By: Blair Howard (Intern, GHJ) and Lauren Haverlock (Principal, GHJ) Managing executive compensation for the highest paid executives in any company can be difficult, but it becomes much more complex when discussing tax-exempt organizations. Not only must a nonprofit consider the effects of salary levels on the operating budget, the organization must strike a balance [...]

As an international tax expert, traveling to countries around the world gives me a perspective and sense of how other people live and do business. I’ve been to many countries in Europe (to some several times), as well as to Africa and China (including Hong Kong). Most recently, I went to Vietnam and Cambodia, and both countries were very different from the places I vi [...]

The following is adapted from a speech given by Donella at the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women’s Summit on May 23, 2016 (GHJ was a sponsor). Donella is Board President of the Downtown Women’s Center, the only organization in Los Angeles exclusively dedicated to addressing the needs of women overcoming poverty and homelessness in Skid Row. Something very exci [...]

2015 was a record year for Chinese investments in Hollywood. They have grown rapidly over the past couple of years, and with significant deals such as TIK Films’ 3-year slated deal with Lionsgate, Bona Film Group’s 6-picture deal with 20th Century Fox and Huayi Brothers’ 18-picture deal with STX Entertainment, the Chinese investment market is set to soar to yet anothe [...]

Research shows that being positive positions you for success. A defining study of positivity was done by social psychologist Barbara Fredrickson at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill that applies science to positivity. The study found that the biggest benefit of positivity is an enhanced openness and ability to build skills and develop resources for use l [...]

During the last 10 to 20 years, “A-List” actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made famous the quote “Hasta La Vista Baby,” were consistently receiving “first dollar gross” (FDG) deals from most major studios. A FDG deal can be defined as all Revenues (with home video at the industry standard 20-percent royalty) less only “Off-The-Top” Expenses, which typically co [...]

Reflecting on our annual firm-wide Community Day last week, I am reminded of a saying we have here at GHJ: “Serving the nonprofit community is not just what we do; it is who we are.” Community service is a central part of the Firm’s identity, and we promote this company culture throughout our organization by contributing to various local charities (and not just once [...]

Return on investment (or ROI) is no doubt a key metric (and usually the only metric that matters) to business investors. As an outsider to a company, an investor hands over his surplus cash to the owners of that company in the hopes that he will get something greater in return. A little money and a lot of faith are involved in such transactions. Stock traders do it al [...]

Living in Southern California, I can’t help but look at the beautiful ocean and think, “No water?” Of course I know seawater is undrinkable, and yet I still ask myself, “why?” Water usage restrictions are mentioned everywhere in media and around water coolers. Most people think of their baths, showers and brown-green lawns when they talk about saving water and the res [...]

For those of us involved in profit participation, either as talent (actors, directors, producers, creators and/or investors) or representatives thereof (lawyers, business managers, agents and/or auditors), the concept of “Breakeven(s)” is becoming ubiquitous at all major motion picture and television studios for profit participation reporting. You may be asking yourse [...]