Lawyers like to tell you what they’ve done.  You’re supposed to be impressed.

Don’t be, unless they go on to demonstrate how what they’ve done can help solve your problems.

Doing What’s Right

I represented the New York State Museum in negotiations leading to the repatriation of twelve sacred wampum belts to the Onondaga Nation.  If you’re committed to doing what’s right, we might be a good match. If you’re not? No.

Being Creative

My undergraduate degree is in music, and now I’m a photographer (on Instagram: @e9tusu). I’m currently working on a photo/video project, finding out what people think about the 27 amendments to the United States Constitution. It’s called the 27 Project. If you are so inclined, please spread the word!

I’m also the host of an 11-part podcast called DOPPELNAMERS. It’s the story of my doppelnamer, a pioneer named Elizabeth Russell who was tried for murder in 1892. Her story has endless parallels to issues that still plague our society today. Listen on your podcast platform of choice; links are all available at doppelnamers.com.

I’ve worked in arts administration. I know what it’s like to be a creative. If you want a lawyer who’s maybe walked in your shoes, we might be a good match. I’m also a good match for those in completely unrelated industries. Why? Because creatives are curious. Learning about your industry will be very fun for me. And I might notice things that you do not.

Writing and Teaching

I take complicated issues and explain them in understandable terms. I am the author of Arts Law Conversations: A Surprisingly Readable Guide for Arts Entrepreneurs  and a companion volume, Copyright Conversations: What Estate Planners Need to Know. My books have won national awards and are used in college classrooms. They also serve as daily references for creatives and the professionals who serve them.

I wrote the curriculum and taught Copyright Management at Madison Media Institute; Law for Artists at the State University of New York College at Fredonia; and Legal Issues for Artists at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I offer a two-day, one-credit class that any college could host, either in person or virtually. Ask me about it!

I know how to explain things so you can understand.

Professional Credentials

I earned my law degree from New York’s Pace University School of Law, where I served as a member of the Pace Law Review.  I am admitted to practice law in the states of New York, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Maine.

Early in my career I represented New York’s Commissioner of Education, successfully, in litigation before the United States Supreme Court. I have been a solo practitioner since 2000. I focus my practice on what interests me: copyright and trademark (as they apply to all industries) and the arts. That’s it. That focus keeps me interested and engaged, which in turn makes me a better practitioner.

I am the Past Chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law section of the State Bar of Wisconsin and a member of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law section of the New York State Bar Association.

Here is my LinkedIn profile.

Why?

Many creatives and entrepreneurs consider copyright and trademark to be impediments. It’s a pain and a time-suck to navigate inscrutably complicated systems; it should be easier. Why would I choose to make this my life’s work?

My answer:  So you can get on with your important work. Copyright law exists. Trademark law exists. Just like gunked up plumbing; just like broken bones; just like flat tires. We can’t make those things not happen, and we ignore them at our peril. If we want to keep things running, we need to address them.

We also need help. We can’t do everything ourselves.

I don’t practice copyright and trademark law because I love the system. I’m not an evangelist. I practice copyright and trademark law, quite honestly, because of who I get to hang out with. I enjoy kind, creative people. My skills and experience allow me to be of service to kind, creative people. That’s my “why.”

Personal

I am originally from Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York.  I lived in Madison, Wisconsin for 29 years. I now live in Yarmouth, Maine, where and  I serve on the public art committee of the Yarmouth Arts Alliance. My trademark clients are from most states and many countries and nobody really cares that my body sits and sleeps in Maine. Well, nobody except me. I very much love that my body sits and sleeps in Maine.