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, Mandiant Corporation - 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

Stairway to Law – Legal Steps to Protect Your Band's Future- Information on why bands need Limited Liability Companies, the administration essentials of those companies and the importance of band agreements and their provisions - Christopher S. Brown, Van Osdol & Magruder PC - 1:10pm-2:00pm

Take the Money and Run - After Proper Documenting, Withholding, and Reporting - Explanation of the income tax & sales tax requirements of musicians and insurance needs – Ryan L. White, Evans & Mullinix, P.A., & Nicole E. Forsythe, Kutak Rock, LLP - 2:10pm-3:00pm

"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 - 3:10pm-4:00pm

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, Mandiant Corporation - 4:10pm-5:00pm

Rebecca Stroder, Esq. - is Deputy General Counsel for Mandiant Corporation, a leading information security and information response company.  Prior to joining Mandiant, Rebecca practiced with SNR Denton, where she specialized in copyright and technology matters, including large technology procurement transactions, software copyright and trade secret litigation, and open source licensing issues.  Rebecca is Adjunct Professor of Intellectual Property Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, and serves as the President of Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, a non-profit dedicated to providing pro bono legal assistance to low-income artists and arts organizations in Kansas and Western Missouri.

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.

Nicole E. Forsythe, Esq. & Ryan L. White, Esq. -  Ryan L. White graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Law School with a Masters in Tax Law in 2010 after previously having graduated from Rockhurst University with a Masters in Business Administration in 2006.  During their time at the University, Mr. White and Ms. Forsythe both achieved local and national recognition and awards for their business and tax law writing and analysis.  Mr. White practices tax, bankruptcy, business, estate planning and family law at Evans & Mullinix, P.A. in Kansas, and continues to appreciate the arts and music despite his accepting of his musical limitations long ago.   Nicole provided technical tax analysis for H&R Block during law school.  After completing her LL.M. in taxation, she accepted a six-month internship with Koch Industries, Inc. in Wichita, KS, after which she transitioned to a position as an International Corporate Services associate at KPMG, LLP.  Currently, she is an attorney at Kutak Rock LLP where her practice is focused on taxation issues relating to corporate finance, securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions.

Christopher S. Brown, Esq. – is an associate at Van Osdol & Magruder PC. After working in the music business in Nashville and New York City, Chris decided to pursue a law degree to focus on intellectual property.  He attended law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and graduated magna cum laude with an emphasis in Business and Entrepreneurial Law.

Today, Chris spends most of his time counseling clients on matters such as business formation, intellectual property, real estate matters, contract rights and obligations, and equity financing. Chris also mentors entrepreneurs through the UMKC Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is actively involved with other entrepreneurial and artistic organizations in Kansas City. Outside of practicing law Chris is also heavily engaged in several startups.  In 2010, Chris published a paper discussing the benefits and disadvantages of using “Copylefts” and recommended an amendment to the Copyright Act to allow right holders to voluntarily relinquish certain rights.

You can contact Chris at www.vomer.com and follow him on Twitter @CSBCounsel. His personal website is www.CSBCounsel.com.

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.