staff

Hillel Frankel (Frankie) - 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.
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.

Gina Gerardi - Music Licensing

Gina develops music licensing opportunities in TV, Film, Gaming and advertising media, as well as negotiating licensing contracts on behalf of Artists and Record Labels.

Gina Gerardi completed her undergraduate career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a major in Speech Communication and a minor in Sociology in May of 2002.  Gina then moved to Florida to obtain her Juris Doctor at the University of Miami School of Law. Throughout Law School, Gina was very involved with the Moot Court Board, the Student Bar Association, and the Entertainment & Sports Law Society.  After graduation, Gina moved back home to the Chicago-land area.  She is currently licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois.




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