Pro Bono Work:
The Intellectual Property Group PLLC considers it a firm obligation to make the special type of legal assistance it has to offer available to those who are in need. It fulfills this obligation through its offer of pro bono legal assistance through legal aid organizations such as Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, for whose legal panel IPG attorneys routinely volunteer. IPG attorneys also appear on the legal panel of The Graphic Artist's Guild. The American Institute Of Graphic Art's has acknowledged the contributions of IPG, whose attorneys contributed to the development of the AIGA prototype agreement for Design Services. On the Tenth Anniversary of W.A.L.A., IPG's founder won The Honorable Mention Award for pro bono legal assistance to the Arts Community. IPG attorneys are also active on the Boards, and in the organization of many 501(c)(3) Arts Organizations. For example, IPG Attorneys were responsible for organization of the Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland Chapters of AIGA, and The Graphic Design Education Association, and were active in the representation of The American Center for Design. IPG Attorneys have been responsible for numerous other 501(c)(3) arts organizations formation or tax exemption, such as Crafts For Economic Empowerment, an organization fostering the economic self development of women in Third World countries through the sale of their crafts. Each year IPG also takes a limited number of pro bono cases directly from those in need.
Our Involvement In Education:
For 25 years IPG attorneys have been involved in Art Law related educational activities. IPG attorneys have assisted as judges in the Van Vleck Moot Court Competition at The George Washington University, and have served as Professors on the law faculty of The Washington College of Law, The American University. IPG attorneys have also taught as Adjunct Faculty in Masters Degree programs in Arts Administration at The American University and in Bachelors Degree Programs in the School of Communication Art and Design at the Virginia Commonwealth University. They have also lectured as Guests at the Corcoran University, The University of Chicago Business School, The Maryland Institute College of Art, North Carolina State University, The University of Maryland, and The George Washington University. Seminars for Arts Organizations on topics such as Copyright, Contracts, Trademark Law, and Licensing, have been provided for SURTEX and The International Gift Show at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York, Society of Photographer and Artist Representatives in New York, Graphic Artist Guild, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Society of Illustrators, American Society of Media Photographers, Washington Independent Writers, Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington, State of Maryland Arts Council. IPG Attorneys have also lectured for Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, on topics such as the Negotiation of Publishing Agreements, and the Negotiation of Recording Contracts.
Law Clerks:
Each Year The IPG hosts internships for qualified law students seeking experience in the practice of Art and Entertainment Law. These students come from around the world, and have included interns from the law school of the University of Brazil, the London School of Economics, and various American Law Schools, including Georgetown University Law School, University of Chicago Law School, University of Arizona Law School, University of Maryland Law School, Stanford Law School, Catholic University Law School, University of Michigan Law School. to name a few. If you are interested in a clerkship (which remains open for 2005 in the Baltimore Office), please submit your resume AND writing sample by email or mail.
Charitable Giving
Each Year The IPG makes confidential cash gifts to charities, qualified Arts Organizations, and in some instances to Law Students in need. Please address solicitations by email or mail if you wish to be considered.