About Corky
Known for his expertise in the Entertainment Industry and with over four decades of legal experience, Hal Kessler offers his knowledge and services as Of- Counsel for the firm. Having represented many highly prominent US media figures and negotiated many high-profile deals, Hal is the go-to point of contact for advice and insight on related matters of entertainment law for the company.
A former state prosecutor for Chicago — Hal "Corky" Kessler is well known and highly decorated as a “one stop shop” lawyer for the entertainment industry. Mr Kessler took the decision to retire from personally practicing law recently in 2024, in order to now entirely focus his personal energies on a wide range of in demand film services (escrow, advisory, business, corporate etc). Today he works with clients to help get their films made as a facilitator, a business advisor and an executive producer; whilst his team of specialised lawyers handle all legal deliverables, as required.
He has a deep and wide ranging experience in law -- from Chicago State prosecutor, to litigator, to specialised and award winning film and television counsel. In both 2017 & 2019, he was named the top entertainment lawyer in the United States. Corky is particularly well known for his film finance expertise and has a particular speciality and interest in federal and state level incentives, of which he is a recognised expert.
Corky has successfully worked with governors and US congressmen in several states to implement new laws and federal tax incentives for investment in qualifying film and television projects, which led to Section 181 and Section 199 of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. Corky was instrumental in working to extend Section 181 for filmmakers, set to expire December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2025. He has also been actively involved in the application of Section 168 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which was signed into law December 2017 and became active January 2018. Section 168 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act outlined the new incentives for film, television, and theater for five years. He has authored a reference book covering such federal and state tax incentives.
20+ Feature Films
Corky is active in establishing and advising various film funds and film funding sources in North America and is expanding internationally. In October 2012, Corky signed a Memorandum of Understanding with private investors from China for a $200 million co-production deal with the US.
Corky has represented several authors and negotiated publishing deal with several major publishers, including Random House and Doubleday. He has assembled and built winning teams for more than 30 entertainment and other business ventures. Corky has developed, packaged, and executive produced over 20 feature films including The Sum of Us starring Russell Crowe, which won the Australian Academy Award for Best Film, Human Capital starring Marisa Tomei and Liev Schreiber, and Certifiably Jonathan starring Jonathan Winters, Robin Williams, Howie Mandel, Rob Reiner, Jim Carey, Sarah Silverman, and others.
Corky Kessler was until 2024 admitted to practice in Illinoise, US District Court for the Nothern District, Member of the Trial Bar of the US District Court for the Nothern District of Illinoise, US Court of the appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Member of the American Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.
