This intensive bootcamp will provide attendees with knowledge on a variety of topics from copyrights, contracts, financing and business formation. Lunch will be available. You may register at the door if space is available. 

Opening remarks/Welcome - Information about the KCVLAA and the content of the day's presentations - Rebecca Stroder, SNR Denton - 12:00-12:10pm

Have A Cigar: an Overview of Music Industry Terminology, Publishing, Licensing, and Trademarks - Information about the common terms used in the music industry, explanation of some of the components of the publishing industry and general licensing and trademark information - Donald Simon, Simon Business Consulting, Inc. - 12:10pm-1:00pm

Making Money for Nothing, but Nothing is Free:  Dealing with the Taxman - Explanation of the income tax & sales tax requirements of musicians and insurance needs – Danielle A. Merrick, UMKC School of Law & KCVLAA - 1:10pm-2:00pm

"A Kiss Is Not A Contract" So Why Care (About the Contract)? - Explanation and discussion of common contracts provisions that musicians see in publishing contracts, performance contracts, rental contracts and others, examples of sample contracts will be provided. – David L. Rein, Jr., Finch & Campbell, LLP - 2:10pm-3:00pm

When Weezer Calls Jamie: The Balance Between Marketing Your Work and Enforcing Your Rights- Information on marketing music while maintaining control of intellectual property and enforcing the musicians' intellectual property rights - Rebecca Stroder, SNR Denton - 3:10pm-4:00pm

Pete Best or Ringo Starr? – Why it Pays to Get Your Band Formed Correctly- Information on why bands need Limited Liability Companies, the administration essentials of those companies and the importance of band agreements and their provisions - Steve Cosentino, Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP - 4:10pm-5:00pm

Rebecca Stroder, Esq. - is Counsel at SNR Denton US LLP, a global law firm that serves clients in key business and financial centers from more than 60 locations in 43 countries.  Rebecca's practice focuses on copyright and technology transactions and litigation, with an emphasis on entertainment-related technology.  Rebecca is well-versed in technology issues related to licensing and copyright, and devotes a significant part of her practice to advising on transactions and litigation involving software, websites and open source issues.  Rebecca is deeply committed to the arts community both in Kansas City and throughout the country, and she serves as president and co-founder of Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, a non-profit organization that provides free legal and accounting services to low-income artists and arts organizations. In her capacity with the arts community, Rebecca regularly speaks on artists' legal issues, such as music publishing and enforcement issues, business formation, and copyrights. Rebecca is adjunct professor of intellectual property and copyright law at the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Law.

Donald R. Simon, J.D./LL.M - is president of Simon Business Consulting, Inc., a firm concentrating in media- and arts-based entrepreneurship.  He also teaches law, business, and communications courses at The Art Institutes International - Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and Avila University.  Don lectures and writes extensively on legal and business matters and has appeared in Billboard, DownBeat, and Screen.  Before relocating to Kansas City, he concentrated his legal practice in entertainment and intellectual property matters.  His clients included musicians, filmmakers, producers, and entertainment companies.  Prior to becoming an attorney, Don worked for 7 years in the broadcasting, cable, and publishing industries as an award-winning producer and director.  He also played bass guitar in several bands.  Don is a Master of Arts (Media Communications) Candidate at Webster University.  He received his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws (Intellectual Property) degrees from The John Marshall Law School and his Bachelor of Arts (Communications) from Missouri Southern State University.

Danielle A. Merrick, Esq. -  has been the associate staff director of the UMKC School of Law Entrepreneurial Legal Services Clinic since 2004. Professor Merrick earned her bachelor of social welfare from the University of Kansas and her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from UMKC.   She is also the Executive Director of the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts.

Previously, she was employed with American Century Investments in the Tax Department and worked on individual and corporate tax forms. She was also involved with the launching of the state of Kansas’ 529 plan. 

David L. Rein, Jr., Esq. -  is a partner at the law firm of Finch & Campbell L.L.P. where he focuses his practice on commercial and intellectual property litigation. 

He advises and represents businesses and individual authors, artists and other creatives in copyright, trademark, trade secret and patent litigation. He also has an extensive commercial litigation background involving complex contract disputes and business torts.

David litigated commercial and intellectual property disputes for sixteen years at an AmLaw100 law firm and its predecessor before joining Finch & Campbell LLP this year.  Prior to that, he clerked for United States District Judge Dean Whipple of the Western District of Missouri.

David is an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He also serves a number of charities and bar associations such as the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts where he is a founding board member.

Until the National Geographic decides to add David to its staff of photographers, you can reach him by e-mail drein@finchcampbell.com, by Twitter @daverein or through one of his blogs: IP Litigation From Flyover Country -- https://iplitigator.wordpress.com.

Stephen J. Cosentino, Esq. – A partner in Stinson Morrison Hecker's Intellectual Property & Technology Division, Steve Cosentino, focuses his practice on technology related transactions, with an emphasis on software licensing, application service provider transactions, outsourcing, online privacy and Internet related laws. He also is an associate member of the firm's Corporate Finance division, and he has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions.

Steve regularly advises clients on social media policies and the legal implications, as well as e-commerce related matters, domain name disputes, privacy law, e-mail and online regulations. He also advises the firm and its attorneys on social media marketing strategies.

Steve speaks to various groups on e-commerce, Internet privacy and social media related topics. He recently presented, "Social Networking Pitfalls for Corporate Counsel" at the firm's annual Business Law Update conference, which drew more than 125 attendees.

He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.