Elberger Adds Another Credit to Entertainment Law Practice

Jan 3, 2013

Bose McKinney & Evans Attorney Represented Production Company Behind New Reality TV Series – Hardcore Pawn: Chicago

A new reality television series premiered this week, due in part to the work of a long-time attorney with Bose McKinney & Evans LLP. Partner Ronald Elberger, who chairs the firm’s Sports, Entertainment and Media Group, represented American Mass Media Corporation during the production of Hardcore Pawn: Chicago. His work included negotiating the production agreement, all talent agreements and the profit participation percentages.
The show, which airs Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on cable network truTV, follows the real-life over-the-top dealings of brothers Randy and Wayne Cohen who own and operate Royal Pawn Shop, the oldest pawn shop in Chicago.
The premiere of Hardcore Pawn: Chicago drew more than 2.1 million viewers, which represented truTV’s biggest series launch. The original Hardcore Pawn, which is set at American Jewelry & Loan in Detroit, is now in its sixth season.
“We are very impressed with Ron’s experience. The confidence and insight with which he advised us and our clients could only have come from years of dealing with similar cases in the entertainment business,” said Shelly Ng, president of American Mass Media Corporation, personal manager for the Cohens, and producer of Hardcore Pawn: Chicago.
Given Elberger’s many years of practice in entertainment law, his work on Hardcore Pawn: Chicago is not his first foray into film and television. He has represented clients ranging from talk show host David Letterman to American outdoorsman Aron Ralston, whose autobiography, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, became the basis of the Academy Award nominated film, 127 Hours starring actor James Franco.
In addition to entertainment law, Elberger focuses his practice in the areas of litigation, constitutional/civil rights law, sports law, appellate law and professional responsibility/disciplinary law. He also is a member and former chair of the firm’s Litigation Group, and a member of the Appellate Group and Health Group.
Elberger has been included in the “The Best Lawyers in America®” for more than 15 years in the areas of commercial litigation, sports, entertainment, legal malpractice and professional responsibility/ethics. He serves on the board of directors for the Ball State University Digital Policy Institute, on the advisory board for Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc., as a Distinguished Advisor to the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and is a former member of the National Council for the School of Media and Public Affairs of The George Washington University.