A discussion of the Visual Artists Rights Act, and its potential impact on the vandalism of
Black Lives Matter art, by intellectual property attorney William T. McGrath

We at LCA were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Joe Segal, founder of Jazz Showcase and one of the luminaries of Chicago Jazz. In 2013 Board Member Tom Leavens had the honor of presenting Segal with our Distinguished Service to the Arts Award at our Annual Benefit. Below are the remarks delivered by Leavens as he presented Joe Segal with the Distinguished Service to the Arts Award.

Jonathan Brown is an Intellectual Property Associate at Mayer Brown, where he focuses his practice on M&A transactions and trademark and trade dress prosecution and enforcement. Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Jonathan practiced corporate transactions, advising multinational enterprises on operational and strategic considerations associated with M&A, restructurings and intellectual property and tax matters. Jonathan attended Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, where he was honored to deliver the commencement address to he graduating class. Prior to joining LCA’s Associate Board, Jonathan was pleased to offer pro bono legal services to LCA clients working in music, film and entertainment.
 

Gwen Hochman Stewart is an associate in the IP Litigation group at Sidley Austin LLP.  Her practice focuses on patent litigation but also includes other complex litigation involving technology or other IP issues. Gwen attended Harvard Law School, where she served as Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology, and she clerked for the Hon. William Alsup at the U.S.

Lawyers for the Creative Arts’ Executive Director Jan Feldman recently appeared on WGN’s Wintrust Business Lunch Hour with John Williams to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on the arts community. Williams and Feldman addressed some of the new concerns of artists, with Feldman noting that “since the virus hit it’s been a whole new panoply of issues, most of which don’t have as much to do with arts as basic survival.”

Acknowledging the uncertain prospects for many individuals in the arts community, Feldman added “The devastation that has been visited on the arts community as a result of this virus is obvious if you look at any boarded-up theater or music venue.” Even as the CARES Act continues to provide some financial relief for the arts community, Feldman emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of the arts community as organizations face the prospect of re-opening amid continuing uncertainty about attendance and audience comfort.

Lawyers for the Creative Arts' Associate Board recently welcomed four new members. Alex Karana, Stephanie Nikitenko (John Marshall Law School), Natalie Fine (Loyola University), and John Bathke (DePaul University) join a vibrant and growing Associate Board community that now includes over 40 members.

A graduate of the John Marshall Law School, Florence has been a successful business consultant for over 12 years. She has a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship from DePaul University and received a Bachelors in Business Administration from Howard University. She worked for the City of Chicago, DePaul University, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Trucrowd Illinois, Inc, the first registered equity Crowdfunding platform in Illinois. Besides her duties with truCrowd, she also operates her own law firm focusing on small business owners, artists and artisans. Florence is also an Adjunct Professor of Business Ethics and Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Florence has lived and studied in Chicago, Illinois, Washington, DC and Berlin, Germany.

Alex Karana is one of three LCA interns this semester. Alex is a graduating 3L at UIC John Marshall Law School. Before LCA, Alex served as a student attorney at the John Marshall’s Patent Clinic. Currently, Alex is the Editor-in-Chief of the Review of Intellectual Property Law at UIC John Marshall and also serves as a judicial extern at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Before law school, Alex worked in the automotive industry and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University ‘13. 

Jeff Becker is Chair of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s Entertainment and Media Law Practice Group. Among his clients are Grammy Award-winning musicians, producers and songwriters, publishers and record labels, professional athletes, authors, independent filmmakers and other creative individuals and entertainment-related businesses. For these clients, Jeff provides comprehensive representation in the transactional and litigation aspects of their businesses. In doing so, he counsels clients in the preparation, analysis and negotiation of various issues, including licensing and distribution rights, royalty negotiations and disputes, rights acquisition and clearances, talent agreements, production and performance agreements, music publishing and licensing agreements, recording contracts and master license agreements, sponsorship and endorsement agreements, and artist management agreements. Jeff strives to find the most cost-efficient way to help clients secure and protect their rights. He is an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University College of Law, where he teaches Music Law, and has guest lectured on entertainment-related topics at various colleges, law schools and conferences across the country.

Jeff also previously served as Chair of the Swanson Martin & Bell, LLP’s Community Service/Pro Bono Committee. He proudly volunteers his time to Lawyers for the Creative Arts and is a founding member and former President of the Associate Board.