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Helene M. Freeman is a partner in the Litigation Department at Phillips Nizer LLP.   Ms. Freeman's practice is focused on all facets of entertainment, publishing, the arts and fashion.  She has counseled multinational record distributors, leading musical performing groups, film and television producers and distributors, international music publishing companies, theatrical producers, authors and advertising agencies.

As a litigator with more than 30 years' experience, Ms. Freeman has been trial and appellate counsel in precedent setting cases under both copyright and trademark law throughout the United States.  She provides assistance in securing registration of copyrights and trademarks in the United States and developing plans for the worldwide exploitation and protection of creative property. She also regularly advises on international transactions involving the acquisition of rights in entertainment and media properties.

Pro Bono

• Community for Education Foundation, Inc. (Member, Board of Directors [emeritus]; Chair, Governance Committee)

Peer Review Rating

• AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Clerkship

• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, Honorable Robert J. Ward

Speaking Engagements

• Practising Law Institute (PLI), "Advanced Copyright Law 2020: Current Issues," (CLE Program/Webcast, March 12, 2020)
• Practising Law Institute (PLI), "Copyright Licensing - Understanding the Intellectual Property License 2019" (CLE Program/Webcast, November 4, 2019)
• New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section (EASL) Annual Music Business and Law Conference, Panel: Litigation Update (CLE, November 16, 2018)
• Practising Law Institute (PLI), "Copyright Licensing - Understanding the Intellectual Property License 2018" (CLE Program/Webcast, November 5, 2018)
• American Bar Association (ABA), Forum Committee on the Entertainment and Sports Industries 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting (October 4 - 6, 2018)
• American Bar Association (ABA), Entertainment Law Symposium (April 5 - 6, 2018), Panel: "Entertainment Litigation Update" (April 6, 2018)
• Tennessee Intellectual Property Association (TIPLA) (CLE Program, May 4, 2018)
• Defense Research Institute (DRI) 2017 Intellectual Property Litigation Section Seminar (May 11, 2017) 
• American Bar Association (ABA) International Legal Symposium, Panel: "Entertainment Litigation Update" (March 30 - 31, 2017) 
• 28th Annual North American Law Summit for Entertainment, Sports and Intellectual Property, sponsored in part by the New York State Bar Association. Panel: "Winning Strategies & Ethical Boundaries for Persuading Judges and Juries in Entertainment Cases" (November 9 - 13, 2016)
• American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries 2016 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada (October 6 - 8, 2016), Plenary Session: "Litigation Roundup" (October 8, 2016)
• American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) webinar, “Copyrights, Ransom and (Bet the Company) Lawsuits: Avoiding the Troll Under The Next Bridge”. A webinar highlighting the seriousness of copyright infringement and the now lucrative business of infringement actions by copyright owners against vendors. (September 4, 2014)
• Speech, Copyright Society, New England Chapter, “Slip Sliding Away: Termination Rights Under the Copyright Act” (April 2010)
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Faculty, “Get Wired: Practicing Arts, Entertainment, Media and Sports Law in the Digital Age” (October 2000)
• Practising Law Institute (PLI), Faculty, “Litigating Copyright, Trademark & Unfair Competition Cases for the Experienced Practitioner” (November 1996)
• American Bar Association, Torts & Insurance Practice Section, Demonstration — “Jury Selection & Opening Statement” (April 1991)
• American Bar Association, Torts & Insurance Practice Section, Speech, “What is a Defamatory Statement” (May 1987)

Articles

• "Copyright Licensing - Understanding the Intellectual Property License 2018" (Practising Law Institute (PLI), November 5, 2018)
• "Duran Duran Case Shouldn't Affect Paul McCartney's Termination Rights" (Law360, January 30, 2017)
• The Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1995 in Litigating Copyright, Trademark & Unfair Competition Cases for the Experienced Practitioner (Practising Law Institute (PLI), 1996)
• Proceedings of the New York University 39th Annual Conference on Labor, "Employee Discharge: Defamation Through the Form of Termination" (Matthew Bender, 1986)
• "Testimony of the American Civil Liberties Union, Customs Service Mail Openings," in Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the House Committee on Government Operations, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 119-39, 1977

Fashion Law Blog

• The Fashion Industry Law Blog, includes posts published by the members of the Fashion Law Practice of Phillips Nizer LLP and attorneys in other related practice areas.

Professional Memberships

• New York City Bar Association (Member, Copyright and Literary Property Committee)
• Copyright Society

Foreign Language Competencies

• French

RECOGNITION

• The Best Lawyers in America© Lawyer of the Year, Copyright Law, New York (2022) 
• Billboard Magazine Top Music Lawyers (2020, 2021)
• Law360's Weekly Verdict: Legal Lion (March 13, 2020)
• Crain's New York Business, "Notable Women in Law" (Book of Lists 2019)
• The Times of London, "Lawyer of the Week" (July 7, 2016)
• American Lawyer Media (ALM) and Martindale-Hubbell, "Top Rated Lawyer" (Commercial Litigation) 
• The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright Law), (2017 - 2019, 2021-2022), Intellectual Property Law (2020)
• Super Lawyers® - New York Metro Edition (Entertainment & Sports), (2007 - 2009, 2011 - 2014, 2017 - 2021)
• Super Lawyers® - "Top Women Lawyers" annual list of female attorneys
• Super Lawyers® - Corporate Counsel Edition in Entertainment (2009)
• Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellow in Civil Liberties, American Civil Liberties Union