I have a lot of irons in the fire, as the saying goes. I co-own and help to operate River Bend Family Campground. I'm actively involved in the non-profit music charity that I founded in 2009, Music Loves Ohio, and the 90s alternative rap cover band that my friend Alex and I started in 2010 - The Winnie Cooper Project. These days I also spend a fair amount of time trying to untangle the mysteries of the JFK Assassination in my podcast - Solving JFK.
But, more than all of those pursuits, providing savvy and cost-effective advice to small business owners, especially in the franchise and music industry spaces, is where I spend most of my time. I'm often asked what kind of matters I handle. Here is a brief sampling of the matters I have recently worked on:
Franchising
Serve as outside general counsel to rapidly growing national restaurant franchisor, handling contract drafting, review and negotiations as well as day to day strategy.
Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchise Agreement reviews, and written analysis, and negotiation
Draft Franchise Disclosure Document and assist with franchise development strategy on behalf of multiple new franchisors.
File state registrations where required.
Small Business
Draft or review asset purchase agreements for the acquisition or sale of businesses (ice cream shop, home health care practice, fire restoration company, online auto parts business, multiple restaurants)
Review commercial leases, and provide written analysis, and negotiation with landlords
Form limited liability companies or corporations on behalf of start up businesses, including drafting applicable operating agreement documents.
File for federal trademark registration.
Music/Entertainment
Form 501(c)(3) non-profit entity on behalf of multi-platinum rapper.
Review and negotiate songwriting agreement between a Grammy nominated songwriter and six time Grammy award winning songwriter.
Assist well-known podcast personality with project to create a new app/saas.
Draft and form band agreements.
Draft, review, and negotiate recording agreements, management agreements, and publishing agreements.
Review and analyze touring staff agreement between instrument tech and global top 50 rock band.
Assist sound engineer with business start up for sound engineers.
Assist documentary film producer with compiling start up documents to fund a documentary film.
Assist multiple bands with member exit agreements.
Review, analyze, and negotiate major label agreement on behalf of R&B singer.