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Minding Your Business 101 | Selecting the Proper Entity

by Patrice Perkins | Business Entity, Legal Planning For Growth, LLCs, The Entrepreneur Journey

  Like most things in business, there is no one-size-fits all approach to selecting a proper business entity. What’s best for your friends may not be what’s best for. There are several different types of business entities, but today we’re...

3 ways that you can play the long game in contract negotiations like Beyoncé.

by Patrice Perkins | Contracts and Collabs, Legal Planning For Growth

Uber went public + several media outlets reported that Beyoncé won in a major way. Beyoncé was reportedly offered $6 million dollars to perform for an Uber event about four years ago + turned down the immediate payout for equity. Her equity is reportedly valued today...

Must Play to Win: Minority-Owned Businesses + Government Contracts

by Creative Genius Law | Contracts and Collabs, Legal Planning For Growth

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 29% of all businesses in the U.S. (8 million businesses!) are owned by minorities. In 2012, minority-owned businesses contributed $1.38 trillion in revenue and 7.2 million jobs to the U.S. economy. Unfortunately,...

[Training] A primer on making sure your website is GDPR-compliant.

by Creative Genius Law | #GeniusTech, Legal Planning For Growth

Attorney Art Steele of Creative Genius Law led a training on how the GDPR will impact businesses in the U.S. who do business online. She gives actionable steps on what you can do to prepare your business — the regulations are in effect as of May 25, 2018. Watch...

[Think Like Adidas] A trademark lesson for independent creators.

by Patrice Perkins | Legal Planning For Growth, Trademarks

You’ve started a collection of signature t-shirts with dope, original phrases. They sell better than even you expected. People love them. You expand the brand — mo’ phrases, mo’ shirts, mo’ money. You apparently possess a great mix of hard work and...

Four legal issues in your crowdfunding campaign.

by Patrice Perkins | Contracts and Collabs, Copyright, Legal Planning For Growth, Trademarks

You are a creative entrepreneur with a massive vision expanding every day. Some of your friends have run successful crowdfunding campaigns for their businesses and you’ve wondered if you should do the same. Before President Obama signed the JOBS Act in 2012, you could...
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Testimonials

