contact information
P (212) 826 5533
F (347) 438 2105
rheller@fkks.com
Download vCard
areas of expertise
Looking for additional information?
Find out what else we do at Frankfurt Kurnit. And how we can help.
Richard B. Heller is a partner at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC and a longtime member of the firm's Entertainment Group. His practice focuses on motion pictures and television, new media, publishing, celebrity branding and intellectual property.
Mr. Heller's clients include on-screen talent, writers, producers, directors, production companies and distributors in the motion picture and television fields, as well as numerous foreign companies, charitable organizations and individuals doing business in the U.S. He handles independent film clients from acquisition of rights through financing, production and exploitation of projects.
For over thirty years, Mr. Heller has also represented a wide range of best-selling authors as well as book and magazine publishers. Working extensively with prominent authors, doctors, journalists, designers and other celebrity clients, as well as global brands, Mr. Heller actively counsels his clients in managing their valuable intellectual property rights and implementing fully-coordinated strategies for exploiting motion picture, television, print, audio, electronic new media, merchandising, and other rights.
Mr. Heller is a member of the New York City Bar Association (Member, Committee on Entertainment and Sports Law, 1984-Present); and the American Bar Association (Member: Section on Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law; Forum Committee on the Entertainment and Sports Industries,1979-Present). He was Adjunct Professor of Law, New York University School of Law, from 1985 to 1987. Mr. Heller is admitted to practice in New York.
awards & recognition
Who’s Who Legal: Telecoms Media & Entertainment 2024
Variety's 2019 Dealmakers Elite NY issue
Recognized by New York Magazine as one of the New York-area's best Entertainment lawyers
Listed in Best Lawyers in America for his work in Entertainment Law (Motion Pictures and Television)
Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Media and Who’s Who Legal: Telecoms Media & Entertainment 2024)
New York-area "Super Lawyer" in the field of Entertainment and Sports, 2006-2023
Listed among the country’s leading media and Entertainment lawyers by The Legal 500
education
New York University School of Law (J.D., 1977)
Brown University (B.A., 1974)
Upcoming Speaking Engagements
Past Speaking Engagements
Richard Heller and Marcie Cleary at Pace University
Richard Heller and Marcie Cleary present to China Publishing Group executives as part of Pace University's Executive Education series. Richard and Marcie describe different deal structures used by US studios and distributors.
June 10 2019
Gotham Media Panel discussion - Is Print Dead
Richard Heller moderates a Gotham Media Panel discussion - Is Print Dead - at Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.
October 30 2014
Richard Heller Speaks at Brown University’s 13th Annual Entrepreneurial Program Forum
Richard Heller participates in a panel discussion on entrepreneurship at Brown University's 13th Annual Entrepreneurial Program Forum.
March 6 2010
news & press
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.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers USA 2024
For the 20th consecutive year, Chambers and Partners include Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups & attorneys. The 2024 USA guide praises our Advertising, Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Data Strategy, Privacy & Security practices. In addition,16 of our attorneys are ranked individually. Read more.
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.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers USA 2023
For the 19th consecutive year, Chambers and Partners includes Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups & attorneys. The 2023 USA guide praises our Advertising, Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Privacy & Data Security practices. In addition,15 of our attorneys are ranked individually. Read more.
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.
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.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers 2022
For the eighteenth consecutive year Chambers and Partners included Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups & attorneys. The 2022 USA guide praised our Advertising, Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Privacy & Data Security practices. In addition,13 of our attorneys are ranked individually. Read more.
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.
The Best Lawyers in America 2022
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 2021
The Legal 500 praises three of our practice groups: Advertising & Marketing; Entertainment; and Privacy & Data Security. The London-based directory spotlighted fifteen of our attorneys individually: Lisa E. Davis, Daniel Goldberg, Richard Heller, Andrew Hurwitz, Candice Kersh, and Michael Williams. Julie Murray is listed as a “Next Generation Partner” in Entertainment. Christopher R. Chase, Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, Brian G. Murphy and Terri Seligman are listed as “Leading Lawyers” in Advertising. Dorian Slater Thomas and Matthew Vittone are listed as a “Rising Stars” in Advertising. Rick Kurnit is in the “Hall of Fame” for Advertising.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers 2021
For the seventeenth consecutive year Chambers and Partners included Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups & attorneys. The 2021 guide praised our Advertising, Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Privacy & Data Security practices. In addition, 13 of our attorneys are ranked individually. Read more.
Thomas & Mercer Signs Three from Koontz
The Bookseller mentions Richard Heller as counsel to Dean Koontz. 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.
The Best Lawyers in America 2021
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 Chambers 2020
For the sixteenth consecutive year Chambers and Partners included Frankfurt Kurnit practice groups & attorneys. The 2020 guide praised our Advertising, Entertainment and Intellectual Property practices. In addition, 13 of our attorneys are ranked individually. Read more.
Thirty Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers Metro List for 2019
Super Lawyers magazine lists thirty Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2019 NY-area edition. Read more.
Variety’s 2019 Elite Dealmakers New York
Variety’s 2019 Elite Dealmakers New York list includes our partners Victoria Cook and Richard Heller. The article features attorneys and executives in New York who have shaped show business with big deals over the past year. View Article
Author Dean Koontz Signs Five-Book Deal With Amazon Publishing
Deadline and Publishers Weekly mention Richard Heller as counsel to best-selling author Dean Koontz who recently signed a deal with Amazon Publishing imprint Thomas & Mercer for five books and six short thrillers. 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.
