Entertainment Law Clinic
The Entertainment Law Clinic is an advanced entertainment law course for students seeking practical experience in transactional and administrative aspects of the entertainment industry. Students will represent creators, businesses, and non-profits in the music, film and television, dance, and art businesses with a focus on trademark and copyright prosecution and counseling, contract drafting and negotiation, and royalty stream creation and retention.
If you have a legal matter regarding one of the issues listed above, or you believe the UH Entertainment Law Clinic could provide assistance, please fill out the form at the following link. After reviewing your responses, a representative from the Clinic will contact you.
Justen S. Barks | Entertainment Law Clinic Director
Justen S. Barks is a commercial, intellectual property, and entertainment litigator. His intellectual property practice includes a mix of work with the U.S. Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Copyright Office, and copyright, patent, and trademark litigation.
Mr. Barks is the Director of the University of Houston Law Center’s Entertainment Law Clinic. He was an adjunct professor of law at UHLC, where he taught Entertainment Law (2014 to 2023).
Erin Rodgers | Adjunct Professor
Erin Rodgers is currently a partner with Rodgers Selvera PLLC in Houston. Her areas of practice include entertainment, nonprofits, intellectual property, and corporate matters. Erin earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Business from Loyola University New Orleans, and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. She has extensive experience representing clients in all facets of the entertainment industry.
In addition to practicing law, Erin is a classically trained clarinetist, and also plays the piano, accordion, and guitar. Erin currently performs with Houston bands National Pleasure, The Wheel Workers, and Houston’s Accordion Super Stars, and is a Core Artist at Catastrophic Theatre. She also supports the local arts community through board service, volunteering, and advocacy for many local arts organizations.
Fall 2024
Top row from left to right: Juan Nuñez, Rachel Ann Regner, Salima Sapateh
Bottom row from left to right: Abby Forrest, Erin Rodgers, Justen Barks
Rachel Ann Regner
Rachel Ann, a native Houstonian, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Economics. As an actress, singer, and dancer, she grew up immersed in the performing arts, cultivating a lifelong passion for the creative world. This early exposure sparked her interest in entertainment and intellectual property law, fields where she can combine her background in the arts with legal analysis and advocacy. Her goal is to use the legal system to empower creative professionals and enterprises.
Salima Sapateh
Salima Sapateh is originally from Prince George's County, Maryland. She has a deep-rooted passion for both sports and music, having played basketball for 11 years and nurtured her love for singing and songwriting through active participation in her school choir from elementary school through college. Salima earned her Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Hampton University, where she developed a keen interest in the intersection of sports, entertainment, and the law. Currently a student at the University of Houston Law Center, Salima aspires to become a sports and entertainment attorney, combining her love for athletics and music with her legal expertise.
Abbigail Forrest
Abby graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2021. Growing up as a musician and later developing into a writer, her work has been published in a Texas A&M student literary magazine as well as in the form of a creative thesis. She has a forthcoming publication in the Houston Journal of International Law, and aspires to practice in copyright and trademark law after graduation.
Juan Nuñez
Juan graduated from Texas A&M in 2021 Cum Lade with a BS in Political Science. As a life long lover and participant of the creative arts Juan finds passion in helping creators protect and defend their work.
During his time at UHLC Juan served as the Vice-President of The Aggie Bar Association, a Student Attorney for the Military Justice Clinic, and as a Law Clerk for a criminal defense firm. After graduation Juan plans to continue to work in Entertainment law sector.
