Literature Experience
- James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, authors for the Women’s Murder Club series, in serving as legal consultants during the development of various books including 16th Seduction, 7th Heaven, The 5th Horseman, and The 6th Target, among others.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson, American astrophysicist, author, and science celebrity, in his licensing deals with Amazon and in other business-related matters.
- Indigo Books and Music, a Canadian book, gift, and specialty toy company, in connection with its first retail lease in the U.S. We also assisted with related employee benefits matters.
- Tyler Perry Studios and Lions Gate Films (d/b/a Lionsgate) in defeating a claim brought by an author who claimed the motion picture "Good Deeds," which starred Tyler Perry and Thandie Newton, infringed the copyright in her book.
- Cassandra Clare, New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy author, in relation to various matters including distribution, licensing, and film and television options.
- Justin Robert Garcia, Ph.D., an evolutionary biologist and sex researcher at the Kinsey Institute, in connection with a book publishing deal with Penguin Publishers, Inc.
- Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, renowned American author and the fourth woman in the U.S. to achieve the international title of Master of Wine, in connection with several book publishing deals and general intellectual property related matters, including the licensing of her content with The Great Courses. The firm also assisted with web compliance surrounding the online development of content and a mobile app.
- Rocco DiSpirito, cookbook author and TV celebrity chef, in connection with numerous marketing and development agreements and various retail leasing matters.
- The Berenstain Bears, a children's literature franchise and long-term client of the firm, in connection with negotiating the option agreements for possible motion pictures (along with related rights) as well as television, merchandising, and live stage agreements, among other things. We also provided advice relating to the Berenstain Bears website.
- A world-ranked professional tennis player in the negotiation of a book deal.
- A major comic book company in the dismissal of a $50 million breach of contract claim against an Orlando, Florida theme park owner in an AAA arbitration.
- David Baldacci, an American novelist specializing in legal thrillers, in obtaining a preliminary injunction that prevented the publication of a mystery anthology that was being promoted with misleading marketing.
- The late Johanna Lindsey, an American author and writer, in connection with a copyright infringement lawsuit concerning her romance novel Warrior's Woman.
- Reflex ERP Software, an industry leading, all-in-one ERP software solution, on a multimillion dollar license from Unity, a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies, to use the likeness of Neill Blomkamp’s “Adam” character in order to create assets across a number of platforms, including video games, comic books, film, and TV series.
- Numerous producers who license comic book characters, including The Crow, and for the company owning the rights to Thomas the Tank Engine.
- A landscape artist and urban edenist, in connection with her book publishing deal as well as negotiating agreements and handling endorsement related matters.
- Various authors, professionals, and executives in the review, preparation, and negotiation of literary agency contracts, publisher contracts, partnership, and collaboration agreements.
- Numerous celebrities and authors in the review of bios, other books, and podcasts (as well as both print and online periodicals) for potential and alleged defamation, copyright, and other intellectual property related claims.
- Various authors, professionals, and executives in the review, preparation, and negotiation of literary agency contracts, publisher contracts, partnership, and collaboration agreements.
