Case List

Real Estate Purchase: Theater

24-0981 Suburban nonprofit theater company is planning to purchase the building that they have rented for many years. They need counsel to assist throughout this process.

Contract Review: Lease Negotiation: Theater

24-0972 Suburban nonprofit theater company is planning to open a new arts education hub and need counsel to help negotiate the lease.

Evaluation: Contract Termination: Music

24-0956 Rock band is currently signed with an Italian music label, but are interested in exploring other options. They need counsel to review the recording contract and evaluate their rights to terminate the agreement.

Start-up: Literature

24-0954 Author has been self-publishing under a sole proprietorship for the past several years. They are now interested in registering the company as an LLC and need counsel to provide general start-up advice, help with entity formation, and draft an operating agreement.

Evaluation: Royalty Collection: Literature

24-0945 Author entered into a publishing agreement with a hybrid publisher that has now begun withholding royalty statements. Author needs counsel to review the agreement, evaluate their rights, and, if appropriate, obtain a royalty statement to determine amounts owed.

Contract Drafting: Franchise Agreement: Literature

24-0934 Start-up that organizes running tours and book club runs inspired by books set in various Chicago is preparing to franchise the business to allow others to offer similar tours in various cities. They need counsel to help develop a standard franchise model and agreement.

Evaluation: Collection: Real Estate

24-0910 Musician sold a house in early 2022. The sale agreement provided the musician with four years of pre-paid rent to reside in the property. In 2023, Musician moved out and began treatment for alcohol abuse disorder. He is set to complete this program in September 2024 and needs counsel to try to recover the amount of unused pre-paid rent from the current owner, or regain access to the property.

Nonprofit: Planned Giving: Music

24-0903 Non-profit recording studio is developing a new planned giving program and need counsel to develop standard language for prospective donors’ estate planning documents and assistance preparing to accept non-cash gifts.

Trademark Registration: Film

20-848 Film producer of a live action adventure film embedded in a comedy series needs help with trademark registration for two word marks and a logo.

Contract Drafting: Producer/Director Agreement: Film

24-0898 Producer/director is planning to collaborate with a filmmaker on an upcoming limited series. She will be contributing her services as a producer, director, and casting director and needs counsel to draft an agreement memorializing terms.

Dispute: Unjust Enrichment: Theater

24-0892 Client is a theatrical producer. Approximately fifteen years ago, a judgment was entered ordering client to pay a large sum of money to another production company, and allowing the other production company to withhold royalty payments until such time that the judgment was satisfied. Client now believes that the judgement was satisfied several years ago, but the adverse party refuses to provide an accounting. Client recently filed suit for fraud, unjust enrichment, abuse of process, and accounting. Current counsel is affiliated with a law school clinic and is unable to continue representation. Client needs counsel to assist with litigation.

Dispute: Right of Publicity: Film

24-0887 Actress performed in several feature films that were recently released on streaming services. The films included scenes simulating sexual and intimate activities. Soon after release, a pornographic website requiring a paid subscription began selling access the relevant scenes without permission of the production company or the actress herself. Actress needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for violation of her right of publicity or any other relevant cause of action.

Dispute: Collection: Visual Arts

24-0884 Visual artist was the victim of a scam perpetrated by a commercial landlord. Previous LCA counsel was able to obtain a judgment in her favor for the full amount of damages. She now needs counsel to help enforce the judgment.

Nonprofit: Bylaws Review: Music

24-0879 Start-up nonprofit music organization needs counsel to review and, if appropriate, update their draft bylaws.

Content Clearance: Music

24-0877 College acapella group focused on fusion Bollywood songs regularly records their arrangements/mashups for distribution with a DIY distributor. They have recently received a number of copyright strikes on these recordings and need counsel to help resolve the strikes and advise on the required clearance process.

Contract Drafting: Investment Agreement: Film

24-0874 Film producer is in development for a narrative feature film and needs counsel to draft investment agreements and put together a Private Placement Memorandum.

Dispute: Social Media Access: Visual Art

24-0873 Visual artist maintains two social media pages. They were recently the victim of a hack, and lost access to the social media pages. They need help regaining access to their pages.

Trademark Registration: Music

24-0869 R&B singer-songwriter and keyboard player needs help with trademark registration for her stage name.

Real Estate: Zoning Variation: Theater

24-0841 Nonprofit theater company is building out a new space and is currently applying for a Public Place of Amusement License. They worked with the alderman to have the zoning changed to B-3-1, allowing them to open a theater with a PPA license. However, as there are residences located within 125ft of the space, the City of Chicago has requested that we apply for a zoning variation before they can move forward.

Trademark Registration: Fashion

24-0837 Designer and hairstylist needs counsel to assist with trademark protection for their brand name for use in connection with their hairstyling services, fashion design, and a podcast project.

