Work with Kathryn

Literary Agent's Contract Review ($1,500)

When you hire Kathryn to help you with a contract you have received from a literary agent, she will:

say, "Great job on scoring an agent!" Because . . . celebrate your successes.
review the contract
provide you with written comments on the areas you are specifically concerned with and any other issues you need to know about
give you a link to her calendar so you can schedule a call (or skype or zoom) to ask any questions you may have about your concerns or her comments
give you advice on how to negotiate the parts of the contract you'd like to have changed
draft language for suggested revisions

The call will be held using a video conferencing service which will allow you to record it and watch it again if you want to revisit to any part of the discussion.

The engagement will not involve:

redrafting a contract
review of complex contracts (any that are longer than 5 pages)
a formal, written opinion on the contract, or
negotiation with the other party

If you'd like to hire Kathryn to review a contract from a literary agent, fill out the contact form below and send it along. She'll send you an engagement letter and you can begin working together right away.

Publishing Contract Review ($1,500)

When you hire Kathryn to review a publishing contract, she will:

want to read your book
but instead, she'll read your contract
provide you with written comments on the areas you are specifically concerned with and any other issues you need to know about
give you access to her calendar so you can schedule a video call to ask any question you may have about your concerns or her comments
give you advice on how to negotiate the parts of the contract you'd like to have changed
draft language for suggested revisions

The call will be held using a video conferencing service which will allow you to record it and watch it again if you want to revisit to any part of the discussion.

The engagement will not involve:

redrafting a contract
review of complex contracts (any that are longer than 5 pages)
a formal, written opinion on the contract, or
negotiation with the other party.

If you'd like to hire Kathryn to review a contract from a literary agent, fill out the contact form below and send it along. She'll get back to you promptly with an engagement letter for your digital signature.

Licensing Agreement ($1,500)

This is the document that helps you develop multiple revenue streams from your creative work. It's how you build your empire.

The key terms in a licensing agreement include:

clear royalty, payment and accounting terms
a description of the specific works being licensed
a statement of whether the license is exclusive or non-exclusive
the term of the agreement (how long it lasts)
benchmarks for the licensee to meet in dollars or units
provisions for termination if the licensee does not fulfill its obligations
limitations on distribution channels, the types of products (or media) on which your work may appear, the number of units the licensee may sell
indemnification for any harm caused by the product that bears your work
a clear statement acknowledging ownership of the creative work and a limitation on the creation of derivative works by the licensee
dispute resolution provisions (mediation, arbitration or litigation)

If you'd like to hire Kathryn to review or draft a single work license agreement for you, fill out the contact form below and attach a copy of the agreement or include the terms you'd like covered. She'll get back to you promptly with an engagement letter you can sign digitally that will let the work begin.

Independent Contractor Agreement ($1,000)

Whether you are hiring an independent contractor or being hired to work for someone else, avoid misunderstandings by putting the terms of your arrangement in writing.

An independent contractor agreement should include:

payment terms — how much, how payment will be made and when
a clear scope or description of work to manage everyone's expectations
the understanding that equipment needed to carry out the project is owned by the contractor
how expenses will be managed
an understanding that the contractor will be responsible for paying state and federal income tax
language that sets out how long the agreement is expected to last and how it can be terminated
language that protects proprietary information
a promise that the contractor will deliver original creative work (not infringe the work of others)
a promise from the contractor that all state and federal licenses needed to do the work are in place
work for hire language that clearly addresses the ownership of the work being done by the independent contractor
a statement that makes clear the relationship is not an employment relationship (no benefits are being provided, for example)
dispute resolution process (mediation, arbitration, or litigation), and
a promise from the contractor that liability insurance is in place

If you'd like to hire Kathryn to draft or review an independent contractor's agreement for you, fill out the contact form below and attach a copy of the agreement or include the terms you'd like covered. She'll get back to you promptly with a formal engagement letter.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (FREE)

A Non-Disclosure Agreement is a contract between two people, or companies, who want to explore the possibility of doing business together and need to share secret, proprietary or sensitive information with the other without fear that the other will use the idea or information being shared.

If you think you are at a stage in your business where an NDA would be useful, please feel free to adapt the form I use with my clients. You can find it here: Non-Disclosure Agreement Form.

A Non-Disclosure Agreement is usually only one piece of an overall business strategy. If you would like an in depth session to discuss how to structure or build your business, request a consultation with Kathryn using the "Other Consultation" option in the contact form below.

Getting your business on the right track early can save time and trouble down the road.

Copyright Consultation ($375)

Creative professionals and entrepreneurs frequently discover that their original artistic expression has been used without their permission. Many times, the unauthorized use is copyright infringement.

Sometimes, creatives and businesses need help deciding whether and how to use the creative work of others in their own work.

During a Copyright Consultation you can discuss:

the enforcement options available if your work has been infringed—from take down notices to licensing arrangements
the best strategies for protecting your work and how to build protection mechanisms into your workflow
how to approach copyright clearance issues to incorporate the use of the creative work of others in your own work whether through licensing, permission or fair use

A Copyright Consultation does not include a written clearance opinion, but the consultation will be held on a video conferencing service. You can record the session to watch again if you want to revisit any recommendations or strategies suggested.

Simply click on the Schedule an Appointment button below. Kathryn's schedule will open up and you can book a time that works for you.

Trademark Consultation ($375)

Brand conscience entrepreneurs understand that building a successful business means protecting its identity. A unique brand is a core asset of your business and is embodied in your company's name, its logo or design.

The question is, "When is it time to invest in trademark protection for my business?" If now is not the time, the question becomes, "What are the other strategies available for protecting my brand?"

A Trademark Consultation is designed to help you, as a business owner:

understand the process of protecting your brand and business identity
learn the basics of preliminary trademark clearance to begin forging a unique identity with confidence
decide when the time is right to invest in trademark protection
develop an economically feasible strategy for brand protection that grows as your business grows
discuss protection or enforcement options if you believe your trademark is being infringed
discuss responses to claims of trademark infringement made against you

A Trademark Consultation does not include a trademark search or clearance opinion, but the consultation will be held on a video conferencing service. You can record the session to watch again if you want to revisit any recommendations or strategies suggested.

Simply click on the Schedule an Appointment button below. Kathryn's schedule will open up and you can book a time that works for you.

Other Consultation ($375)

Running a business, creating art or bringing a manuscript to life all come with challenges that can't be predicted. Having a solid plan in place can reduce those moments of uncertainty. But for those times when your plan doesn't speak to the issue you're facing, you might benefit from a call with an attorney.

This Consultation can help you:

sort through the issues that come up when creating your work like whether you can use a real person in your book or depict them in your art
explore the various entity structures available for your business (sole-proprietorship, LLC, C-corp, S-corp) to determine which makes sense for you
discuss the protections you have in place when considering the growth of your business by taking on partners, investors or positioning your business for sale
help you analyze the practical and legal ramifications of joint ventures, partnerships or cross-border relationships
consider whether an independent contractor is more properly classified as an employee to avoid tax penalties
decide whether an employee is properly classified as exempt or non-exempt to avoid running afoul of overtime rules

This Consultation does not include a written opinion, business formation or contract document, but the consultation will be held on a video conferencing service. You can record the session to watch again if you want to revisit any recommendations or strategies suggested.

Simply click on the Schedule an Appointment button below, Kathryn's schedule will open up and you can book an hour that works for you.