For our last panel announcement (!), we’re focusing on the intersection of law and art. See our recent post from Helene Genetos for a great interview with her cousin, lawyer and former Gallery Director Christina Pannos for a look into the art law field and read on to learn more about our panelists for the Law and Art: Simplifying the Complex below!
Christine Haight Farley, Panelist
Christine Haight Farley is a Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law. Professor Farley served as Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs from 2007 to 2011 and as Co-Director of the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property from 2005 to 2009. She is the author of numerous articles on intellectual property law and a forthcoming casebook on international trademark law. Professor Farley has taught at law schools in France, India, Italy and Puerto Rico. She has given lectures on intellectual property law in more than 20 countries across every region of the world. Professor Farley frequently appears in the media as an IP expert and is regularly invited to speak at ABA, AIPLA and INTA conferences. She currently serves on an INTA Presidential Task Force on Brands and Innovation, and has recently been selected as a Fulbright Specialist for intellectual property law. Before teaching, Professor Farley was an associate specializing in intellectual property litigation with Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman in New York. She holds a BA (SUNY, Binghamton), JD (SUNY, Buffalo), LLM (Columbia University), and a JSD (Columbia University).
John L. Simson, Panelist
John L. Simson has been involved in the music industry since he signed as a recording artist in 1971. His career has included stints as a manager, managing Grammy-winning artists; an entertainment lawyer, currently of-counsel to Lommen Abdo; an executive, assisting in the creation, branding and launch of SoundExchange and as a special consultant for Kobalt Music; a creative, he received an Emmy nomination in 2001 for his music supervision of “American Roots Music” while also executive producing a number of AV programs; an advocate, he testified before Congress on artist’s rights issues. He is currently Executive-in-Residence and Program Director of the new Business and Entertainment major at the Kogod School of Business at American University. He has participated in projects which have secured 15 Grammy nominations, won 5 Grammies, and represented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient. In 2013, he received the inaugural Future of Music Coalition “Voices of Advocacy” Award for his work on artist’s rights. He has been featured on CNN, NBC, PBS, BBC, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, LA Times and other news outlets on issues affecting artist’s rights and compensation. He is a frequent lecturer at music industry programs around the world.
Patricia Aufderheide, Panelist
Patricia Aufderheide is a Professor in the School of Communication at American University and founder of the Center for Media & Social Impact, where she is a senior research fellow. With Professor Peter Jaszi of the Washington College of Law, she has conducted research on copyright and creativity for a decade, co-authoring Reclaiming Fair Use: How to Put Balance Back in Copyright (University of Chicago Press). Their latest project, with the College Art Association, is the creation of the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts website.
Peter C. Wolk, Moderator
Peter C. Wolk is a lawyer who received his Juris Doctorate with honors from American University Washington College of Law, a Master of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity College (CT). Since 1984, he has represented the interests of nonprofit organizations of all kinds. He advises clients on day-to-day and strategic governance, inter-entity transactions, joint ventures, corporate documents, mergers, tax, fundraising, employment issues, intellectual property, contracts, Board meetings, and the permissible range of activities for tax-exempt organizations. In addition, he conducts Board training retreats, legal audits, and strategic planning sessions. He teaches Nonprofit Law to the lawyers of the DC Bar as part of the Bar’s Continuing Legal Education Program, and teaches Nonprofit Law and Governance for the University of Maryland and American University. He has served on various nonprofit Boards, including the American Red Cross National Capital Area and the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, and has authored many nonprofit publications. His bar leadership activities have been honored by both the American Bar Association and the DC Bar Association. He is admitted to the Bars of the DC, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and U.S. Supreme Court.