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| Sally C. Helppie, Of Counsel |
Sally C. Helppie is a 1985 graduate of the UCLA School of Law, who focuses her practice on Entertainment Law and commercial litigation. She recently joined the law firm Tipton Jones as Of Counsel to develop its Entertainment Law section. Previously, she was a partner at Johnson & Wortley (f/k/a Johnson & Gibbs) and Bell Nunnally & Martin.
Sally's entertainment practice runs the gamut from representing high-budget Hollywood productions to small independent productions, as well as individual writers, actors and financiers. Most recently, she has handled legal work for “The Young Victoria,” starring Emily Blunt and produced by Martin Scorcese; the recently-wrapped Mel Gibson star vehicle, “Edge of Darkness;” and Johnny Depp’s new project, “The Rum Diary.” In addition, she regularly helps Texas production companies with cast, crew, equipment, location and union contracts.
In addition to Entertainment law, Sally is a seasoned trial attorney, whose litigation work emphasizes contracts and business torts, software disputes, employment litigation, landlord/tenant and other real estate disputes, trademark and copyright issues, and arbitration (NASD and AAA). Her practice encompasses all aspects of commercial trials and appeals, and she has appeared numerous times before the state and federal courts and various arbitration panels. Sally has been lead counsel in literally hundreds of cases on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, smaller businesses and individuals.
Sally also is a founder and President of Sabbatical Pictures, LLC, a Dallas-based motion picture production company. She produced the action thriller, “Exit Speed,” which enjoyed a limited U.S. theatrical run and wider release abroad; it currently is available on DVD. Sally also produced “The Beacon,” a supernatural chiller that won the top award for Best Feature Film at the 2009 Paranoia Film Festival.
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Education
UCLA School of Law, J.D., 1985
Honors: National Moot Court Team; Moot Court Executive Board; Distinguished Advocate Awards; Recipient, Melvin Belli Advocacy Scholarship; Roscoe Pound Moot Court Winner; Teaching Assistant, Legal Research and Writing.
California State University at Northridge, B.A. summa cum laude, 1982
Honors: Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Society; Sigma Delta Chi Journalism Fraternity; Competitive Forensics Team (state and national awards for debate and speech); Best Writer Award, Department of Journalism, 1982
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Admitted to Practice
Texas, 1985
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
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Professional Associations and Memberships
President, Sabbatical Pictures, LLC
Producers Network, Cannes Film Festival and Market, Member
Dallas Bar Association
Dallas Bar Association Business Litigation Section, Chair 2009
Dallas Bar Association Sports & Entertainment Law Section, Member
Dallas Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Poll subcommittee and Bench Book subcommittee, past co-chair
State Bar of Texas
State Bar of Texas Sports & Entertainment Law Section, Member
National Order of Barristers, Member, 1985-Present
Certified substitute teacher and Mock Trial coach, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (2005-08)
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Honors and Awards
Named a "Super Lawyer" in the Corporate Counsel edition of Super Lawyers 2008, listed as one of the top attorneys in business litigation in the United States
Selected by Texas Monthly as a "Super Lawyer" (2005, 2006, and 2007)
City of Carrollton’s Businesswoman of the Year, 1994
Named to Dallas Business Journal’s Who’s Who list of top Dallas litigators, August, 1993
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Speaking Appearances
Various seminars on ethics, trial issues and feature film production
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