Richard A. Morse
Entertainment Attorney
Richard Morse is a seasoned entertainment attorney with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment, arts, sports, and new media industries, with a primary focus on film. His career spans comprehensive business and legal affairs expertise, serving as General Counsel and head of legal and business affairs for numerous entertainment entities, including production companies, film finance firms, international distributors, investment banks, and new media developers. Known as "Rick," he has also frequently taken on roles as production counsel and executive producer, contributing to the success of around 30 films.
Rick operates a solo practice from Newport Beach, California, where he primarily serves as production counsel and executive producer for independent films. Recent projects include Gunslinger with Nicolas Cage, Dead Man’s Hand with Cole Hauser, The System with Terrence Howard and Jeremy Piven, Every Last One of Them with Richard Dreyfuss, and 1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom with Danny Trejo. He has also worked on documentaries, notably the award-winning Carol Doda, Topless at the Condor, where he served as both executive producer and production counsel.
Before establishing his private practice, Rick held the position of Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Radar Pictures, the successor to Interscope Communications, overseeing acclaimed productions such as The Last Samurai, Mr. Holland's Opus, Riddick, and Amityville Horror. He managed contracts from development through delivery and provided in-house legal counsel on films including Beirut, starring Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike, Kickboxer: Vengeance with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Under the Bed by The Blair Witch Project director Dan Myrick. Additionally, he contributed to the reboots of Jumanji during his tenure.
Rick’s experience includes extensive work in entertainment finance, partnering with Blue Rider Finance on bridge, tax credit, and specialty financing. He has served as production counsel and executive producer on films such as Wild Oats, starring Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange, and previously held roles as General Counsel for Bauer Martinez Studios, where he negotiated deals for The Steam Experiment with Val Kilmer, and for Grand Illusions, where he worked with multiple Oscar winning producer/director Jonathan Sanger on 100 Feet.
His earlier career includes notable roles as VP of Business and Legal Affairs for iMedia International, where he developed cutting-edge digital media in partnership with Signatures Network. He also handled high-profile entertainment and sports litigation, including cases involving Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, and NBA animation rights. Additionally, Rick was Head of Entertainment Law for renowned trial attorney Melvin Belli.
Rick holds a BA in Psychology with honors from the University of California, Berkeley, and a JD from UC Hastings College of Law, where he served on the Communications and Entertainment Law Review. Together with his faculty advisor/mentor Roscoe Barrow, the US Presidential Special Counsel for Communications, Rick drafted advisory opinions for the White House, while studying under two Supreme Court Justices, a United States Secretary of State and a United Nations Ambassador. He studied entertainment law under Neil Bornstein, attorney for the Beatles. He has taught Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses at UC Davis and the University of Houston and has been a frequent commentator for The Hollywood Reporter. His speaking engagements include presentations for the American Trial Lawyers Association, USC’s graduating class in Communications, and various television and radio programs.
Contact
Rick Morse, Esq. Attorney at Law
Email:rickmorseesq@gmail.com
1024 Bayside Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
