Natasha S. Chee Senior Counsel (510) 451-3300 nchee@donahue.com Download vCard LinkedIn
Natasha S. Chee
Natasha is a Senior Counsel in the Music and Entertainment, and Intellectual Property practice group. Natasha is a seasoned dealmaker and loves working with creative clients from all walks of life. She has a wide breadth of experience negotiating, drafting, and reviewing sophisticated agreements with multi-party entertainment industry professionals for individuals and companies in the film, television, music, video game, and technology industries. She represents world renowned filmmakers, producers, composers, musicians, singer songwriters, video game developers, writers/screenwriters, talent/actors, casting services, and other creatives whose work appear in film, television, new media and beyond.
Natasha has worked on films as an Attorney of Business and Legal Affairs, Music Supervisor, Co-Producer, Post-Production Supervisor, Script Supervisor, and Hair and Makeup for films distributed globally. Natasha is the sole Attorney of Business and Legal Affairs, Music Supervisor, and Post Production Supervisor for Best F(r)iends Volumes 1 + 2 (Lionsgate) starring cult film stars Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero of The Room and The Disaster Artist. She is the Music Supervisor for the Best F(r)iends Vols. 1 + 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack composed by Daniel Platzman of Imagine Dragons. Natasha also worked on Bring Me an Avocado (Co-Producer, Attorney of Business and Legal Affairs, and Music Supervisor) and Eat Surf Love (Script Supervisor, Hair and Makeup). Natasha’s credits can be found on IMDb.
Natasha is a sought-after dynamic and thought-provoking speaker and thought-leader who presents to organizations, universities, and conferences on Entertainment Law, IP, Technology, DEI, Women’s Rights, Wellness, and other cutting edge topics. She is often a keynote speaker, such as her signature “Diversity in Hollywood” presentation that provides an overview of the laws, guilds and unions, and DEI efforts in the entertainment and film industry. She has also authored numerous articles on Entertainment Law, IP Law, Copyright Law, Technology, Filmmaking, DEI, Ethics, LGBTQIA+, and beyond.
Natasha is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal and judiciary field, and in the community at large. Her work on diversity, equity, and inclusion, technology, writing, speaking, and leadership includes her work with many different organizations.
Natasha utilized her French fluency in an internship at a French IP and Business Law Firm in Marseille, France. She learned about the French legal/judicial system, IP, corporate formation/structure, dealmaking, and litigation.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Natasha worked as a biochemist for several biotechnology companies. Her biotech work included research of pharmaceutical and medical devices going through various stages of clinical trials for FDA approval. She has extensive first-hand knowledge of the regulatory procedures and processes for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
Natasha is an avid film/television/music/art lover, literati, photographer, painter, world traveler, hiker, swimmer, knitter, sourdough bread baker, and lover of the great outdoors! She’s married to Jeff Thayer, who is a Partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard Smith LLP.
Professional & Community Affiliations
- Vice Chair (2024), Secretary (2023), IP and Internet Law Section, Bar Association of San Francisco
- Solo and Small Firm Section Board Member; Barristers Section Board Member; Women’s Section – President, VP, Ex Officio, California Women Lawyers Affiliate Governor, Committees: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Website; Communications; and Wellness, Contra Costa County Bar Association
- Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association
- Member, Women in Film
- Member, Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
- Member, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California
- Member, NFALA
- Member, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- Co-Chair, Northern California Ethics & Wellness Committee, California Judges Association
- Producing and Writing Lab Project Participant, Stowe Story Labs
- Newsletter Editor, Affiliate Governor, Technology Committee Chair, California Women Lawyers
- Member, Robert G. McGrath American Inn of Court
- Member, Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society
- Member, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Alumni Association
Recognition
- Named, Northern California Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2023-present
- Named, Super Lawyers Northern California Rising Star, , 2013-2017
- Awarded, Diversity Award Platinum, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2020-2023
- Named, Pro Bono Honor Roll, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2021-2023
- Awarded, Diversity Award Silver, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2018
- Awarded, Pro Bono Award, Santa Clara University School of Law, 2003-2005
Recent Articles/News
Past Articles/News
- Lawyers Find Wellness Through Art, Craft, and Creativity, Contra Costa Lawyer, May 2021
- A Force to Reckon With: Force Majeure in the Age of Covid-19, California Lawyers Association – Business Law News, Issue 3, 2020.
- #METOO – Can It Be Used As An Excuse? Frustration of Purpose and Other Theories Used to Excuse Performance in Entertainment and Business Deals, California Lawyers Association – Business Law News, Issue 4, 2019.