Dispute: Condominium Association: Theater

24-0833 Theater professional owns a condo that he uses as a rental property. He recently was forced to terminate the lease of the long-term tenant for a number of reasons. After receiving the eviction notice, the tenant and his daughter began acting erratically, in some cases harassing the other residents in the building. The Condominium Association hired an attorney and filed for a TRO against the tenant’s daughter due to allegedly harassing behavior, and the theater professional was billed by the Condominium Association for these costs. He needs counsel to assess his liability for these legal fees. He is also interested in obtaining an evaluation as to his rights to sue his former tenants for significant damage to the unit.

Evaluation: Copyright Infringement: Music

24-0832 Songwriter and composer created a musical composition and corresponding recording several years ago. In 2021, a very popular international band released a recording that the songwriter believes bears a digital watermark tied back to his original composition and recording. He needs counsel to evaluate a claim for copyright infringement.

Contract Drafting: Management Agreement: Music

24-0830 Talent manager needs counsel to draft an artist management agreement for their client band.

Estate Planning: Music

24-0826 Keyboardist and band leader needs counsel to help develop an estate plan for himself and his spouse.

Real Estate: Commercial Lease: Music

24-0825 Start-up recording studio/production company recently entered into a commercial lease for a studio/production space. The lease included insurance requirements, and the start-up obtained coverage as advised by their broker. They submitted the insurance policy to the landlord, and took possession of the space. The landlord later contacted them to inform them that the insurance policy does not comply with the terms of the lease. The lease requires Workers’ Compensation, Property Coverage, Commercial General Liability, Business Automobile Liability insurance, and 10 million dollars worth of Umbrella/Excess Liability, despite the fact that some of these policies are not related to the actual business done by the start-up. The start-up approached several different brokers to try to obtain the 10 million Umbrella/Excess coverage, and were informed that this coverage would be impossible to obtain for a business of their size. They informed the landlord, who has been unyielding and has begun to threaten eviction. Start-up needs counsel to help evaluate their rights and, if possible, negotiate with the landlord.

Evaluation: Copyright Reversion: Film/TV

24-0819 Playwright and screenwriter wrote a play that was adapted into a TV series that was broadcast in the 80s. She no longer has access to the original agreements and needs counsel to help evaluate the status of her rights in the play.

Dispute: Publishing Account Access: Literature

24-0789 Children’s book author set up a self-publishing account with a large online book distributor more than 10 years ago. They are no longer able to access the account, as they no longer have access to the original phone number on file. They need counsel to communicate with the distributor and regain access to the account.

Nonprofit: Covert LLC to NFP

24-0465 Improvised comedy group that is currently operating as an LLC is interested in converting the entity into a nonprofit organization. They need counsel to advise on this transition and, if appropriate, assist with the reorganization.

Contract Review: Theater

24-0678 Nonprofit theater organization that supports latinx theater companies needs counsel to review and, if appropriate, update their bank of standard agreements, including contracts for presenting organizations, production managers, designers, and technicians.

Contract Drafting: Commission/Sale Contracts: Visual Art

24-0675 Visual artist who creates eclectic surreal art needs counsel to draft several standard contracts for their practice – a contract for the sale of art, a commissioned work agreement, and a contract for the sale of an NFT.

Estate Planning: Music

24-0668 Songwriter has written several copyrightable works since finalizing her will in 2021. She needs counsel to help amend her will or prepare a memorandum of wishes to ensure the rights in these works descend as she intends.

Business Licensing Violation Defense: Visual Arts/Music

24-0656 Start-up arts space and gallery hosted a launch party for a local magazine which was shut down by the police for violation of licensing ordinances involving PPA and liquor licenses. The owner of the gallery disputes some of the details of the allegations stated in the citations. A hearing has been set for August 2024 and they need counsel to defend the business.

Contract Drafting/Negotiation: Film

24-0652 Filmmaker is co-producing a film with a nonprofit production company. They are preparing to distribute the film and the co-producers are asking filmmaker to transfer all rights in the film to the nonprofit, even though the initial co-production agreement stated that the filmmaker would own all copyright interest int he film. Filmmaker needs counsel to help negotiate an appropriate ownership structure for the film to allow the filmmaker to retain creative control while allowing the film to be efficiently distributed.

Dispute: Visual Artists Rights Act: Mosaic

24-0637 Nonprofit visual arts school specializing in mosaic art rents operates a physical location with a back patio/parking lot. This area shares a fence with the restaurant next door. The school and restaurant are tenants of the same landlord, and the shared fence is a common feature owned and maintained by the landlord. The school installed three mosaic works on their side of the fence with the permission of the landlord. Recently, the restaurant decided to expand portions of their back patio area, and, without permission from the school or landlord, instructed contractors to cut portions of the fence as part of this expansion, including portions of the fence where the mosaics were hung. The contractors cut off sections of two of the three mosaics. The school needs counsel to help evaluate a claim under the Visual Artists Rights Act, or any other form of appropriate recourse, and, if appropriate, assist with recovery of damages.

Content Clearance: Attorney Opinion Letter: Film

24-0617 Producer of a documentary about a local martial artist needs an Attorney Opinion Letter to support their application for errors and omissions insurance.

Contract Drafting: Publishing Agreements: Music

24-0468 Start-up independent publishing company needs counsel to draft standard contracts for affiliated artists and music users.

