Pursuing Justice Podcast Episode 36: The vast majority of artists working today are not well known or well paid. And those artists with fewer resources are often those with the greatest need for legal counsel, from protecting their intellectual property to drawing up contracts and more. In this episode, Amy Lehman, of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and Jordan Miner Romanoff, of BNY Mellon, discuss the many ways in which pro bono lawyers can help support artists — and the arts.
This podcast provides a behind-the-scenes exploration of pro bono and public interest legal work. These heartening stories are told from both clients’ and lawyers’ perspectives to showcase intimate portraits of lawyers helping those with limited access to justice.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE
Amy Lehman
Amy Lehman was a professional ballet dancer for many years in Canada, Sweden, and the United States, before returning to school to get her bachelor’s degree from NYU in theater history and dramatic literature. After graduating from NYU, she continued to work in the theater industry as an assistant producer and assistant theatrical agent, where she reviewed contracts and managed and negotiated licensing agreements for plays in the United States and internationally.
Having been inspired to go to law school by her desire to help other artists, she studied copyright, trademark, and media law while at the University of Michigan Law School, where she served as an editor on the Michigan Journal of Race and Law, and as president of the Entertainment, Media, and Arts Law Students Association.
Amy’s relationship with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) began as soon as she had the opportunity to volunteer her services as an attorney. Her primary practice has been general commercial litigation, including matters involving art law, media law, employment, intellectual property, constitutional law, real estate, insurance, contract disputes, torts, as well as other disputes.
Amy is a trained mediator with extensive experience working with VLA in the MediateArt program, and is on the panel of mediators assigned to resolve cases for the Southern District of New York.
Amy is a member of the Entertainment Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2014, 2016, and 2017, and to New York Metro Super Lawyers from 2018 through 2023.
Jordan Romanoff
Jordan Romanoff is Director & Managing Counsel at the Bank of New York Mellon and the Co-Head of the global Intellectual Property Legal team. He leads the firm’s efforts related to copyright, trademark, domain name enforcement, and brand protection, and is the primary legal support for the Global Marketing and Communications function. Prior to joining BNY Mellon, Jordan was a Senior Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focused on litigation, transactional, and counseling work in the fields of copyright, trademark, right of publicity, art, internet, and advertising law. He represented and advised clients across a wide range of industries, including entertainment and media, fashion, technology, and consumer products. He also represented and advised nonprofit corporations and individuals in a variety of pro bono matters, including art museums, LGBTQ asylum applicants, and civil rights organizations.
Jordan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Jordan is a member of the Associate Board of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and serves on the Internet Committee of the International Trademark Association and the Communications and Media Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association.
