Dina Appleton

Dina Appleton is special counsel in the Entertainment, Media & Communications Practice Group in the firm's Century City office.

Areas of Practice

Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, Ms. Appleton spent nine and a half years as the head of the business and legal affairs and the general counsel at Writers and Artist Agency, a multi-service talent agency representing actors, directors, writers and producers.

Ms. Appleton has extensive experience with a wide range entertainment transactions including film and television development, production, financing and distribution deals, book publishing agreements, guild arbitrations and compliance issues, agency commission disputes, copyright matters, executive and talent employment agreements and new media deals for a diverse range of clients including major studios and production companies, independent producers, actors, screenwriters, book authors, directors, producers, talent agencies and individual investors and financiers.

Education

• J.D., Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto, 1993
• B.A., University of Western Ontario (Canada)

Articles

• Ms. Appleton is the co-author of  the books, "Got Kids LA!" published in 2006, and “HOLLYWOOD DEALMAKING: Negotiating Talent Agreements,” published by Allworth Press in 2002 and was a contributor to the book, “Ask the Pros: Screenwriting” published by Lone Eagle Press. 
• She has also written articles for various publications including Scr(i)pt Magazine.

Speeches

• Ms. Appleton has spoken on numerous entertainment panels including for the Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Association of Talent Agencies. She also co-teaches an annual entertainment dealmaking class at UCLA Extension.