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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.
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
– 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.
Board Positions:
The Recording Academy (Grammy Organization) Governor to the Chicago Chapter Board for the 2010-2012 term
Advisory Council the Midwest Independent Film festival http://www.midwestfilm.com
Recent Panels and Lectures:
Panelist ASCAP Expo Los Angeles 2010
Panelist South by Southwest Music Conference 2010
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
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