Atlanta Lawyer Robert S. Giolito has become General Counsel to the Director’s Guild of America (DGA). Giolito succeeds retiring Counsel, Elliott Williams. Giolito said his responsibilities will include “protecting and enforcing DGA members’ contractual rights, with a special emphasis on the director’s creative rights in the film process… We’re also developing a political action committee (PAC) and getting more involved in the political process, especially runaway production.”

Giolito’s most recent association is Founding Partner and Managing Partner of Atlanta law firm, Stanford, Fagan & Giolito, which opened in 1977. The firm will continue its practice as Stanford, Fagan. Before that, Giolito was an Associate with Adair, Goldthwaite, Stanford & Daniel. Since graduation from the University of Wisconsin Law School, he has primarily served in labor and employment law.

DGA recruited Giolito, who for years has represented unions in the entertainment industry including all of the IATSE Studio Mechanic Locals in the Southeast, Atlanta, Wilmington, Florida, New Orleans, and Tennessee. “I was not looking to leave Atlanta! But I love labor and entertainment law and the film industry, and the DGA is the pinnacle, “ said Giolito who will relocate to Los Angeles. ”I started representing the below the line crews about a dozen years ago, and noticed that they had real bargaining strength, in contrast with most of my other labor clients. This was a breath of fresh air for a Southern labor lawyer... the meld of creativity and technical finesse essential to producing motion pictures fascinated me. And the people, well, what can you say about having the opportunity of representing the most talented and creative group of artisans in the country?”