My Lawyer Friend Podcast

Moving Abroad Series, Don’t Move — Rent: Turning Your House into Income Before You Go - EP 11

This week Anne and Brittany are back with Part 3 of their Moving Abroad series, diving into the legal side of leaving the United States—and how to make your assets work for you while you’re gone. Brittany breaks down her plan for her Los Angeles property, turning her home into a rental and converting a detached garage into an Airbnb and podcast studio rental to create multiple income streams while living abroad. If you’ve ever thought about renting out your property, this is the real-world strategy behind it. They also get into the details most people overlook—like ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), why California and namely, Los Angeles, has made them easier to acquire, and how permits can actually increase your property value and income potential. Brittany walks through her full ADU plan, while Anne explains the legal considerations that come with it. Whether you’re moving abroad, or just looking to maximize your property, this episode is packed with practical insight. 🎧 Spotify: Search "My Lawyer Friend" 📺 YouTube: / @mylawyerfriendpod 🎙️ Apple Podcasts & everywhere you listen Follow us: 🌐 Website: mylawyerfriendpodcast.com 📩 Substack: mylawyerfriend.substack.com 📱 Instagram & TikTok: @mylawyerfriendpod | @mylawyerfriendpodcast 👩‍⚖️ Anne Easton: Entertainment & corporate attorney | Blakemore Law | blakemore-law.com 💼 Brittany Ledford: Serial entrepreneur & your business bud Credits: Host, Producer, Creator: Anne Easton Co-Host, Producer, Creator: Brittany Ledford Production Services: Will Edmiston and The Village LA Editor: Larry Lane Producer: Keenan O'Keefe-Easton Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney. #MovingAbroad #ParisFrance #ExpatLife #DigitalNomad #VisaTips #FranceVisa #RemoteWorkLife #LivingInParis #LawFirmLife #TaxesExplained #EntrepreneurVisa #ImmigrationLawyer #TravelGoals #LifeChange #WorkFromAnywhere

Moving Abroad: She’s Moving to Italy.. And Her Pet Pigs Are Too (Visas & Pet Transport) - EP 10

This week Anne and Brittany are back with Part 2 of their Moving Abroad series, and Brittany takes center stage as she breaks down her decision to leave the U.S. for Italy. From figuring out what to do with property to the chaos of moving pets internationally, this episode gets into the real logistics most people don’t think about. Brittany shares the wild process of bringing her two pot belly pigs overseas, including working with a USDA Category 2 veterinarian and how animal transport actually works. Anne steps in with expert insight on visas, explaining the digital nomad visa and offering guidance as Brittany navigates her options. They also get into how running a U.S.-based business works while living in Europe, plus the tax and lifestyle considerations that come with it. To wrap it up, they share a practical checklist of everything you need to think about before making the leap to France or Italy, no sugarcoating, just real planning. We will need a link for your checklist. 🎧 Spotify: Search "My Lawyer Friend" 📺 YouTube: / @mylawyerfriendpod 🎙️ Apple Podcasts & everywhere you listen Follow us: 🌐 Website: mylawyerfriendpodcast.com 📩 Substack: mylawyerfriend.substack.com 📱 Instagram & TikTok: @mylawyerfriend.podcast | @mylawyerfriendpodcast 👩‍⚖️ Anne Easton: Entertainment & corporate attorney | Blakemore Law | blakemore-law.com 💼 Brittany Ledford: Serial entrepreneur & your business buddy Credits: Host, Producer, Creator: Anne Easton Co-Host, Producer, Creator: Brittany Ledford Production Services: Will Edmiston and The Village LA Editor: Larry Lane Producer: Keenan O'Keefe-Easton Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney. #MovingAbroad #ParisFrance #ExpatLife #DigitalNomad #VisaTips #FranceVisa #RemoteWorkLife #LivingInParis #LawFirmLife #TaxesExplained #EntrepreneurVisa #ImmigrationLawyer #TravelGoals #LifeChange #WorkFromAnywhere

Moving Abroad: From the United States to France (Visas, Taxes & Mistakes To Avoid) - EP 9

This week Anne and Brittany kick off part 1 of their Moving Abroad Series as they break down the legal realities not many people talk about—and it starts with a bombshell: Anne is officially moving to Paris. They break down the full year of planning, scheming, and decision-making that led to this moment, including how Anne will continue running her California-based law firm remotely while living in France. From choosing the Long Stay Visitor “Visiteur” Visa to navigating the restrictions (like not being allowed to work in France), Anne explains exactly how she’ll maintain her U.S. clients while building a new life overseas. The conversation dives into the real stuff people get wrong—especially freelancers trying to move abroad—like visa mistakes, tax complications, and avoiding getting taxed in both countries. Brittany (reluctantly) brings up taxes, sparking a deep dive into how this move impacts Anne’s business and personal finances, plus what it would take to eventually work legally in France. They also touch on the Entrepreneur Visa, why hiring an immigration lawyer matters, and Anne’s bigger visions from launching a masterclass to creating content in Paris. 🎧 Spotify: Search "My Lawyer Friend" 📺 YouTube: / @mylawyerfriendpod 🎙️ Apple Podcasts & everywhere you listen Follow us: 🌐 Website: mylawyerfriendpodcast.com 📩 Substack: mylawyerfriend.substack.com 📱 Instagram & TikTok: @mylawyerfriend.podcast | @mylawyerfriendpodcast 👩‍⚖️ Anne Easton: Entertainment & corporate attorney | Blakemore Law | blakemore-law.com 💼 Brittany Ledford: Serial entrepreneur & your business buddy Credits: Host, Producer, Creator: Anne Easton Co-Host, Producer, Creator: Brittany Ledford Production Services: Will Edmiston and The Village LA Editor: Larry Lane Producer: Keenan O'Keefe-Easton Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney. #MovingAbroad #ParisFrance #ExpatLife #DigitalNomad #VisaTips #FranceVisa #RemoteWorkLife #LivingInParis #LawFirmLife #TaxesExplained #EntrepreneurVisa #ImmigrationLawyer #TravelGoals #LifeChange #WorkFromAnywhere

