In September 2019, California State Legislators passed AB5 (Assembly Bill 5), which limits employers' ability–including production companies–to classify their workers as independent contractors. The bill went into effect on January 1, 2020. Major studios should be able to move forward unscathed, but this new bill will hit the gig economy of freelancers and independent production companies the hardest. In response to growing concern among our members, IDA will be working both to educate the field about the impact of AB5 and to advocate for changes to the legislation that support the careers of independent makers.
To understand how AB5 may affect you, join IDA and NYFA for an information session with Leslie S. Klinger, Vice President of the Motion Picture and Television Tax Institute, who specializes in tax and business law. Klinger will explain the specifics of the bill and will take questions on how you can protect yourself.
Leslie S. Klinger has devoted his legal career to the practices of estate planning, taxation and business Law. As co-founder of Kopple and Klinger in 1992, Les has counseled thousands of clients on matters involving family wealth planning, business succession planning, taxation, and general and complex business transactions. Involved in the entertainment industry himself, many of Les’ clients stem from the music, motion picture and television industries where he has developed an expertise in understanding their unique priorities, needs and goals. rior to co-founding Kopple and Klinger in 1992, Les headed the tax department for the Los Angeles office of a top national law firm. Before that, he chaired the tax department of one of the largest L.A. firms and served on its management committee.