Areas of Practice
Business FORMATION AND STRATEGY
The world of business is ever growing and evolving, and I’m not just talking about startups. With the consistent grow of commercial transactions and the globalization, the opportunity for profit grows, but so does the complexity. I take pride in clearly explaining and navigating the often foggy landscape of business law. I help decision makers weigh the pros and cons of each entity when they’re starting a business. I help them file the paperwork to formally start the business. I draft and negotiate contracts relating to employment considerations, sales of consumer goods, intellectual property. I help businesses in both good times and bad.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Ideas, tangible or not, are the most important things to protect in today’s competitive creative market. With so many channels and constantly replenishing feeds to watch out for, tracing the ownership and originality of a design, brand name, or invention needs the laser-focused eye of a trained attorney. I’ll handle the search, application, and filing process of trademarks, copyrights, and patents.
Defamation & Image Rights
Maintaining the integrity of your public image is an inseparable part of your business, whether you’re a creative individual or a small company. Protecting your privacy and your public image from slander and libel is only one side of the coin; negotiating sponsorships, public appearances, and endorsements is the other. I advise on both, offering litigation and dispute resolution, defamation (pre and post publication), and other image protection mechanisms—all so you can amplify and control the way you want the world to see you.
marketing and advertising, telemarketing
The way people consume is constantly in flux, so the laws must adapt quickly. The Internet connects marketers to customers around the world. Each and every day we see countless television commercials, magazine ads, billboards, posters, and more – all meant to convince us to buy one product or another. Under the law, claims in advertisements must be truthful, cannot be deceptive or unfair, and must be evidence-based. For some specialized products or services, additional rules may apply. I work to bring either civil or criminal penalties against companies who violate advertising laws. I also help my clients (startups and businesses) advising them to ensure that they are operating within advertising regulations at all times.
Art Litigation
Demystifying art law is in itself a creative practice. It requires finesse, strategic structuring, and, in many ways, empathy. At the end of the day, art and its worth is profoundly personal. In such matters, mediation or arbitration almost always yields the most fulfilling results. However, should the occasion arise, I’m more than prepared to move into litigation.
LIABILITY & RISK
Whether you run a theater, recording studio, or an eCommerce website, all businesses need to minimize their legal liability and risk. I will assess the structure of your operation, such as its physical or digital space, the types of products you sell, who your consumers are, what type of company you have filed under (LLC, Inc, GmbH etc.), and so on. From there, I will tailor the right risk plan, complete with permit applications, insurance policies, and more, so you can worry less about liabilities and concentrate on growing your business.
consumer privacy, data security, credit reporting
Consumers care about the privacy of their personal information and savvy businesses understand the importance of being clear about what you do with consumers data. Having a sound security plan in place to collect only what you need, keep it safe, and dispose of it securely can help companies and startups meet their legal obligations to protect personal and sensitive data. I help businesses and consumers in a wide variety of contexts. For example, advising businesses in how to implement and comply with privacy regulations, helping consumers to protect their privacy or claim compensation for actual financial losses and emotional distress due to invasion of privacy.
DIGITAL MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
The internet, software, and technology are so pervasive that we can’t remember having ever lived without them. They make our lives simpler, but behind the curtain are fluctuating challenges in protection and monetization; I help engineers, inventors, gaming startups, and entrepreneurs develop, license, sell, and maintain ownership over their creations.