Carol Shepherd

Boutique private practice with over 15 years of experience serving the business and intellectual property needs of computer software, web, advertising, publishing, internet, hosting, database provider, e-commerce, design, music, independent film and video, entertainment, architecture and photography studio industries. I handle transactional and commercial litigation legal work from start-up phase to financing through acquisition of a company. I prepare copyright and trademark registrations and advise on protection, and represent clients on both sides of domain name disputes. I research and analyze liability and ownership of intellectual assets, including chain of title, and issue opinion letters for venture financing and other reporting purposes. I negotiate and draft licensing, merchandising, distribution, marketing, franchising, affinity, royalty, co-location, subscription, publishing, recording, work-for-hire, consultant, independent contractor and release agreements. I advise clients on employment, privacy, publicity, defamation and taxation issues affecting their intellectual and business assets. I form corporations, non-profit organizations, partnerships and limited liability companies (LLCs) for creative businesses and file 501(c)(3) requests for tax exempt determination. My clients are individuals and corporations, entrepreneurs and inventors, and creative professionals.