In this interview, entertainment attorney Ben Feldman recounts how a producer, Daryl Roth, encouraged him to attend law school after observing his work reviewing deals. Roth wrote a recommendation, prompting Feldman to pursue a legal education, pass the bar, and begin his legal career. His first post‑law job was with attorney Mark Beagleman, a connection forged while Feldman was producing a film during law school. Feldman worked with Beagleman's firm, left briefly for another firm, was offered a partnership, and ultimately returned to Beagleman's firm as a partner, highlighting a full‑circle career progression and the lasting professional relationships that shaped his trajectory.
What led you down this path to become an attorney?
I was working for Daryl Roth, who's a great producer. She just did Kinky Boots. This was 20 years ago. She was so sweet. She said, you know, I think you should go to law school because I think the work that I was doing for her, which was done well, was looking over deals. Sometimes I would take a look at them, and whereas like organizing her call list I was not good at, and I remember I once I once sent a play about these thugs. I sent it to someone who was expecting a musical about animals, animals who were fighting against climate change. And they opened up to all these swear words. Like, I think it was a mammoth type play. And I thought she was going to fire me. And she said, I just think you should go to law school. Very kind person. So she wrote me a recommendation. Yeah, so that got me started.
And then you graduated law school. Yes. You passed your bar, you got that. What was the next step?
The next step, uh, for me was getting a job with, um, uh, Mark Beagleman, who is down the hall still after all of all these years. He— I had been using him on a play, a movie I was producing while in law school. So I said, you have to give me a job. He was very kind to give me a job. So, and then we've been together ever since. I've been working, I mean, I left to go to a different firm for a while, and then they offered me a partnership, but then they dissolved, which was, and I just love those guys. And one woman too. I just was, I'm still friendly with all of them. They were great. And they're all, they're like in 6 different places. And then Mark said, well, come back, you'll be a partner.
So that's pretty fantastic to come full circle from your first job. Yeah, partner.
Yeah, I know. I noticed things always come full circle.