Nonprofit: Reinstate Tax-Exempt Status: Performance Art

24-0239 Nonprofit arts organization recently discovered that their tax-exempt status was revoked in 2014. They need counsel to evaluate their current status, provide a generalized assessment of their entity structure, and, if appropriate, help reinstate their tax-exempt status.

Dispute: Enforcement of Judgement: Music

23-1115 Musician hired a contractor to insulate her attic. She paid a deposit up front. Contractor never completed the work. Musician sued contractor in small claims court. An agreed order to dismiss, subject to an installment payment plan, was entered. Contractor has not paid Musician as agreed. Musician needs counsel to help enforce her right to payment.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Literature

24-0475 Scientist and author was developing a book project with another scientist. They presented on the topic at a conference together, and had a contract with a publisher to produce the book. The other scientist pulled out of the book project with the author after four months of work, but the author recently discovered that the other scientist is publishing a book on the same topic, and featuring many of the same chapter titles, as the initial book project. Author suspects that the upcoming book includes content that she authored. She needs counsel to help evaluate her rights and options to protect, or be properly compensated for, her work.

Public Corporation: Radio & Television

24-0438 Organization that supports public radio and television stations throughout Illinois needs counsel to advise on governance and fundraising best practices. They are organized as a public corporation and need assistance devising best practices for amending bylaws and evaluating their ability to accept donations and foundation grants.

Corporate: Asset Transfer: Visual Art

24-0526 Longtime director of a local printmaking organization that operates as a sole proprietorship is interested in transferring the operations and assets of the organization to a new director, who will either continue operating the organization as a sole proprietorship or form an LLC. The outgoing director needs counsel to draft an agreement memorializing the terms of the transfer.

Trademark Registration: Comedy

24-0437 Comedian and producer have created a custom line of adult party games and they need counsel to assist with trademark registration for their brand name.

Dispute: Collection: Photography

24-0370 Photographer was hired by a personal injury law firm to take professional headshots. Photographer provided a price sheet before the shoot, and issued an invoice accordingly. Photographer provided the photos to the law firm, but they are now refusing to pay the full amount of the invoice. Photographer needs counsel to help recover the amounts owed.

Dispute: Collection: Visual Arts

24-0178 Client was hired to serve as a guest curator for an exhibition at a municipal cultural center. There was no formal contract. Prior to the opening of the exhibition, the artist fired client. Client submitted an invoice for the completed work, but neither the cultural center nor the artist have paid. Representatives of the cultural center have expressed willingness to resolve the issue and arrange for payment, but have so far failed to provide concrete terms or a timeline. Client needs counsel to draft a demand letter and help her obtain the amounts owed.

Evaluation: Employment: Visual Art

23-1097 Visual artist recently resigned from her day job due to circumstances she believes comprise sexual harassment. Prior to resignation, she reported to HR, which told her that their policy would require her to continue working with the alleged harasser while an investigation occurred. The alleged harasser would be informed of the complaint, but his supervisors would not be notified until the investigation was completed. Artist felt that this process did not provide her with sufficient protection and resigned. No investigation occurred. Artist needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for sexual harassment or constructive discharge. Artist also needs counsel to help evaluate her claim to unemployment benefits.

Sale of Business: Visual Art

24-0352 Owner of a for-profit art studio is interested in selling their business and they need counsel to assist with preparations for the sale. They have specific concerns regarding the need to maintain a business license in the interim.

Dispute: Breach of Contract Defense: Performance Art

24-0269 Artist used to volunteer for a nonprofit organization that celebrates Mongolian heritage. In 2022, she signed a contract with a performance venue on behalf of the nonprofit for a holiday celebration organized by the nonprofit and several other individuals. After disputes amongst the organizers, the event ended and the cash proceeds were split amongst the individual organizers. The nonprofit failed to pay the amount owed to the venue. The venue filed suit against the nonprofit and the Artist for breach of contract. The Artist was never served, all notices were sent to the registered address of the nonprofit. A default judgement was entered in February 2023. Artist was not notified of the situation until February 2024. They need counsel to help defend against this suit.

Content Clearance: Grand Rights: Theater

24-0308 Playwright has created a jukebox musical featuring music written by a Cuban punk band. She had an agreement with their band manager covering a workshop performance, and she is now interested in entering into a full grand rights license. She needs counsel to draft a grand rights license to acquire the rights to produce the musical more broadly. The license would likely need to be in Spanish.

Dispute: Workplace Harassment

23-0313 Actor recently filed a complaint with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations after resigning from his day job due to a number of disrespectful and hostile workplace incidents. Actor needs counsel to represent him in the ongoing proceedings.

Evaluation: Collection: Theater

24-0257 Nonprofit theater company recently purchased a building. The previous owner owed taxes on the space and sent a check to cover this amount to previous pro bono counsel for the nonprofit. Counsel sent the check to the nonprofit via a shipping service. The check seems to have been delivered to the wrong address and someone cashed the check. Theater company needs counsel to help evaluate their options and, if possible, recover the funds.