Hayden Goldblatt

Hayden Goldblatt is a partner and Co-Chair of the firm's Entertainment Group, where he focuses on motion picture, television, and digital media work.

Mr. Goldblatt has wide-ranging experience in all areas of entertainment and media, representing producers, writers, directors, documentary filmmakers, actors, comedians, financiers, and independent distributors. He has negotiated complex single picture and slate multi-party financings both on behalf of producers and financiers, as well as structured multi-million dollar film funds. He has also structured and negotiated content acquisition agreements and output deals for innovative cutting-edge digital distribution companies and alternative content distribution platforms.

Mr. Goldblatt has worked on numerous branded entertainment deals on behalf of brands and advertising agencies, often helping them navigate their first foray into the film business. He has represented international financiers and producers, including those from the United Kingdom and China, with respect to U.S. productions.

Best Lawyers in America includes Mr. Goldblatt in the 2023-2025 editions for Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television. Variety recognized him in its 2021 Dealmakers Impact Report and 2021 Legal Impact Report. He was also included in Variety’s 2017 Legal Impact Report “Up Next” list, and its 2013 Dealmaker Impact Report “Up Next” list. He is recognized as a 2020-2024 "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers magazine and was named a 2015-2018 New York-area “Rising Star” in the field of entertainment and sports. Additionally, he is recognized in 2022-2024 editions of The Legal 500 for his work in media and entertainment.

He is a frequent speaker on legal issues in the entertainment industry, and has previously spoken at the Association of National Advertisers, NYU Stern School of Business, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, Brooklyn Law School, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and the Ghetto Film School. He served as a mentor for the SXSW Film Festival from 2017 through 2020 and as Secretary of the Entertainment Law Committee for the New York City Bar Association from 2012 through 2014.

Prior to joining Frankfurt Kurnit, Mr. Goldblatt was an associate at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP, where he acted as production counsel on several reality television programs and motion pictures, including “The Tree of Life”. He was also associated with Robert Altman’s Sandcastle 5 Productions.

Mr. Goldblatt is the co-founder of the Let’s Kick This Charity Soccer Tournament, an annual one-day adult soccer tournament in Manhattan, which supports Voices Against Brain Cancer.

He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey state courts and the US District Court of New Jersey.

awards & recognition

Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television

Variety's Dealmakers Impact Report (2021)

Variety's Legal Impact Report (2021)

2020-2024 New-York-area "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers magazine

2015-2018 New York-area "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers magazine

The Legal 500 for Media and Entertainment (2022-2024)

Variety's Up Next List of the 2017 Legal Impact Report

Variety’s Up Next List of the 2013 Dealmaker’s Impact Report

education

Brooklyn Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2008)

  -President of the Brooklyn Law School Entertainment Law Society

University of Michigan (A.B., 2003)

 

  •  

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Past Speaking Engagements

Film Financing Unveiled

Hayden Goldblatt and Sean Jefferson, with Lynnette Gryseels from The Film Collaborative, speak on the panel, "Film Financing Unveiled" at DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in the United States. Details here.

November 15 2024

Raising the Curtain on Theater Financing: From Development to Commercial Success

Hayden Goldblatt is a panelist for the Finance & Sales track of the session, "Raising the Curtain on Theater Financing: From Development to Commercial Success" hosted by the New York State Bar Association. Details here.

October 31 2024

US Equity Looks to Europe

Hayden Goldblatt is a speaker for the workshop, "US Equity Looks to Europe" at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Details here.

May 17 2024

Entertainment Financing in the New Global Landscape

Hayden Goldblatt and Sean Jefferson present, "Entertainment Financing in the New Global Landscape" during an event at JP Morgan Chase.

May 31 2023

Hayden Goldblatt Guest Lectures at NYU Stern School of Business

Hayden Goldblatt speaks to NYU Stern School of Business students about repurposing creative content.

August 4 2022

The Future of the Sports Industry: 2022 and Beyond

Christopher Chase, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeremy Goldman, Sean Jefferson, Hannah Taylor, and special guests host a roundtable webinar covering hot topics in the sports industry. Read more.

May 12 2022

9th Annual Penn Law Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium

Hayden Goldblatt is on the panel, “Copyright Expiration in Modern Media” during the 9th Annual Entertainment & Sports Law Symposium hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Read more.

March 17 2022

Hayden Goldblatt Guest Lectures at NYU Stern School of Business

Hayden Goldblatt speaks to NYU Stern School of Business students about dealmaking involving derivative rights to intellectual property.

