Commissioner’s Bureau of Field Enforcement and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and successfully defending against citations arising from these investigations. Furthermore, she provides critical defense against guild and union grievances, arbitration claims, and unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board. This comprehensive approach demonstrates her commitment to protecting her clients’ rights and interests across all aspects of legal representation.
Ms. Bierman’s legal acumen is further enhanced by her role as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami Law School, where she teaches a specialized course on Union Organizing and Collective Bargaining in the Entertainment Industry. This commitment to education underscores her dedication to fostering the next generation of entertainment legal professionals.
Practice Areas
- Advertising Law
- Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television
- Labor Law - Management
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Awards & Recognition
- Recognized: Advertising Law
- Recognized: Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television
- Recognized: Labor Law - Management
- Recognized: Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Practice Area: Employment Law - Management
- Practice Area: Labor Law - Union
Education & Credentials
- Bar Admissions: California
- University of Miami Law School – Adjunct Professor, Union Organizing and Collective Bargaining in the Entertainment Industry
- Recognized Since: Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2013
Contact Information
Los Angeles, California, United States