- Work Made for Hire – Effect on Copyright and Employment Laws in the Tech and Entertainment Industries After Dynamex and AB5, Contra Costa Lawyer, March 2020.
- Know Your New Rules (MCLE Self-Study Article), Contra Costa Bar Association MCLE Spectacular, November 16, 2018.
- Hassell V. Bird: What’s the Big Hassle, Yelp?, Contra Costa Lawyer, September 2017.
- Do you Google? Catherine Lacavera Does. An Interview with Catherine Lacavera, Director of Litigation at Google., California Women Lawyers Publication, March 2013.
- Prop 8 – Marriage is a Fundamental Civil Right for All, California Women Lawyers Publication, April 2012.
- Impeccable French Style Does Not Include Covering Your Face: France Bans Face Coverings in Public, California Women Lawyers Publication, June 2011.
Recent Speaking Engagements
October 10, 2024 | San Francisco, CA
“Technotainment” 2024: Distributing Content Across Multiple Platforms
Practising Law Institute
August 10, 2024 | Lafayette, CA
Boss Chicks – She Works Hard for the Money!
Be Conference 2024
June 21, 2024 | Virtual
Mika Domingo’s On the Menu
Mika Domingo Law Group
May 21, 2024 | Concord, CA
From Labels to Layers: Building Bridges Beyond Bias
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Past Speaking Engagements
- Representing a Community: A Fireside Chat with Judge Benjamin T. Reyes II & Natasha Chee MCLE, Contra Costa County Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Section Summit, May 3, 2024.
- Behind the Scenes: The Roles and Responsibilities of Lawyers in the Film & TV Industries, Santa Clara University School of Law – Sports and Entertainment Law Society, March 6, 2024.
- Legal Forum on Entertainment Law, UC Berkeley Kappa Alpha Pi Psi Class, November 7, 2023.
- Am I Ok? Recognizing Sign of Mental Health Impairment in Attorneys, Contra Costa County Bar Association MCLE Spectacular, November 3, 2023.
- Alcohol, Women & Wellness, California Women Lawyers Annual Conference, May 19, 2023.
- Entertainment Law in the Film & Music Industry, University of California Irvine – Business Careers in Entertainment Club, May 25, 2022.
- Various Ethics & Wellness MCLE presentations for lawyers and law students, California Judges Association, July 2020 – Present.
- Diversity and Inclusion in Hollywood MCLE, Berkeley Law Sports & Entertainment Conference – Lunch Keynote Speaker, April 8, 2022.
- Diversity in Hollywood MCLE, Santa Clara University School of Law – Sports & Entertainment Law Section, November 12, 2021.
- Pathways to Becoming an Attorney, iFund Education, October 23, 2021.
- Diversity in Filmmaking, Contra Costa County Bar Association, April 22, 2021.
- Contra Costa Bar Association Visual Art Show, Contra Costa County Bar Association, February 9, 2021.
- Diversity in the Entertainment Industry & Filmmaking, California Women Lawyers, July 16, 2020.
- Ear Gab Podcast – Jason Clark Interviews Natasha Chee, Ear Bag Podcast, October 10, 2019.
- An Evening with Greg Sestero and Natasha Chee – Diversity in Film, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, July 17, 2019.
- Climate Change Hike, Contra Costa County Bar Association, September 30, 2017.
- Trials 101: Civil Pretrial Case Management, Contra Costa County Bar Association, October 31, 2017.
- Trials 101: Civil and Criminal Case Management Essentials – Part 4: Trail Part 1: What to Prepare for the Trial and What Happens During the Trial, Contra Costa County Bar Association, September 9, 2014.
- Trials 101: Civil and Criminal Case Management Essentials – Part 3: Experts, Investigations and the Next Step…, Contra Costa County Bar Association, August 5, 2014.
- Trials 101: Civil and Criminal Case Management Essentials – Part 5: Trail Part 2: Testimony, Openings & Closings, Appeals/Writs, Contra Costa County Bar Association, October 7, 2014.
- Lights, Camera, Copyrights! Copyrights in Film, Garcia V. Google and SCOTUS Updates, Contra Costa County Bar Association, June 19, 2014.
- Trials 101: Civil and Criminal Case Management Essentials – Part 2: Discovery & Pre-Trail Motions, Contra Costa County Bar Association, July 8, 2014.
- Trials 101: Civil and Criminal Case Management Essentials – Part 1: Complaint! Now What?, Contra Costa County Bar Association, June 3, 2014.