Laura will be presenting "Legal Issues for Artists: How To Protect Yourself and Your Work." Although the joy of creating artistic works is a reward unto itself, many artists would like to combine their artistic expression with adequate compensation for their efforts, or to avoid having others misappropriate the artist's efforts for others' profit. However, protecting one's work, from an artistic and a business perspective, is often a critical missing piece for many artists. This session will focus on how to avoid the legal pitfalls facing artists as they seek to protect themselves and their work. The session will be equally valuable for Art, Letters, or Music members, including those whose work is primarily in digital or electronic format. Topics to be covered include work for hire, copyrights, contracts, corporate formation, and liability. Time will be allotted within the session for questions and answers.

Laura E. Jordan is a Washington, D.C.-based attorney with a law degree from Georgetown University. She has represented some of the world's largest and best-known corporations. She established The Law Offices of Laura E. Jordan, P.C. a decade ago to provide top-quality legal services, ordinarily available only to large companies, to small businesses. Ms. Jordan is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, several federal courts of appeal, several federal trial courts, and is lead counsel certified in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Ms. Jordan's practice includes corporate counseling, civil litigation, arts, entertainment and sports law, and parents' rights. A significant portion of her clients are international entities. Visit Laura's website at www.JordansLaw.com.