The Best Lawyers in America 2019
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 Chambers 2018
For the fourteenth consecutive year Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Frankfurt Kurnit. Chambers USA ranked us for our: Advertising, Media & Entertainment and Intellectual Property practices. Read more.
CAA Signs ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Scribe Michael Lesslie
The Hollywood Reporter mentions Richard B. Heller and Amy Nickin as attorneys for screenwriter and playwright Michael Lesslie who will serve as showrunner and executive producer on BBC and AMC’s upcoming limited series ‘Little Drummer Girl.’ View Article
The Best Lawyers in America 2018
Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" ranked Frankfurt Kurnit nationally in "Tier 1" in Advertising, Copyright, Entertainment - Motion Pictures and Television, and Trademark Law, "Tier 2" in Litigation - Intellectual Property, Media Law, and Trusts & Estates Law, and "Tier 3" in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers 2017
For the thirteenth consecutive year Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Frankfurt Kurnit. Chambers USA ranked us for our: Advertising: Transactional & Regulatory, Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Copyright, Media & Entertainment: Entertainment Litigation, and Media & Entertainment: Film, Music, Television & Theater work. Read more.
Dean Koontz in Deadline Hollywood
Deadline Hollywood mentions Richard Heller’s role as legal counsel to Dean Koontz in a story about Mr. Koontz’s literary, film and television agents. 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.
The Best Lawyers in America 2017
In its 2017 edition, Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" ranked Frankfurt Kurnit nationally in "Tier 1" in Advertising, Copyright, Entertainment - Motion Pictures and Television, and Trademark Law, "Tier 2" in Litigation - Intellectual Property, Media Law, and Trusts & Estates Law, and "Tier 3" in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement Litigation. Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers 2016
For the twelfth consecutive year Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Frankfurt Kurnit. Chambers USA ranked us for our: Advertising: Transactional & Regulatory, Intellectual Property: Trademark & Copyright, Media & Entertainment: Entertainment Litigation, and Media & Entertainment: Film, Music, Television & Theater work. 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.
The Best Lawyers in America 2016
Best Lawyers recognized our firm and 17 of our attorneys in their 2016 list. Read more.
Hamilton Ends Deal with St. Martin’s Press Claiming Lack of Support
Publishers Weekly quoted Richard Heller in the article, "Hamilton Ends Deal with SMP Claiming Lack of Support" regarding best-selling author Steve Hamilton's move to end his relationship with longtime publisher St. Martin's Press. View Article
Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500 2015
The Legal 500, a London-based directory of leading lawyers, recommended Frankfurt Kurnit for Media, Technology & Telecom work (Marketing and Advertising) and Intellectual Property work (Copyright) in its 2015 edition. Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers 2015
For the eleventh consecutive year Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.
Thirty-one Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2014
Super Lawyers listed thirty-one Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2014 edition. Read more.
Gotham Media Panel Discussion - Is Print Dead
Real Estate Blog Office Lease Center published an article about "Is Print Dead," a Gotham Media panel discussion moderated by Richard Heller and hosted by Frankfurt Kurnit last week.
Best Lawyers 2015
Best Lawyers recognized our firm and 16 of our attorneys in their 2015 list. Read more.
2014 Frankfurt Kurnit in The Legal 500
The Legal 500, a London-based directory of leading lawyers, recommended Frankfurt Kurnit for Media, Technology & Telecom work (Marketing and Advertising) and Intellectual Property work (Copyright) in its 2014 edition. Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers 2014
For the tenth consecutive year Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit in “Best Lawyers 2014”
In its 2014 edition Best Lawyers ranked Frankfurt Kurnit in "Tier 1" in Advertising, Copyright, Entertainment, Trademark, and Trust & Estates Law, "Tier 2" in Litigation (IP) and Media Law, and "Tier 3" in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement Litigation. Read more.
Twenty-seven Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers” for 2013
Super Lawyers listed twenty-seven Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2013 edition. In addition Super Lawyers recognized Terri Seligman in its "Top 50 New York Women Lawyers List". Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit Top Ranked in Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms for 2013
Best Lawyers ranked Frankfurt Kurnit one of the "Best Law Firms" of 2013. Read more.
Twenty-four Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named 2012 NY-Area “Super Lawyers”
Super Lawyers listed twenty-four Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2012 edition. Read more.
Eleven Frankfurt Kurnit Lawyers Appear in New York Magazine’s List of the “Best”
New York Magazine named eleven Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz attorney's to its 2012 "New York Area's Best Lawyers" list. Read more.
Can You Recapture Valuable Grants of Rights?
If you are an author, musician, artist, or other creator of intellectual property (or the heir to such a person), it’s a good time to learn whether you are taking full advantage of your ability to "recapture" certain grants of rights made years ago. While everyone’s business deals are different, we urge you to consider the quick summary below: you may have untapped sources of valuable intellectual property. Read more.
Seventeen Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named 2011 New York-Area “Super Lawyers”
Super Lawyers named seventeen Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2011 edition. Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers For Business 2011
For the seventh consecutive year Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Frankfurt Kurnit. Read more.
Frankfurt Kurnit in Best Lawyers 2010
Best Lawyers ranked Frankfurt Kurnit in its 2010 edition. Read more.