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 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.
In House Counsel: EsNtion Records,
O.I.E Records, NoVo Records, Kinetic
Artist Agency
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
– Acting house counsel for
EsNtion Records, NoVo Records and
O.I.E Records. Responsible for overseeing
all manner of legal negotiations
and drafting of related contracts
and licensing agreements. Acting
in-house counsel and label manager
for Internal Bass Records America,
UK based label responsible for the
release of Down To The Bone and
other top rated jazz acts. As label
manager responsible for the promotion
and distribution of all 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.
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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.