Patrice has served as my attorney since late last year. As a new business owner, Patrice literally walked me through the steps of properly organizing the legal side of my enterprise, as well as preparing contracts and protecting my brand and blog. I highly recommend her to creative entrepreneurs like myself who are ready to take their businesses to the next level. You cannot afford to miss out on her services.
Jocelyn Delk AdamsExperienced Live Event and Media Producer/ Food Blogger and Blogger/Recipe Developer for Pillsbury.com
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Patrice presented at the Blogging While Brown Conference, and her workshop was the best, in my opinion. The information she gave about protecting your intellectual property as an online content creator was PRICELESS! She made it easy to understand, and I walked away feeling empowered with so much information. She’s clearly an expert in her field, and the impression she left had me eager to work with her!
Luvvie AjayiWriter. Humorist. Digital Strategist. Red Pump Rocker.
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Patrice is on the cutting edge of understanding the common ground upon which business and law sit. She is creative,pays attention to detail and results oriented. She consistently reduces complex issues into “client friendly” solutions. I give attorney Perkins my highest recommendation.
Jeffery DillardPresidentJaneff Entertainment
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Simply put: Patrice is a GREAT attorney for creative entrepreneurs! I’ve already had my initial consultation. She put all of my business plans into one fantastic package…in one hour. And I’m very excited about getting started. Recently, I attended the Chicago Artists’ Coalition’s 20/20 Legal workshop. Patrice’s “10 Quick + Dirty Legal Tips for Creative Entrepreneurs: Negotiating Contracts, Intellectual Property and a Little Social Media in Between” presentation was phenomenal. I love how she s… Read more
Dana MotenNational Expansion Leader at 5LINX Enterprises Inc.
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If you’re looking for an intellectual property attorney, Patrice Perkins should be consider. I’ve hired her on several occasions to negotiate win/win contracts. Her attention to detail, and grasp on the universe of potential issues were invaluable. She’ll get you the results you’re looking for, as well as other things you never considered. I highly recommend her to anyone who is negotiating a major deal.
Toni L. Carter (MSHRM, CDP)HR Consultant, Employment Value Proposition Lead, Relationship Builder, Influencer, Negotiator, Author, Public Speaker
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My partner and I consulted Patrice for some advice regarding our start up business. Patrice was very thorough…very detailed…she gave us relevant suggestions and things to think about. She allowed us to ask questions and take our conversations where we wanted them to go which is important to our vision!! I have actually recommended Patrice to several people already so was MORE than happy to recommend her here!
Nicole Knox, MBAFounder at NCI Consulting
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I was initially impressed with Ms. Perkins’s enthusiasm, communication skills and professional demeanor when I attended a workshop held at the Creative Chicago Expo. During the workshop, she consistently demonstrated all of these qualities and more. Of particular value to me as an entrepreneur, I learned valuable information that would assist me in the future. Patrice is organized and diligent with the task at hand. I heartily endorse her for any legal workshops or as an attorney for entrepreneu… Read more
Lori T. BrownPapaterie Belle
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I had the pleasure of hearing Patrice give her professional opinion during a live Mentor Monday session with matchmaker expert Paul C. Brunson. Offering practical business tips and legal advice that was helpful, she prides herself on motivating risk takers and dreamers! What I enjoyed most about listening to Ms. Perkins is that she was not only encouraging but most of all a professional!
Dr. Chastity Williams-LasleyEducation Consultant
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I started working with Patrice in the beginning of 2013 to start a non-profit organization. She has a creative mind and helped me to see beyond the cut-and-dry law. We now have 501(c)3 status and can begin to offer new services to advance arts education for our community, students, and educators. As an artist, I also worked with Patrice to trademark my brand. She provided me with plenty of advice to protect my own creative language. Coming from an artist’s background I didn’t understand anything… Read more
Injung Oh, Oh Art Foundation
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I had the pleasure of meeting Patrice on Paul Carrick Brunson’s #MentorMonday webcast and what an experience. Patrice was a joy to listen to and was filled with tons of great knowledge for us entrepreneurs. I think she has a great thing going with Lifestyle Zen and I encourage everyone to connect with her in some way!
Carla F.Owner | Sr. CoordinatorDetails Made Simple - Wedding Day Coordinator
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[WE ARE LIVE!] 🎙️Hosted by Patrice Perkins, F [WE ARE LIVE!] 🎙️Hosted by Patrice Perkins, Founder + Principal Attorney at Creative Genius Law, BRIEF[ED] is a legal podcast designed specifically for those short on time. We answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from creatives, using some of our favorite entertainers, athletes, and celebrities to illustrate. And it’s officially live!

In our very first episode, “How Do I Even Know if I Have Intellectual Property that Can be Protected?” @creative_esq defines intellectual property and explores the most common types of intellectual property creatives should be aware of. If you follow the firm or have ever attended any of our #legalcoffeechats, you know we love a good pop culture case study. This episode, we call on DJ D-Nice to help us illustrate our creativity to capital framework. Patrice breaks down how he used his intellectual property during the pandemic to build wealth, impact, and legacy.

You can stream #BRIEF[ED] anywhere you get your podcasts. Or you can click the link in our bio to listen now! Be sure to grab your notebook and ink pen. You’ll want to take notes. Be sure to tune in each Tuesday for a brand new episode of #BRIEF[ED]. And we know you don’t have all day, so we’ll do something lawyers aren’t usually known for, we’ll keep it brief.
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#BRIEFED #BRIEFEDthepodcast #nowstreaming #CreativeGeniusLaw #youvebeenBRIEFED #intellectualpropertypodcast #DJDNice #Homeschooled #ClubQuarantine
We are officially 2 days away from our podcast lau We are officially 2 days away from our podcast launch event, COL[LAB]. We can barely contain our excitement—and based off the registration numbers, neither can you! Spots are filling quickly, but you still have time to register. Click the link in our bio to save your spot. And in case you’re on the fence about attending, we’ve taken the liberty to give you a few reasons why you don’t want to #snooze on this event. #Swipe—then click the link in our bio to register.
Co- is Latin, meaning “joint, jointly”. The ro Co- is Latin, meaning “joint, jointly”. The root word ‘lab’ is Latin, meaning “to work”. Put the two together and what do you get? You get our very first virtual legal coffee chat of the year—COL[LAB]: The Art of Collaboration. And it’s live in exactly one week. 

