Steve Replin
Steve Replin’s education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting; a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from NYU with distinction; a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University Of Denver College of Law; and an LL.M. (master of laws) from the NYU School of Law, in Taxation. Additionally, he holds a Certified Public Accountants certificate (CPA) issued in the State of Colorado.
He has had experience in the areas of intellectual property law, business and commercial finance, early stage business planning and development, fashion design and retailing, entertainment finance, and other affiliated areas throughout his career.
His practice includes the representation of film makers, writers, musicians, studios, museums, those in the fashion industry, and all others in the creative arts. Defining creative arts broadly, he enjoys dealing with creative clients building careers in a broad variety of endeavors. In addition, he focuses on new and small business issues, contract preparation, negotiation, and other transactional matters.
He is currently representing a fund being formed to finance the production of independent feature film projects, as well as a fund to finance those in the fashion industry. He has also just published a book dealing with the issue of where entrepreneurs can go to obtain financing without utilizing a bank.
Laurie Rhoades
Laurie Rhoades has been practicing business and transactional law for over twenty years, specializing in intellectual property law since 1990. While working for the United States Copyright Office in Washington, DC, she represented the Copyright Office and the Library of Congress on the Clinton Administration’s Task Force examining the relevance of U.S. Copyright Law in light of the internet and other dramatic technological changes. In addition, she worked with members of Congress in resolving constituent concerns on copyright matters, drafting legislation, and participated in U.S. Trade Representative negotiations with the Chinese government on copyright infringement of U.S. works.
Ms. Rhoades’ experience includes managing the intellectual property assets of large corporations, small businesses, and individuals. In private practice, she has prosecuted, monitored, and policed trademarks and tradenames while counseling clients on business strategy and administration. Prior to specializing in intellectual property law, she worked in-house for a NYSE-listed company with responsibility for handling business matters and for a law firm specializing in real estate and litigation. Ms. Rhoades was running her solo practice before forming Replin & Rhoades which then became Replin, Rhoades & Roper, LLC. She has served on the Board of Trustees of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. and has spoken to various organizations on issues related to copyright and trademark law.
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Robert Roper
Robert Roper provides advice and counsel to clients through all stages of the business lifecycle, from review and consultation on business plans, entity formation and structure, strategy and financing to ongoing operations including negotiation and drafting of contracts involving content licenses, production, affiliation, syndication, distribution, management, performance, publishing, recording, sponsorship, marketing, endorsement, talent, advertising and ad-sales. He works with individuals and companies in both traditional and new media (e.g., cable, satellite, Internet, and all forms of wire-line and wireless digital distribution) in a wide range of business and legal affairs. His clients include authors, artists, musicians, performers, athletes, sculptors, graphic designers, photographers, production companies, advertising agencies, publishers, Internet companies, software developers and website designers. Mr. Roper also consults with clients on video streaming and digital rights management issues, with the goals of protecting their intellectual property and helping them achieve their business objectives.
Mr. Roper’s most recent credit is as Legal Counsel to Rivr Media’s production of Whale Wars, a series which premiered on Animal Planet in late 2008 and was the network’s most watch show
Law Week Colorado recently published its annual “Barrister’s Best” awards for 2009.” With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Mr. Roper was named a Barrister’s Best for “Best use of maritime law in a landlocked state” for the work he did on Whale Wars. He also won a Barrister’s Bests for “Best ‘un-law firm,’” a phrase he coined, because, as Law Week Colorado reported, Mr. Roper, a “top-echelon entertainment attorney” is intent on “break[ing] out of the traditional law firm mold.”
Dave Ratner
Dave Ratner began his career in the music industry on the road, selling merchandise and driving the band’s tour bus. He was quickly promoted to Tour Manager and then to Band Manager, ultimately starting his own management agency catering to a variety of bands throughout the country. Finding that the music business revolved around contracts, he wound down his business to enroll in law school where he was president of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society, an executive board editor of the Denver University Law Review, and a published author in both the Denver University Law Review and the University of Denver Sports & Entertainment Law Journal.
Dave Ratner has prior experience in marketing and project management and has worked for the Colorado State Court, The Colorado Center on Law & Policy’s Fiscal Policy Institute, a boutique intellectual property law firm in Denver, and an exclusive music law firm in Nashville. His practice focuses on protecting the rights and assets of clients through skilled negotiations and expert draftsmanship. Dave specializes in crafting agreements, licenses, and assignments for clients in the film, music, design, art, and internet industries. His expertise also includes protection and exploitation of creative works through copyright, brand development and protection with trademarks and trade names, and small business formation.
Dave Ratner brings his entrepreneurial experience, music industry expertise, acute business sense, and practiced negotiating skills to Replin, Rhoades & Roper, LLC as an associate attorney. He is a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Denver College of Law.