Empowering and Advocating for Yourself and Others: Part 1. Contract Language and Negotiation
Out of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion meetings this last year, a desire to give all sound designers equal access to contract terminology and strategies was born. A TSDCA working group has developed documents to share with our community. Join us for a conversation about the material with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts’ Lucas Blackadar and special guests.
Working Group Members: Sam Kusnetz, Becca Stoll, Mikhail Fiksel, Arshan Gailus.
Chat Moderator: Brendan Doyle
Lucas Blackadar is the Director of Legal Services for the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston, where he manages the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts. An arts and entertainment lawyer, Luke advises independent artists and arts and cultural organizations of all creative disciplines in matters concerning intellectual property, contract, and business formation and governance. Luke also frequently gives talks on legal and business topics for creative entrepreneurs and startups, and has presented legal workshops to such audiences as MassArt, RISD, Art World Conference, and the Americans for the Arts. In addition to his role at the Arts & Business Council, Luke is also adjunct faculty at the Roger Williams University School of Law, where he teaches Contract Drafting & Transactional Lawyering, and the Boston University Metropolitan College, where he teaches Legal Issues in Arts Administration. When he isn’t working, Luke loves life drawing, reading, running, and playing video games.
Monica Llorente is a faculty member at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and a sound designer in Chicago. She was also appointed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to the Judicial Screening Committee, which evaluates and recommends candidates for federal district court judge. At the law school, Monica teaches a broad range of classes (e.g. Contract Drafting, Business Associations, Creating Change as a Lawyer). In addition, she works on national and local campaigns with others to advocate for changes in different systems, including within corporate entities, education, and juvenile justice. Throughout the years, Monica has blended her private and public experience to create and develop new organizations, structures, laws, and policies to better serve all of those most affected by the issues at hand. As a sound designer and as a lawyer, she is grateful to get the chance to keep learning every day and be a part of something bigger focused on making a change for the better.