J. Don Kelly | Attorney

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About J.

J. Don Kelly Jr.'s practice is centered in the entertainment and media industries, with an emphasis on both performance and production clients.  This includes advising artists and executives in all aspects of the music industry, including all forms of talent contracts, distribution, licensing, technology-related issues, publishing, sub-publishing, touring and live events and production activities.  Don represents both well established and emerging artists and companies, and serves as outside General Counsel to a nationally known production company regarding multi-day festival events in New Orleans and New York.  Mr. Kelly also represents Internet, wireless and new media based artists and companies, in both corporate structure and loss prevention strategy.  Mr. Kelly routinely works on intellectual property matters, including trade name, trademark, service mark, copyright and invasion of privacy issues.  He has also produced a number of multi-act concerts and has been involved in the planning of several major music productions, giving him an insight to the industry that greatly benefits his clients.  

Over the course of his career, Mr. Kelly has tried over sixty matters to verdict before judges and juries in both state and federal courts, including matters outside the media and entertainment industries.  Based on his trial record, he has been called upon to defend corporate clients in catastrophic injury and death cases, class action proceedings and Multi-District Litigation.  He has lectured on litigation topics for a number of professional organizations, including the American Bar Association and the American Law Institute, and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Trial Advocacy at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans.  He has also published a number of articles on litigation strategy and technique.   

Some of Mr. Kelly's most recent matters include:

  • Representation of an Internet music website in start up phase, regarding all corporate structures, policies and procedures and copyright and intellectual property matters;

  • Representation of nationally known artist in recording contract negotiations;

  • Representation of internationally known artist in licensing of material for national phone carrier television commercials;
     
  • Representation of nationally known hip hop artist in dispute with record label and management team;
     
  • Handling litigation of multi-million dollar product dispute regarding health food beverages on behalf of major manufacturing company.
  • Education

    Louisiana State University

    Provosty & Gankendorff LLC Highlights

    Trademark, Intellectual Property, Admiralty & Maritime, Insurance, Leisure, Environmental Law

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