October 7 2021

Hayden Goldblatt Guest Lectures to NYU Stern School of Business Students

Hayden Goldblatt speaks to NYU Stern School of Business students about film festivals and distribution.

March 18 2021

Virtual Entertainment Law Panel

Hayden Goldblatt speaks during a virtual entertainment law panel for Chicago-Kent College of Law.

December 2 2020

Hayden Goldblatt Guest Lectures to NYU Stern School of Business Class

Hayden Goldblatt guest lectures to NYU Stern School of Business students via Zoom about repurposing content.

October 8 2020

Hayden Goldblatt - Cardozo Law School

Hayden Goldblatt guest lectures on film financing to a class at Cardozo Law School via Zoom.

March 23 2020

2019 SXSW Film Festival

Hayden Goldblatt is a Legal Mentor during the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX.

March 17 2019

Gotham Media’s Digital Breakfast Meeting

Hayden Goldblatt moderates a panel for Gotham Media’s annual Media and Tech Preview 2019 breakfast meeting.

December 5 2018

Hayden Goldblatt at NYU Stern School of Business

Hayden Goldbatt guest lectures a graduate film class at the NYU Stern School of Business. 

October 25 2018

Handle Your Entertainment Business

Lisa E. Davis and Hayden Goldblatt present "Handle Your Entertainment Business" during the March on Washington Film Festival in Washington DC. More information can be found here. 

July 13 2018

Hayden Goldbatt at the BAMcinemaFest 2018

Hayden Goldblatt speaks on "Film Financing for Beginners" during a panel at the BAMcinemaFest Filmmaker Talks. More information can be found here.

June 23 2018

2018 SXSW Film Festival

Hayden Goldblatt is a Distribution Mentor at the Film & TV Mentor Session during the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. More information can be found here.

March 11 2018

Hayden Goldblatt at The Socially Relevant Film Festival

Hayden Goldblatt is part of the funding panel at The Socially Relevant Film Festival in New York at the School of Visual Arts at 10:30am.

March 18 2017

2017 SXSW Film Festival

Hayden Goldblatt leads a mentorship session for the 2017 SXSW Film Festival titled “Keys to Split Rights Distribution Deals."

March 12 2017

The Business of Soccer

Hayden Goldblatt moderates a panel on "The Business of Soccer" for the Athletes Quarterly annual event. 

November 29 2016

Future of the Film and TV Industries

Hayden Goldblatt speaks on a panel at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law on October 27th about the Future of the Film and TV Industries.

October 27 2015

Dramatic Writing Department at NYU Tisch

Hayden Goldblatt speaks to the Dramatic Writing Department at NYU Tisch. Hayden will focus on copyright issues and writer agreements in film and television.

September 28 2015

Legal Bootcamp for Webseries

Hayden Goldblatt presents a legal bootcamp for webseries producers to graduates of the Ghetto Film School. 

March 10 2015

NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dramatic Writing Department

Hayden Goldblatt speaks  to the Dramatic Writing Department at NYU Tisch School of the Arts about copyright law and the film business.

February 23 2015

Cardozo Law Panel

Hayden Goldblatt speaks on the "Future of Independent Film" at a Cardozo Law panel.

November 17 2014

Hayden Goldblatt on Financing and Crowdfunding for Independent Films

Hayden Goldblatt presents on financing and crowdfunding for independent films at a Dogfish Accelerator event.

November 11 2014

Hayden Goldblattt at NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Hayden Goldblatt presents on copyright law to Dramatic Writing students at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

September 29 2014

Hunter College Documentary Film Class

Hayden Goldblatt speaks to a documentary film class at Hunter College about rights and clearances.

April 28 2014

NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dramatic Writing Department

Hayden Goldblatt presents a lecture to the Dramatic Writing Department of NYU Tisch School of the Arts on copyright law and the film business.

March 31 2014

Ghetto Film School

Hayden Goldblatt presents a lecture to the Ghetto Film School about the film business.

February 8 2014

Brooklyn Law School

Hayden Goldblatt speaks on a panel at Brooklyn Law School about the New York City Bar.  

February 4 2014

New York University Tisch School of the Arts

Hayden Goldblatt speaks on a panel about entertainment law at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

November 11 2013

NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia

Hayden Goldblatt presents a lecture to a graduate drama writing class at NYU's campus in Singapore (via Skype) about the various types of agreements that a writer may enter into in the motion picture and television industry.

February 8 2013

Tisch School of the Arts at NYU

Hayden Goldblatt speaks on an entertainment law panel at the Tisch School of the Arts.

