Dixon Q. Dern was a longtime Hollywood attorney who helped shape modern entertainment law through many innovative business deals.

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dern earned undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford University. He came to Los Angeles as television was becoming a major force in the 1950s, representing major clients like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

A founding partner of Dern, Mason, Swerdlow & Floum, he helped build the firm's major entertainment law practice and played a role in the founding of Creative Artists Agency. In a career that spanned more than seven decades, Dern became one of Hollywood's top attorneys and pioneered groundbreaking business structures.

As head of the legal department at Desilu Productions, he helped structure the company's business affairs during the period when television syndication became an important and lucrative economic model.

Dern served as an arbitrator and mediator in entertainment and labor disputes starting in 1967. He served as VP and a Member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California; President of the Beverly Hills Bar Association; Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association; and President of the Los Angeles Copyright Society.

In 2009, the Television Academy honored him with its prestigious Syd Cassyd Founder's Award, which recognizes Academy members who have made significant, positive contributions to the organization over many years of involvement and service.