Phillips Nizer LLP | Sophisticated Legal Service | Helene Freeman | Representative Matters
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Attorneys
Helene  M. Freeman

PRACTICES

Litigation
Appellate Practice
Entertainment
Fashion
Copyright
Trademark
Contractual Disputes
Partnership Disputes
Intellectual Property

EDUCATION

  • New York University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, NYU Law Review, Order of the Coif
  • Smith College, A.B., Phi Beta Kappa

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • New York
  • United States Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd, 3rd, 6th & 9th Circuits
  • U.S. Dist. Ct., EDNY
  • U.S. Dist. Ct., SDNY
  • U.S. Dist. Ct., WDNY
Helene M. Freeman
Partner
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tel: (212) 841-0547
Fax: (212) 262-5152
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  • Representative Litigation

    • Michael Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin, et. al. (C.D. Cal. 2016).  Defense counsel to surviving Led Zeppelin members in high-profile copyright infringement case involving the claim that "Stairway to Heaven" copied an instrumental composition.  Jury verdict for the defendants.
    • Robinson v. Sanctuary Records Group, Ltd. et al., 542 F. Supp. 2d 284 (S.D.N.Y. 2008). Trial and appellate counsel to defendant record company in breach of contract action. Secured judgment after trial that plaintiff recover no damages.
    • RBFC One, LLC v. Zeeks, Inc. et al., 367 F. Supp. 2d 604 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) aff’d., 171 Fed. Appx. 902 (2d Cir. 2006). Representation of the musical group *NSYNC in an action for breach of contract and fraud brought by producer of large format motion picture *NSYNC Bigger Than Live. Secured summary judgment dismissing the suit; affirmed on appeal.
    • Guardian Music Corp. v. James W. Guercio Enterprises, Inc., 459 F. Supp. 2d 216 (S.D.N.Y. 2006), aff’d. 271 Fed. Appx. (2d Cir. 2008). Representation of defendant music publisher in an action for breach of co-publishing agreement. Secured summary judgment dismissing claim to renewal term of song copyright; affirmed on appeal.
    • The Chase Manhattan Bank v. AXA Reinsurance UK PLC et al., 294 A.D.2d 245, 741 N.Y.S. 2d 867 (1st Dept. 2002). Secured dismissal of independent film producer from multiple actions asserting fraud in connection with multi-billion dollar insurance backed film finance program, affirmed on appeal.
    • Maeillo v. Brendan and Peter Brown, Case No. 13 181 05584. Trial counsel to musical group “Wheatus” securing judgment after bench trial that its agreement with its manager was void.
    • Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, Inc. v. Zeeks, et al., 00-12579. Trial counsel to *NSYNC securing dismissal of action claiming copyright infringement in puppets by virtue of the use of photos of the puppets in concert merchandise.
    • Trans Continental Records, Inc. et al. v. Zomba Recording Corporation et al., 99-1282-Civ-Orl-22C (M.D. Florida). Successfully defended the musical group *NSYNC in a Lanham Act action brought by BMG Music and Louis Pearlman to enjoin the group from performing under the name *NSYNC and to compel the group to deliver master recordings to BMG. As a result, *NSYNC was permitted to leave the RCA Record label and release their No Strings Attached record through Jive Records.
    • Batjac Productions, Inc. v. GoodTimes Home Video Corp., 160 F.3d 1223 (9th Cir. 1998). Trial and appellate counsel for defendant in copyright infringement action alleging infringement of copyright in unpublished screenplays for public domain motion picture; summary judgment granted to defendant and affirmed on appeal.
    • Maljack Productions, Inc. v. GoodTimes Home Video, 81 F.3d 881 (9th Cir. 1996). Trial and appellate counsel for defendant in action alleging infringement of the copyrights in music used in public domain motion picture and unfair competition; summary judgment granted to defendant and full attorneys fees awarded.
    • The Walt Disney Co. v. GoodTimes Home Video Corp., 830 F. Supp. 762 (S.D.N.Y. 1993). Trial counsel to defendant in action alleging infringement of the trade dress for videocassettes of Disney animated motion pictures; judgment for defendant after trial.
    • Larball Publishing Co. v. CBS, Inc., 664 F. Supp. 704 (S.D.N.Y. 1987). Lead counsel to plaintiff in copyright infringement action, sustaining jurisdiction over all subsidiaries worldwide and recovery of worldwide profits from infringement.
    • Davis v. Ross, 754 F.2d 80 (2d Cir. 1985). Appellate counsel to Diana Ross in libel action brought by former employee.

  • Representative Transactions

    • Intellectual property counsel to EM.TV in connection with the acquisition of The Jim Henson Company
    • Intellectual property counsel to Madstone Holdings Inc. in connection with the acquisition of New Yorker Films