Importance of Good Negotiation Interview with Arts & Entertainment Lawyer Clayborne E. Chavers Esq.

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Clayborne E. Chavers Esq. is a prominent Washington D.C. lawyer practicing law for over 30 years. His law firm The Chavers Law Firm focuses on a wide variety of law practices including Intellectual Property, Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law, Internet law, and Corporate Law to name a few. In November of 1996 he was named as one of the top Arts and Entertainment lawyers in the greater Washington D.C. area. In April of 2012 he was rated as AV Preeminent Attorney. Among his notable achievements and acknowledgements he has worked hard in the negotiation room working to get his clients the best deal possible while satisfying the wants and needs of his clients.

One of the things that recording artist and bands need is a good negotiator on the team. When that lucky artist or band gets to the negotiation table at an indie or major record label that negotiator needs to be able to get the best deal for both parties. In a recent phone interview with Clay Chavers Esq I asked him three questions related to his experience with negotiation. The first question was “How do you separate the people from the problem?” He stated and I quote, “I am not sure you would separate the people from the problem because with out the people the problem wouldn’t be something that I would concern myself with.  My focus is on what’s best for the people I represent so if they have a problem I would have to adjust that problem. The focus should be on how best to resolve the problem.”

My second question to him was “How do you handle positional bargaining tactics?” He stated and I quote “You have to justify or reconcile what your position is specific to your opposition and its better to be in a position where you are not being dictated to yet you are doing the dictating. One way to achieve this he said is to let the other side make the offer and then that gives you time access the offer and make your move on what you think is best for your client in regards to that offer. The third question I asked him was “Can you give me an example of how you worked toward mutual benefit when you were negotiating a deal?” He stated and I quote, “You have to always have everybody give a little something they want and give up a little something they want. If you have a deal that is overly advantage to your client and not to the person you are doing business with, they will be dissatisfied and find ways to get out of it.” He also stated that “In every good deal everybody should give up something and everybody should get something. If you don’t achieve that it is unlikely you will have a relationship of long duration.”