Episode 8: From Script to Screen. The Legal Essentials Every Filmmaker Needs to Know

What does it actually take to get a film off the ground — legally, creatively, and professionally? Miles Alva is an independent film producer and studio executive whose award-winning films have been distributed by Disney, 20th Century Fox, Amazon, and Netflix. Most recently, he produced the A24 film Misty Green, written and directed by Chris Rock. In this episode, Anne sits down with Miles to break down the legal essentials every filmmaker needs to know — from the moment that great script lands in your hands — and to pull back the curtain on what it really means to build a career in Hollywood. What we cover: * The key legal steps every filmmaker should take at inception: incorporation, media insurance, and shopping agreements * What "piercing the corporate veil" means and why paying your taxes on a production entity actually matters * Chain of title — what it is, why every distributor will require it, and what happens when a lawyer gets it wrong * The CAMA collection account: what it does and why the language in those agreements is critical * What production attorneys actually do, and when you need in-house versus outside counsel * How Miles broke into the industry — community college to USC film school to A24 * Misty Green: the star-studded cast, the Chris Rock you haven't seen before, and why Cannes is the target * The Netflix/Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition conversation — and what it means for independent producers ABOUT MILES ALVA Miles Alva is an independent film producer and studio executive based in Los Angeles. His award-winning films have been showcased at prestigious festivals and distributed by major studios including Disney, 20th Century Fox, Amazon, and Netflix. Most recently, he produced Misty Green for A24, written and directed by Chris Rock, starring Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Rosalind Elazar, Anna Kendrick, Anthony Anderson, Busta Rhymes, Topher Grace, and Alexandra Shipp. LINKS: * Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts: https://mylawyerfriendpodcast.com/ [https://mylawyerfriendpodcast.com/] * Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyLawyerFriendPod [https://www.youtube.com/@MyLawyerFriendPod] * Follow MLF on Instagram: @mylawyerfriend.podcast * Follow MLF on TikTok: @mylawyerfriendpodcast * Substack: https://mylawyerfriend.substack.com/ [https://mylawyerfriend.substack.com/] My Lawyer Friend is hosted by Anne Easton, entertainment and corporate attorney, and Brittany Ledford, serial entrepreneur. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Episode 7: Production Finance, Guild Compliance & the Inner Work of High-Powered Women

What does it look like to sit at the intersection of Hollywood finance, guild compliance, and a deeply intentional inner life? Heather Heukrodt has spent her career managing the financial infrastructure of major productions — ensuring writers, crew, and talent actually receive what they negotiated, even when the bureaucracy makes that harder than it should be. As Head of Production Finance at Boat Rocker Media, she operates inside one of the most complex roles in Hollywood. She's also the founder of Luminary Soul, an energy and sound healing practice helping high-achieving women break through the blocks that ambition alone can't fix. In this episode, Anne sits down with Heather to talk through what production finance actually does, what WGA compliance looks like from the inside, and the conversation about masculine/feminine polarity that nobody is having at the office. This one moves between the boardroom and the soul — with zero apology. What we cover: * What production finance actually does and why it matters to every person on a production * WGA compliance from the inside: what it means to genuinely want to pay people correctly * When the machine makes it hard to be honest — bureaucracy, silos, and the reality of big productions * How a production finance executive became a certified energy healer * The masculine/feminine polarity conversation that high-achieving women need to have * What it means for a man to be a true pillar — and why strong women need that more, not less * The inner work that ambition alone can't replace ABOUT HEATHER HEUKRODT Heather Heukrodt is Head of Production Finance at Boat Rocker Media, one of the leading independent entertainment studios in the world, with credits spanning scripted drama, unscripted, animation, and documentary. With years of experience managing the financial infrastructure of major productions, Heather brings a rare combination of technical precision and industry fluency to one of the most complex roles in Hollywood. She is also the founder of Luminary Soul, an energy and sound healing practice dedicated to helping high-achieving leaders and healers break through self-sabotage and align with their highest vision. Her work integrates intuitive energy healing, chakra work, and somatic practices to support clients in transformation that goes deeper than strategy. 🔗 Learn more about Luminary Soul: https://www.luminary-soul.com [https://www.luminary-soul.com] 📲 Instagram: @_luminarysoul | @heukrodt LINKS: * Boat Rocker Media: https://www.boatrocker.com [https://www.boatrocker.com] * Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts: https://mylawyerfriendpodcast.com/ [https://mylawyerfriendpodcast.com/] * Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyLawyerFriendPod [https://www.youtube.com/@MyLawyerFriendPod] * Follow MLF on Instagram: @mylawyerfriend.podcast * Follow MLF on TikTok: @mylawyerfriendpodcast * Substack: https://mylawyerfriend.substack.com/ [https://mylawyerfriend.substack.com/] My Lawyer Friend is hosted by Anne Easton, entertainment and corporate attorney, and Brittany Ledford, serial entrepreneur. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney.