CATHIE SAADEH | ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY
CATHIE SAADEH | ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY
If you have a story to tell, a million things need to happen to bring it to life. This is where I come in.
INTRODUCTION
I’m Cathie, and this is my story.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved a good story — I was the kid leaving the library with a teetering stack of books, the one who had already seen every movie at the theater.
Stories are powerful. Whether told through a book, film, painting, or song, stories allow us to step into a different life, a different time, a different world. They educate us, entertain us, and change us. The best ones carry us away.
Simply put, I am an attorney who supports storytellers. Through my law practice, I work with producers, filmmakers, artists, writers, and other creatives on a wide range of contract, intellectual property, and business law matters. Whether it be drawing up a crew deal memo, negotiating an option agreement, filing a trademark application, or just talking through potential options to handle a sticky situation, I help my clients protect their work, navigate and overcome challenges, and most importantly, nurture and develop their stories.
Professional Experience
- Adjunct Instructor, American University School of Communications (Media Enterprise I, Spring 2021)
- President, Board of Directors, Women in Film & Video (member 2019 – present)
- Member and Volunteer, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (2019 – present)
- Founder and Principal, Saadeh P.C. (2018 – present)
- Partner and General Counsel, ACA Compliance Group (2009 – 2018)
- Journalist, financial services industry (2002 – 2009)
- Attorney, financial services industry (1994 – 2002)
- Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center (2000 – 2001)
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 1994
- The George Washington University, B.A., 1991
Bar Admissions
- California
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- New York
Elevating — and protecting — your story.
You are a filmmaker, an artist, a creative — and like it or not, you are also a business person. Potential partners will evaluate you not only on your vision and skills, but also, on whether they feel that they can reasonably do business with you.
I enjoy helping storytellers, entrepreneurs, and creative small businesses comply with the law, manage their risks, and efficiently meet their commercial and creative objectives.
Recent projects include:
- Entity formation and “start-up” counseling for growing creative businesses
- Ongoing outside general counsel support for established companies
- NDAs, customer agreements, contractor agreements
- Literary rights agreements (option/purchase agreements)
- Life rights agreements
- Location agreements
- Crew deal memos
- Appearance releases
- Film finance offering documents
- Film distribution agreements
- Copyright license and transfer agreements
- Copyright and trademark registrations
- Commercial lease for artist studio space
- COVID-19 set safety protocols
I am focused on helping every one of my clients achieve professional success so they can continue creating great stories for all of us to enjoy.

CATHIE SAADEH
CONTACT
Let’s get your story out there.
Reach out using the form below, or call / text Cathie at (301) 842-6020.

4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814 (by appointment only)
(301) 842-6020
© 2021 Saadeh P.C. All rights reserved.Attorney advertising. Privacy
Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.
4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814 (by appointment only)
(301) 842-6020
© 2020 Saadeh P.C. All rights reserved.
Attorney advertising.
Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.