Join @creative_esq of Creative Genius Law and special guest Larvetta Loftin (@larvettaspeaks) of @the_l3_agency, on Thursday, February 23rd at 6PM CST, for a celebration of Black History Month and #TheArtofCollaboration, as they discuss the importance of collaboration from a business + legal standpoint, as well as what you should consider before collaborating. Because we love a good case study, we’ll be using R&B’s “Coolest” producer-writer-singer-extraordinaire to illustrate a few legal lessons on collaborating. This event is extra special because it’s also the official launch of our new podcast, BRIEF[ED]! The party—yes, party—is free.99, but registration is required. And it’s open NEOW! Link in bio. 🔗

This conversation is a fit for you if you're interested in learning how to use collaboration as a tool to not only grow your business, but also build impact, legacy and wealth. You should also join us if you’re interested in free weekly legal lessons, that you can digest in 15 minutes or less. Register now! And then, tell a friend. Because as the African American proverb goes, it ain’t no fun if your friends can’t have none.
Contrary to popular belief, Black folks DO KNOW ho Contrary to popular belief, Black folks DO KNOW how to work together. In fact, we created #theArtoftheCollab. What’s the proof? History, that’s what. How else did We manage to get to where we are today? It wasn’t by speaking softly and carrying a big stick. It was by working together, collaborating. While society may lead you to believe that Black folks are crabs in a barrel, history tells us otherwise. From human rights to civil rights to ‘we gone be alright’—we’ve always worked together because we recognize the strength in our number.

Two weeks from today, join us on Thursday, February 23rd at 6:00PM CDT, as we discuss #theArtoftheCollab. We’ll be joined by some very special guests, as we discuss the importance of collaboration from a business + legal standpoint, as well as what you should consider before collaborating. The event is virtual and free.99—but you must register! Registration opens tomorrow. This event is super special because it’s also the official launch of our podcast, #BRIEFED! We promise you don’t want to miss this. Stay tuned for more details, registration link, and how to win free swag. Real swag. We ain’t talking ink pens. 

Oh. And the next time you hear someone say Black folks can’t work together—channel your inner Birdman and tell them to put some #respeck on our names. Make sure you rub your hands, too.
Black History is American History. That’s it. Th Black History is American History. That’s it. That’s the post. Happy Black History Month! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽
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#BHM #BlackHistoryMonth #HappyBlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryisAmericanHistory #FUBUary #ForUsByUs
We’re closed today, in observance and celebratio We’re closed today, in observance and celebration of Sweet Auburn’s very own, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr! Did you know it took over 15 years to get congress to pass legislation to recognize #MLKJrDay as a federal holiday? Well, it did. And several more years for the holiday to be recognized in many states. 
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As we move throughout our days today, let’s remember the spirit behind the day, the essence of the man, and the legacy of his life. Today is not a day off—it’s a day on! 

So what are you on today? Giving back? Donating time? Community service? Being an ally? Let us know in the comments how you’re spending your #MLKDay. ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
Happy New Year, Tribe! We hope 2023 is off to a co Happy New Year, Tribe! We hope 2023 is off to a colorful start. We’re back in the office and back at your service. We’re looking forward to all this new year has to bring. From new connections and new collaborations, to new programming and new opportunities—and of course, new clients. We’re ready for it all.

If you’re a creative ready to build impact, legacy, and wealth, we’re ready to help you. It takes less than 5 minutes to get started. Link in bio. 

Cheers to the new year—and the same ole genius! 🥂
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#happynewyear #acceptingnewclients #intellectualpropertylaw #chicagoipattorney #trademarkattorney #copyrightattorney
From Creative Genius Law to you and your family, M From Creative Genius Law to you and your family, Merry Christmas! We hope it’s merry, bright and warm. Our holiday wish is that Jack Frost takes the rest of the day off. What’s yours?
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