Daniel Wulffhart
2016/2017
Daniel Wulffhart plays a vital role in keeping the entertainment industry’s wheels in motion. From simple talent contracts to complex corporate mergers – he has dedicated his life and career to entertainment.
About Daniel
Daniel Wulffhart plays a vital role in keeping the entertainment industry’s wheels in motion. From simple talent contracts to complex corporate mergers – he has dedicated his life and career to entertainment.
And the depth of his commitment to his clients is to be admired. He grew up in a household full of doctors yet film and television were always part of his big picture. He quickly moved from reading scripts and writing screenplays in university to working behind the entertainment law bar with some of the most celebrated people in the country.
Where did you earn your law degree?
University of Windsor
Why law? What inspired your legal aspirations?
I was so infatuated with the entertainment industry that I was looking for any angle into it. I tried a few different avenues, but eventually realized that I had to play to my strengths and decided that path would lead me to law school and then into corporate law. As a corporate lawyer, I took every opportunity to segue into the niche practice of entertainment law, but also learned to enjoy the files along the way. Now, having founded the Entertainment Division at Hummingbird Lawyers LLP, while the entertainment files are my favourites, and reflect my true passion, corporate law can be just as interesting!
What kind of law do you currently practise?
Entertainment Law and Corporate/Commercial Law
Why entertainment law? What was appealing about this area?
I really wanted to be true to myself and follow my niche goals and not follow what everyone else was telling to do with my legal career. You hear a lot about how niche the industry is, and how hard it can be to build a book of business without being attached to a firm already known for the space. But I knew, that if I was going to be putting in long hours, reading long transaction records and contracts – I needed them to be interesting to me. As a fan, I wanted to understand how the entertainment arena operates from both a legal and business perspective, and so I immersed myself into it. Now, I’m starting to feel like an encyclopedia and rolodex of industry knowledge. In my mind, it’s what it takes to be a good lawyer in a niche industry. Before law school, I interned at a talent agency and I even went to California and tried my hand at a few performances. I am a creative person at heart and at a young age I started to develop a deep appreciation for the performing arts, but eventually my eyes were opened to how there are many cogs in the machine, and while I still pursue creative outlets, that wasn’t going to be my career path. While my family is mostly made up of doctors, something I really admired was how they are all recognized experts in their respective fields. So, despite being the black sheep who went to law school, I’ve always known I wanted to take a niche industry and learn everything I can about it. I will stay true to my passions for as long as I’m working. As they evolve, so will my practice.
What is a typical day at work/office like for you?
Emails, phone calls, drafting, repeat. So much of my job is maintaining client relationships and expectations. I am in my best form when talking to my clients. I typically attempt to group my drafting work into large blocks so I can just sit and type. Those two elements of the job require totally different headspaces.
What about out of the office? How do you keep up with the industry?
I’m addicted to content. I try to keep up on movies, and I watch so much TV it’s more of an addiction than a hobby (laughs). Sitcoms are my favourite, and come pilot season, almost all of the new ones get an opportunity to be added to my list. I also have a soft spot for medical dramas, though I will say that they were never easy to watch growing up. The commentary from a room full of doctors, pointing out inconsistencies and ruining plot twists of “House” got old. But, in a way, it also refined my preferences to appreciate the more accurate productions, or alternatively, stories that are so out there that disbelief is a part of the universe. Outside of that, and I know it’s also a bit off the norm, but I read screenplays. You see a movie like Lethal Weapon, which is one of my favourites, but there are little hidden nods and jokes in the script that you would otherwise never get to see. If you’re looking for a recommendation, I really like Shane Black’s (the writer/director of Lethal Weapon) writing style.
What is the best part of your job?
At Hummingbird, it’s the freedom to build my own practice and make my own schedule, but with a strong team of lawyers from diverse practice areas being available to discuss any questions that may arise. The firm is a great team, and it’s reflected in the work we’re able to do for our clients. From what I hear from others, that’s not as standard as it should be.
What is your least favourite part of the job?
Exciting files that don't pan out! I "fall" for these every time and let my excitement and optimism get the best of me.
Where did you complete your LPP work placement?
The same firm I’m at now, Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. The placement was great. I got to rotate through the different practice areas and pick my favourite at the end. I opted to join the corporate team and eventually founded the firm's Entertainment Division.
Describe a particularly memorable experience during the training component of the LPP
During the second in-person session, we role-played (among other scenarios) criminal trials in real courtrooms. The volunteer lawyer who was posing as a judge kicked me out of the courtroom to find a tie, as I wasn't wearing one. What happened next was very memorable. The actor playing my client whipped off his tie and gave it to me. I will never forget that particular interaction as it went on to represent the relationship I hope to always have with my clients: we’re in this together.
Describe a particularly significant experience during the work placement component of the LPP
My first week in the placement was a particularly busy week for the firm. My orientation was put on hold as tasks piled up on my desk. It was amazing to see the firm's lawyers and staff come together to help each other in the crisis, and I was instantly part of the team for doing my share. It was a better initiation than they could have planned.
Describe some of the more particularly helpful tools or skills you acquired during the LPP
Organization is key from a perspective of physical and digital files. The LPP really stressed practice management, and I took a lot of these lessons with me into my current practice. Following the organization theme, the idea of preparing memos for each client call or other encounter seems monotonous and unnecessary at first, but getting into the habit of keeping great notes on client interactions is an amazing practice tool that the LPP definitely prepared me for.
Words of advice can you offer future LPP candidates
So much of the legal profession (especially if you are working in private practice) is networking and business development. Don't forget to take advantage of being in a new social circle! Some participants may be future clients, others will be your peers. It's always nice to know a lawyer in a field you don't practice in when your client has an issue you can't tackle yourself.
