Case List

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.

Nonprofit: Dissolution: Literature

24-0840 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization supporting local writers is interested in dissolving the organization and transferring their assets to a 501(c)(3) organization with a similar mission. They need counsel to assist with this process.

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.

Contract Drafting: Management Agreement: Music

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

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

Visa/Immigration: Visual Arts

24-0823 Visual artist is currently working in arts administration at a local arts center on an H1B visa. This visa is set to expire in October 2024. They have already filed the relevant LCA, but they need counsel to help review their I-129 as they seek an extension.

Contract Drafting: Collaboration Agreement: Tattoo Art

24-0816 Artist is working with a software developer to create a mobile app designed to connect tattoo artists with clients. He needs counsel to draft an agreement memorializing terms.

Contract Negotiation: Author Agreement: Literature

24-0813 Co-director of a nonprofit dedicated to ending gender-based violence is planning to write a book on behalf of the organization. The co-director has secured counsel, but the nonprofit itself requires independent counsel to assist with the contract negotiation.

Contract Review: Independent Contractor Agreement: Theater

24-0811 Nonprofit theater company needs counsel to review and, if appropriate, revise their standard independent contractor agreement. They are interested in discussing the potential issues surrounding the classification of their workers as independent contractors as well.

Start-up: Dance

24-0796 Dancer currently operates a dance and fitness business as an assumed name for her broader LLC, but as this side of the business grows, she is interested in exploring the benefits of potentially spinning the dance and fitness business off into a standalone C corp. She needs counsel to advise on the pros and cons and, if appropriate, assist with the incorporation process.

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.

Trademark Registration: Music/Performance Art

24-0701 Community organization that presents music and performing art programming needs counsel to assist with trademark registration for the name of the organization.

24-0699 Theater professional with significant debt, including medical and credit card debt, needs counsel to help file bankruptcy.

24-0684 Nonprofit organization continuing the legacy of a notable dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist needs counsel to advise regarding a significant board dispute. Half of the current board is currently out of compliance with the organization bylaws, and the remainder of the members are interested in removing the noncompliant members from the board. They need counsel to advise on the best process moving forward, and provide counsel on avoiding similar issues moving forward.

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.

Start-up: Audio Production

24-0676 Start-up audio producer needs counsel to provide general start-up advice, help with choice of entity, and assist with entity formation.

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.

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.

Visa/Immigration: Visual Arts

24-0642 International performing/teaching artist recently completed a graduate program in acting and is currently working for several Chicago arts organizations on an OPT. The artist has been in the country since 2014 on an F1 visa. The F1 visa runs through October 2024 and the OPT runs through September 2024 and the artist needs counsel help determine the most appropriate visa going forward (O1/H1B) and, if appropriate, assist with the application.

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.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Photography

24-0349 Commercial photographer was hired to photograph the interior and exterior of a hotel in Chicago. Photographer retained copyright ownership and the contract with the hotel specified that the photographs were not to be shared with third parties without permission. Photographer later contracted with the lighting design firm that performed work on the space. Photographer recently discovered that an individual lighting designer that worked on the space (and was not a party to either contract) has started his own company and has shared eight of Photographer’s photographs on the new company’s website without permission. Photographer needs counsel to evaluate a claim for copyright infringement and, if appropriate, help recover amounts owed.

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.

Nonprofit: Domestication: Dance

24-0588 Nonprofit dance company currently incorporated in Virginia needs counsel to assist with Illinois nonprofit domestication and general nonprofit compliance.

General Liability Assessment: Performing Arts

24-0596 Start-up circus arts nonprofit needs counsel to conduct a general liability review of their program. They have secured general liability insurance and drafted a basic waiver for participants, but would like to ensure that they understand these liability protections and potential risks.

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.

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.

Visa/Immigration: Visual Arts

24-0466 International visual artist recently completed a graduate program in Art, Culture, and Technology and is currently working for a Chicago arts organization on an OPT. The OPT runs through August 2024 and the artist needs counsel help determine the most appropriate visa going forward (O1/H1B) and, if appropriate, assist with the application.

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.

Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Visual Art

24-0356 Small arts organization serving children of incarcerated adults needs counsel to help evaluate and assess their entity structure. They have no record of incorporation as a nonprofit corporation in Illinois, but they received a 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS. They want to make sure they are properly established before accepting donations and need help to confirm their status.

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.

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.

Nonprofit: Reincorporation and Tax-exemption: Visual Arts

24-0197 Longstanding social organization of weavers was formally incorporated in 1949 and received their tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(7) organization shortly thereafter. At some point in their history, their corporate status and related tax-exemption were lost. The organization is interested in regaining their corporate structure and tax exempt status and need counsel to advise as to the best course of action moving forward.

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

23-0216 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.

Dispute: Housing: Film/TV

24-0284 Early last year, Actor ordered to pay outstanding condo assessment costs in a lawsuit filed by the homeowners association. She recently filed a complaint against the homeowners association pro se alleging harassment, breach of fiduciary duties, and other claims. She needs counsel to help evaluate her claim and, if appropriate, representation in the pending suit.

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.

Evaluation: Defamation: Film/TV

24-0221 Content creator needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for defamation over statements published by a former colleague on a well-known user-generated content website.

Immigration: Artist Visa: Theater

24-0230 Theater artist and performer needs counsel to advise on the process of obtaining an artist visa (O-1).

Evaluation: Defamation: Film/TV

24-0105 Filmmaker and content creator needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for defamation over statements published by former colleagues on a well-known user-generated content website.

Nonprofit: Foundation Classification: Theater

23-1175 Nonprofit theatre company currently operating as a private foundation is seeking to switch to a public charity classification. They need counsel to assist with this transition.

Dispute: Consignment of Art: Visual Arts

23-1168 Visual artist created several works of art that were consigned to a furniture/decor store without a formal contract. The physical location of the store has since closed, and the artist has been unable to get in touch with the owner. He needs counsel to help recover the artwork or obtain compensation for any pieces that are no longer available.