April 27 2011

news & press

Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to New York Metro Super Lawyers List for 2024

Super Lawyers magazine lists 42 attorneys in its 2024 edition. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2025

Best Lawyers in America recognizes 48 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in the 2025 edition. Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2024

The Legal 500 praises four of our practice groups in 2024: Advertising & Marketing, Media & Entertainment, Advertising & Marketing (Litigation), and Cyber Law (Data Privacy & Data Protection). The London-based directory spotlighted thirty of our attorneys individually. Read more.

Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Mayim Bialik and More Join Cate Blanchett in Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Variety mentions Victoria Cook and Hayden Goldblatt as counsel to Jim Jarmusch whose next film "Father Mother Sister Brother” will star Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Tom Waits, Charlotte Rampling, Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat. View Article

Sony Pictures Classics, FilmNation Execs Among Dozens of Industry Figures Who Showed Off Soccer Skills at Tribeca Festival’s Charity Tournament

Variety mentions Hayden Goldblatt and Frankfurt Kurnit as participants in the 13th NY Film & Entertainment Soccer Tournament for charity hosted at the Tribeca Festival. View Article

Naomi Watts & Bill Murray To Topline Dramedy ‘The Friend’ From Scott McGehee & David Siegel; Constance Wu, Ann Dowd Among Others Set

Deadline mentions Hayden Goldblatt and Sean Jefferson as counsel to Scott McGehee and David Siegel, who are set to write, direct, and produce "The Friend," starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray. View Article

‘It Follows’ Sequel ‘They Follow’ with Maika Monroe Launches at AFM via Neon

Deadline mentions Hayden Goldblatt as counsel to the producers of “They Follow,” the sequel to “It Follows.” View Article

Sundance Doc ‘A Still Small Voice’ Sells to Abramorama (EXCLUSIVE)

Variety mentions Hayden Goldblatt as counsel to the film team of Luke Lorentzen’s feature-length documentary “A Still Small Voice,” whose North American theatrical rights were acquired by Abramorama. View Article

39 Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2023

Super Lawyers magazine lists 39 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2023 NY-metro edition. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2024

Best Lawyers in America recognizes 44 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in the 2024 edition. Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2023

The Legal 500 once again praises Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups and attorneys in the 2023 edition of their United States guide. Read more.

‘Soft & Quiet’: Momentum Pictures Picks Up Blumhouse SXSW Thriller 

Deadline mentions Hayden Goldblatt as counsel to filmmaker Beth de Araújo whose feature debut, “Soft & Quiet” has been acquired by Momentum Pictures. View Article

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2022

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Caren Decter, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Hannah Taylor, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, and Maura Wogan. Aaron Deitsch, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Jordyn Milewski, and Adam Osterweil are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

Tessa Thompson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Join Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Ash’

Broadway World and The Hollywood Reporter mention Hayden Goldblatt as counsel to writer Jonni Remmler. View Article

The Best Lawyers in America 2023

We are pleased to report that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services — continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2022

The Legal 500 once again praises Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups and attorneys in the 2022 edition of their United States guide. Read more.

Grammy Winner Flying Lotus Sets Sci-Fi Horror Pic ‘Ash’ As Second Feature

Deadline mentions Hayden Goldblatt as counsel to Jonni Remmer who wrote the screenplay for “Ash.” View Article

Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report 2021: Top Negotiators Behind Mega Deals

Variety includes Marcie Cleary, Victoria Cook, Hayden Goldblatt and Andrew Hurwitz in their Dealmaker’s Impact Report for 2021. View Article

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2021

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Caren Decter, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Rick Kurnit, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Thomas D. Selz, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, and Maura Wogan. Marcie Cleary, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, and Adam Osterweil are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

Variety’s 2021 Legal Impact Report

Variety’s 2021 Legal Impact Report includes Marcie Cleary for her representation of creators in film, TV and digital. Larissa Calva Ruiz, Hayden Goldblatt, Sean Jefferson and Alan Sacks are recognized for their work in entertainment finance. View Article

‘Hala’ Filmmaker Minhal Baig Strikes Overall Deal with Amazon, Adapting Horror Short-Story Collection ‘Mouthful of Birds’

Deadline mentions Hayden Goldblatt and Lee Goldberg who negotiated the adaptation of “Mouthful of Birds” for Amazon Studios. View Article

Sundance Animation ‘Cryptozoo’ Lands at Magnolia Pictures  

Screen Daily and The Wrap list Hayden Goldblatt as representation for the filmmakers of "Cryptozoo" in a distribution deal with Magnolia Pictures. View Article

