David Whealy
Managing Partner · Sydney
David is the Managing Partner of DWA Entertainment Lawyers and is admitted to practise in the Supreme Court of NSW. He has more than 35 years’ experience in the screen industry as a lawyer, senior executive and executive producer.
His career includes senior executive positions with Omnilab Media, Holding Redlich, Beyond, ABC TV and PolyGram, giving him an inside view of how studios, broadcasters, distributors and production companies make decisions.
David has executive produced more than $500 million of film and television, including The Bank Job, W., Killer Elite, Tomorrow, When the War Began, Bran Nue Dae and The Loved Ones, and more recently Apex for Netflix. His other executive producer credits include The Messenger, Dying Breed, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, 2:22, Locusts and the documentary Birth Time.
His areas of expertise include the use of AI in screen production, copyright, trade marks, Australian and international film and television financing, production and chain of title agreements, distribution, production and marketing funding, and sales. He has advised Australian and international clients, from studios, distributors, broadcasters and major production companies to talent and creatives, on hundreds of film and television projects, with budgets ranging from $500,000 to $180 million.
He advises on official international co-productions and cross-border finance, production company and SPV structures, and the Producer, Location and PDV offsets, and acts for clients in their dealings with Screen Australia, state screen agencies and the Office for the Arts.
His work covers the full life of a project, from development and financing through production, distribution and sales agency, including copyright.
David also acts in entertainment industry disputes, including alternative dispute resolution and matters in the Federal Court and the Administrative Review Tribunal. He takes a pragmatic approach and often resolves disputes without the need for formal proceedings.
Because he has financed and executive produced as well as advised, David brings a producer’s and a financier’s view to every negotiation. His focus is on getting the finance closed and the project made.
