of counsel

Hillel Frankel - CEO / Arts and Entertainment Attorney

Education
DePaul College of Law, Chicago, IL
J. D. May 1993, accepted to the bar October 1993.
University of Illinois at Chicago, B.A. in Political Science, May 1990

Experience
CEO - Entertainment Law Office, P.C.
Of Counsel: Law Office of Gordon V. Levine P.C.
Honky Tonk TV, Invisible Records, Movietrax Inc, Numero Group, Premonition Records, Silver Wrapper Productions

Entertainment Law – Representing record labels, artists, performers, managers, producers and talent buyers. Recording contract negotiation on behalf of artists and labels, preparation of joint venture and partnership agreements between entertainment entities, negotiation and preparation of artists Performance/Touring contracts, management contracts, producer contracts, publishing contracts, song writing contracts, foreign licensing agreements, publishing and master Use licensing for TV and film. Representing artists and record companies at international music conferences including the MIDEM music conference in Cannes, France and the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin Texas.

Internet Law - Negotiate and draft cutting edge agreements involving streaming and downloading music, film and other media. Negotiate and prepare Internet licensing agreements for writers, publishers, labels and artists. Negotiate and draft e-commerce contracts for the sale of goods and services. Counsel entertainment entities and Internet start-ups on a wide range of Internet issues.

Intellectual Property – Filing of Trademark and Copyright applications as well as successful advocacy and litigation on behalf of applicants and clients applying for and defending registered marks. Negotiate and draft agreements involving the purchase, sale and licensing of intellectual property. Negotiate sample licenses, defend, prosecute and successfully promote resolutions on a variety of music sampling issues.

Litigation – Litigate in Federal Court on behalf of copyright owners. Litigate in Chancery Court on behalf of artists and labels with legitimate contract claims. Litigate in State Court on behalf artists and entertainment entities with accounting and collection issues. Regular court appearances on behalf of clients including first and second chair trial experience, as well as experience in all manners of contested motions.

Record Label Representation – Overseeing all manner of legal negotiations and drafting of related contracts, distribution and licensing agreements, as well as trademarks, copyrights and branding agreements. As label manager responsible for the promotion and distribution of product as well as hands on participation in artist development and A&R. Executive and creative director of various compilation albums and Internet music ventures.

Professional Musical Experience:
Toured and recorded two albums on keyboards with the critically acclaimed Grammy nominated LIQUID SOUL. Co-founded and played keyboards, Sax and recorded with Chicago’s most popular band of the 80's HEAVY MANNERS. Toured the US with GENERAL PUBLIC (out of the UK) and the LA based band The BONEDADDYS.

Adjunct Professor/Lecturor:
Taught Entertainment Law 2000-2002 DePaul College of Law. Numerous lectures on entertainment and copyright issues. Panel moderator at Winter Music Conference and other select music conferences.

Board Positions:
The Recording Academy (Grammy Organization) Governor to the Chicago Chapter Board for the 2010-2012 term www.grammys.com
Advisory Council the Midwest Independent Film festival http://www.midwestfilm.com
Chicago International Movies and Music Festival - http://www.cimmfest.org/

Recent Panels and Lectures:
Panelist ASCAP Expo Los Angeles 2011
Panelist South by Southwest Music Conference 2011
Panel moderator at Winter Music Conference, Miami;
Chicago Entertainment Law Committee (Chicago Bar Association);
Chicago Music Commission (Chicago Cultural Center, Mayors Office),
Midwest Film Festival Music Licensing Panel Moderator

Christian Arizmendi

Christian Arizmendi is of Counsel to The Entertainment Law Office, P.C. Mr. Arizmendi earned his law degree from the DePaul University College of Law, where he served as an editor for the Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law and as president of the Latino Law Student Association. His coursework focused on intellectual property law, and he attended an international entertainment law program in London. Mr. Arizmendi was a legal intern at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL, helping to draft agreements and review artist contracts.

Mr. Arizmendi was admitted to practice in the state of Illinois in November 2009. He received a Bachelor of Music in Performing Arts Management from the DePaul University School of Music. As a music student, Mr. Arizmendi performed on the French Horn with the DePaul Wind Symphony, the Chicago Businessmen's Orchestra, and the Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra. He also helped organize the 2005 Chicago Latino Film Festival as an intern for the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago. In his free time, he regularly volunteers with PAWS Chicago.

Christian Arizmendi ejerce como abogado para la firma The Entertainment Law Office, P.C. El Sr. Arizmendi es un egresado de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad DePaul donde ejerció como editor de la Revista de Arte, Tecnología y Leyes sobre la Propiedad Intelectual; además, fungió como presidente de la Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos de Derecho. Christian Arizmendi enfocó su educación académica en las leyes pertenecientes a la propiedad intelectual; asimismo, participó en un programa referente a las leyes internacionales de la industria del entretenimiento que se llevó a cabo en Londres. El Sr. Arizmendi trabajó como pasante legal en el Festival de Ravinia en Highland Park, IL y cuyas funciones incluyeron preparar y revisar los contratos de los artistas participantes.

Christian Arizmendi fue admitido para ejercer la abogacía en el estado de Illinois en Noviembre de 2009. Recibó un título de Bachillerato de Música en la Administración de las Artes Interpretativas en la Facultad de Mœsica de la Universidad DePaul. Durante sus años como estudiante de música, el Sr. Arizmendi, quien es un excelente cornista, llegó a formar parte de la Sinfónica de Viento de la Universidad DePaul, La Orquesta de Chicago Businessmen y la Orquesta Sinfónica de Lake Shore. Desempeñando su labor como pasante en el Centro Cultural Latino de Chicago, participó en la organización del Festival de Cine Latino en dicha ciudad. En su tiempo libre, ofrece regularmente sus servicios como voluntario en PAWS Chicago.

Gordon Levine

Gordon Levine is of Counsel to The Entertainment Law Office, P.C. Specializing in estate and financial planning, general civil and trial practice in state and federal court, civil rights, corporations, personal injury, products liability, professional malpractice, real estate and workers compensation.

Mr. Levine has served as Village Attorney, Forest View, Illinois and Streamwood, Illinois where he gained much experience in trial and appellate litigation and in preparation of opinions, ordinances and contracts. Areas of expertise include: Land use planning and development, construction, labor relations, school law, licensing, civil rights, elections, municipal finance, administrative practice and ethics. Of counsel, Coalition for Political Honesty v. State Board of Elections, 65 Ill.2d 453, 359 N.E.2d 138 (1976), defining the scope of the citizen=s initiative amendment process under the 1970 Illinois Constitution.

EDUCATION
De Paul University, College of Law, Chicago, Illinois - J.D. - June, 1975
Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri - A.B. - June, 1971

AFFILIATIONS
Member, American Trial Lawyers Association. Member, De Paul University Alumni Association. Interlochen Center for the Arts, Alumni Association. Member, Art Institute of Chicago. Member, Museum of Science & Industry.




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