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2020

The list includes: Christopher R. Chase, Victoria Cook, Lisa E. Davis, Catherine M.C. Farrelly, Michael P. Frankfurt, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, John B. Harris, Richard B. Heller, Richard Hofstetter, Nicole Hyland, Candice Kersh, Rick Kurnit, Brian E. Maas, Richard Maltz, Jeffrey Marks, Kimberly Maynard, Mark Merriman, Ronald C. Minkoff, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal, Terri Seligman, Thomas D. Selz, Barbara E. Shiers, Wendy Stryker, Linda Wank, S. Jean Ward, and Maura Wogan. Marcie Cleary, Christina Jenkins, Sasha Levites, Tyler Maulsby, Adam Osterweil and Rachel Santori are listed as “Rising Stars.” Read more.

Baby Goldblatt is in The Hollywood Reporter

The birth announcement of Rowan Bennett Goldblatt, Hayden Goldblatt's son, is featured in the Hollywood Reporter. View Article

Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2019

The Legal 500 praises four of our core practice groups: Marketing and Advertising; Media and Entertainment; Intellectual Property (Copyright); and Cyber Law (Data Privacy and Data Protection). The London-based directory spotlighted 18 of our attorneys individually: Gregory Boyd, Christopher Chase, Victoria Cook, Daniel M. Goldberg, Hayden Goldblatt, Jeremy Goldman, Richard Heller, Andrew Hurwitz, Sean Kane, Candice Kersh, Gavin McElroy, Brian G. Murphy, Edward H. Rosenthal and Maura Wogan. Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, Rick Kurnit and Terri Seligman are listed as “Leading Lawyers” in Advertising and Marketing. Hannah Taylor is listed as “Next Generation Lawyer” in Marketing and Advertising.

Thirty-two Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named in Super Lawyers Magazine for 2018

Super Lawyers magazine lists thirty-two Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2018 edition. Read more.

Hayden Goldbatt in Michigan Alumnus magazine

Michigan Alumnus magazine notes Hayden Goldbatt’s promotion to partner in their Summer 2018 edition. View Article

Martin Scorsese’s Sikelia Prods., RT Features Join Forces on ‘Murina’

Variety mentions Hayden Goldblatt as counsel to Alamat Kusijanovic who makes her directorial debut in the film "Murina," produced and financed by Martin Scorsese’s company Sikelia Productions. View Article

Variety Insight - Movers & Shakers

Variety Insight mentions Hayden Goldblatt’s promotion to partner. View Article

New York Law Journal - On the Move

The New York Law Journal covered Frankfurt Kurnit’s promotion of Caren Decter and Hayden Goldblatt to partner positions. (Article behind paywall) View Article

Frankfurt Kurnit Law Firm Promotes Top Litigation and Entertainment Lawyers to Partner

January 3, 2018, New York, N.Y. - Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz, PC has elected Caren Decter and Hayden Goldblatt as partners effective January 1st, 2018. Read more.

October/November Sports Industry News

Here's what's happening at the intersection of sports, marketing, and entertainment law. Read more.

Hayden Goldblatt in Variety’s 2017 Legal Impact Report

Variety included Hayden Goldblatt in its 2017 Legal Impact Report. View Article

Baby Goldblatt in The Hollywood Reporter

The birth announcement of Julien Harris Goldblatt, Hayden Goldblatt's son, is featured in the Hollywood Reporter. View Article

Thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2016

Super Lawyers listed thirty-four Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2016 edition. Read more.

Frankfurt Kurnit Promotes Caren Decter and Hayden Goldblatt to Counsel

Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC has elected Caren Decter and Hayden Goldblatt as counsel effective January 1st, 2016. Read more.

Thirty-three Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2015

Super Lawyers listed thirty-three Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2015 edition. Read more.

“MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING”:  A Securities Law Trap

We frequently see private placement memoranda, seeking to raise capital for films, which refer to independent film success stories such as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding,"  "Little Miss Sunshine," or other independent films which became box office hits. Read more.

Toronto: Radius Nabs North American Rights to Anna Kendrick Musical ‘The Last 5 years’

The Hollywood Reporter listed Hayden Goldblatt as representative to the filmmakers of "The Last 5 Years". View Article

Terrence Malick-Produced ‘The Better Angels’ Gets U.S. Distribution

The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline listed Hayden Goldblatt and Alan Sacks as representation for the filmmakers of "The Better Angels" in a distribution deal with Amplify. View Article