Billy Kramer Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Glenview, Illinois, United States

Chicago, Illinois

• Established and later renewed operation of solo legal practice catered to startups, small businesses and creative industries, generally focusing on clients’ IP, corporate and employment-related needs• Represented and advised clients regarding branding/trademark/copyright registration and IP protection/enforcement• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated various agreements and deals for Grammy Award-winning and platinum record-selling artists involving, but not limited to, sponsorship deals, recording/publishing agreements, band agreements, merchandise agreements, location/model/talent agreements, artist/agency booking agreements, management agreements, TV/film options and life rights agreements, and related deals• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated various types of agreements including, but not limited to, partnership/operating/shareholders agreements, IP protection and licensing, releases, Saas agreements, IT support agreements, service-level agreements, software licenses, employment/non-disclosure/non-compete agreements, MSAs, SOWs, terms of service, privacy policies and employee handbooks/policies/agreements, commercial/private lease agreements, and related documents• Conducted international and national trademark searches, conducted legal research & drafted client memoranda related to matters thereto, filed trademark registrations, prosecuted US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) office actions, negotiated/resolved trademark and copyright disputes• Managed all aspects of the practice including marketing, client solicitation/consultation/correspondence, case management, and all financial aspects related to the firm• Work experience includes intellectual property, entertainment, business, commercial transactions, corporate structuring, employment, and commercial/civil litigation

Greater Chicago Area

• Represented and advised clients regarding intellectual property and entertainment matters, commercial transactions and corporate structuring, estate matters, and residential and commercial real estate purchases and leases• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated various types of agreements including, but not limited to, partnership/operating/shareholders agreements, IP protection and licensing, releases, non-solicit/non-disclosure/non-compete agreements, employment and contractor agreements, commercial/private lease agreements, real estate purchases, wills and trusts, and related instruments• Conducted international and national trademark searches, conducted legal research & drafted client memoranda related to matters thereto, filed trademark registrations, prosecuted US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) office actions, negotiated/resolved trademark and copyright disputes• Work experience includes intellectual property, entertainment, corporate structuring, commercial transactions, employment, and commercial and residential real estate

333 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 450, Chicago, Illinois 60606

• Served as outside general counsel for Fortune 500 companies and multinational food conglomerates with respect to their branding/IP, licensing, regulatory and employment needs• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated commercial IP licensing agreements, researched & drafted internal memoranda advising clients on related food/beverage laws and FDA regulations• Conducted international and national trademark searches, conducted legal research & drafted client memoranda related to matters thereto, filed trademark registrations, prosecuted USPTO office actions, negotiated/resolved trademark and copyright disputes• Handled copyright matters including, but not limited to, software licensing agreements for domestic and international companies, ranging from e-commerce to private financial firms• Formed and structured corporate entities, including the drafting of partnership, operating and shareholders agreements, and related documents and government filings• Reviewed, advised on, and drafted employment agreements, work-for-hires and non-competes• Work experience included food & beverage law, intellectual property, entertainment, business/corporate structure, employment, commercial/civil litigation, and mergers & acquisitions

Chicago, Illinois

• Established my solo legal practice catering to musical artists, independent record labels, artist management companies, booking agencies, entertainers, musical instrument manufacturers, photographers, filmmakers, start-ups, small businesses and creative industry professionals.• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated various agreements and deals for Grammy Award-winning and platinum/gold record-selling artists involving, but not limited to, recording/publishing agreements, musical recording and composition licenses, band agreements, split sheets, sideman agreements, merchandise agreements, location/model/talent agreements, booking agreements, artist management agreements, television/film options and life rights agreements, and film/commercials/television show deals.• Formed, incorporated, and structured record labels, booking agencies, musical groups and small businesses.• Negotiated, litigated, and resolved trademark and copyright disputes involving current/former band members and contributing artists.• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated agreements including partnership/operating/shareholders agreements, IP protection and licensing, releases, SaaS-related agreements, service-level agreements, software licenses, merchant/vendor agreements, employment/non-disclosure/non-compete agreements, master services agreements, terms of service, and privacy policies.• Managed all aspects of the practice, including marketing, client solicitation, consultation, advisement, case management, billing, collections, accounting, and administrative tasks.• Work experience includes entertainment, intellectual property, business and litigation.

Chicago, Illinois

• Volunteered, part-time, for a Chicago-based, attorney-founded artist management company • Assisted senior Artist Manager with talent scouting & artist acquisition, publishing administration, booking and venue acquisition, tour scheduling, logistics and budgeting, marketing & promotion, sponsorships, and administration of artists’ social media.• Helped senior Artist Manager maintain regular communication with artists, tour and business managers, booking agents, record labels, publicists, merchandisers, sponsors, concert/event promoters, press/radio/ marketing teams, and attorneys and accountants.• Advised senior Artist Manager with review, editing, and negotiation of management agreements, record label and recording agreements, licensing deals, and booking agreements• Assisted with office management, accounting, invoicing and general administration of the business.• Artists/clients included All That Remains, Better Than Ezra, Royal Teeth, RX Bandits, The Heavy, Emilie Autumn, Chris Mann, and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster.

Chicago, Illinois

• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated various types of agreements and other documents, including trademark/copyright/brand registration and projection, related licensing agreements, MSAs, SOWs, merchant agreements, employment and work-for-hire agreements, social media policies, terms of use and private policies, production agreements, loan out agreements, and liability waivers• Advised clients on regulatory issues including, but not limited to, the CAN-SPAM Act, FTC Act, Illinois Electronic Mail Act, Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)• Formed and structured corporate entities, including the drafting of partnership, operating and shareholders agreements, and related documents and government filings• Conducted international and national trademark searches, conducted legal research & drafted client memoranda related to matters thereto, filed trademark registrations, prosecuted USPTO office actions, negotiated/resolved trademark and copyright disputes• Litigated in state and federal court; and conducted oral and written discovery• Managed client files, corresponded with clients, negotiated with opposing counsel, and supervised staff/interns• Organized and hosted seminars on business, copyright, trademark and music lawWork experience included intellectual property, business/corporate structure, entertainment, commercial/civil litigation, cyber, defamation, and employment

Lake Forest, Illinois & Chicago, Illinois

• Oversaw daily operations of Aquinas Capital Management, a private investment company with over $10 million in assets under management;• Handled accounting, client and third-party relations, such as investors, prime broker, administrator, auditor, webmaster and outside legal counsel;• Advised portfolio manager and clients with regard to legal and compliance issues • Drafted offering documents for clients/investors, internal memorandum, and client/investor correspondence

Chicago, Illinois

• Worked in a collaboration with Principal Attorney & interns, oversaw case management, drafted, reviewed, and negotiated agreements with opposing counsel, supervised paralegals/interns.• Work experience includes commercial transactions and litigation.

J.D., Intellectual Property And International Law

B.A., Political Science And Human Rights