05/01/2008

Presented by: Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law Section (IPEL)

Co-Sponsored by: International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL)

Program Information:

Networking Event and Panel Discussion

Experts in the fashion industry – including a fashion designer featured on Project Runway, national and international counsel for fashion designers, and a member of the California Fashion Association – will discuss the scope of copyright and trademark protection for fashion designs and styles. The panelists will cover issues regarding rights in brands; the tension between protecting creativity in fashion and allowing more freedom to copy as a way of benefiting consumers (and, relatedly, the pros and cons of the pending Design Piracy Prohibition Act); online sales of counterfeit products; and other emerging intellectual property issues in the fashion industry.

David Erikson is a Los Angeles attorney with extensive experience representing fashion designers – as well as architects, photographers, musicians and artists – in intellectual property and other matters. He has handled copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret matters, involving everything from securing, licensing and transferring basic rights to complex infringement and related actions. His current fashion designer clients include Libertine, Magda Berliner, Suzanne Costas Friewald (founder of Earl Jean), Spring & Clifton, Jasmin Shokrian, Wren, Trasteverine, and Cheyann Benedict (co-founder of C&C California). He has previously represented retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Target in intellectual property litigation. After spending five years with Bryan Cave LLP, Mr. Erikson opened a solo practice in 2004.

Robert F. Helfing is a partner at Sedgwick, Detert Moran LLP and heads the firm's Intellectual Property Practice Group. His practice emphasizes litigation, transactional work and consultation to maximize protection of intellectual property assets. Mr. Helfing has managed the copyright and trademark portfolios of motion picture studios and record companies, as well as cosmetic, restaurant, food product and other manufacturing and service corporations. He has litigated many copyright disputes involving well-known fashion brands such as JNCO, Zinc and Delia*s.

Rami Kashou was the runner-up on the last season of Bravo’s Project Runway. Rami is a seasoned veteran in the arena of runway presentations. Known for his dramatic red carpet gowns, Rami has dressed celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Fergie, Tyra Banks, Amy Smart, Erykah Badu, Lucy Lui, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Penelope Cruz and Shiva Rose. His designs have been seen on the pages of In Style, Flaunt, Vogue, Lucky, Elle, Angelino, Interview, People and Us Weekly. Rami was also commissioned to design the costumes for the March 2005 America’s Next Top Model ad campaign that resided on billboards across the nation. Rami Kashou's designs can be found at high end notable boutiques in the United States and Europe including Inago, Bleu, Spool and Diavolina in Los Angeles; Twist and Curve in New York; Man Eaterthreads.com and Give & Take in San Francisco; Lola B in Tennessee; Le Train Bleu in Oregon; and Scarlet Gold in Hamburg, Germany.

Ilse Metchek is the Executive Director of the California Fashion Association (CFA), which she created in 1994. The CFA provides leaders of the Southern California’s manufacturing and textile community with the opportunity to share information about the business of conducting business in the current global economy. Ms. Metchek has been the keynote speaker on fashion industry issues for the State of California’s Home Economics Careers and Technology Educations Annual Leadership and Management conference. Ms. Metchek was appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce Exporters’ Textile Advisory Committee (ETAC) in 1998, and still serves in that capacity. Prior to the formation of the CFA, Mrs. Metchek was Executive Director of the California Mart, and before that, she was President of White Stag Inc., a division of Warnaco Industries. In 1967, Ms. Metchek began at Anjac Corporation as the company’s designer; seventeen years later, she owned the company.

Anne-Marie Pecoraro is a partner at the French law firm Bignon, Lebray & Associates. She is a member of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL). Ms. Pecoraro specializes in advertising, literary and artistic property and trademarks law. She has extensive knowledge regarding designs and models at national and international level. Her firm’s fashion industry clients include Thierry Mugler, Gilles Rosier, Pascal Millet, Mélodie Wolf, Angelo Tarlazzi, Havrey (a franchise network), Sarah Pacini, Irene van Ryb, Lafuma (the sportswear brand), and Editions de parfums Frédéric Malle. She also has expertise in contract drafting and negotiation, and advises her clients and defends their rights in the case of litigation (notably, in the case of counterfeiting). After having started her career working for movie and music production, Anne-Marie Pecoraro joined Bignon Lebray & Associates and is recognized on the European market as one of the major entertainment and fashion lawyers.

Program Chairs:
Allison Rohrer, White O'Connor Fink & Brenner LLP
Shahrokh Sheik, Independent Film & Television Alliance

Wine Bar Sponsored by: Jeff Kichaven, Mediator - JAMS

Speakers:
D. Erikson, Law Offices of David Erikson
Robert Helfing
Rami Kashou, Rami Kashou
Ilse Metchek, California Fashion Association
Anne-Marie Pecoraro, Bignon, Lebray & Associates

Location:
Luxe Hotel Bel Air, 11461 Sunset Blvd. , Los Angeles

Parking:
Valet parking: $7.00

Times:
Registration: 6:00 pm
Meal/Reception: 6:30 pm
Program: 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

For questions about programs or program registration, send e-mail to our Member Service Department: msd@lacba.org

The Los Angeles County Bar Association is a State Bar of California MCLE approved provider. If this is a CLE event, the Los Angeles County Bar Association certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit. CLE events will state the amount and type of credit offered in the calendar listing.