CyberlawStudio, Pllc

Experienced Legal Boutique in Startup, Intellectual Property, Technology and Internet Law.

This lawyer is licensed to practice in New York and has no record of discipline from the New York bar association.*

Firm Overview

Launched in 2004, CyberlawStudio focuses on advising clients in the areas of new media, technology, corporate and business law serving as "in-house" counsel for startups and mid-size companies based in NY and CA. Founder was a former Wall Street lawyer and served as general counsel of a technology startup. Clients include foreign and domestic venture backed startups, seasoned creatives and technologists. Our roles range from reviewing NDAs to representing clients in their transactions with Fortune 500, government institutions and sophisticated investors.

Main Office

Main
295 Madison Avenue 12th Floor
New York NY 10017

Phone

(212) 807-0397

Fax

(866) 395-5856

Websites

Fees

Free Initial Consultation?

Yes, it all depends on the nature of the consultation.

Services Offered For Fixed Fees?

I provide estimates which almost always come in as targeted, and I rarely over estimate.

Hourly Rates

$225 to $350, depending on level of complexity, rates to be communicated to client.

Office Information

Office Hours

9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday

Other hours available by appointment.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Languages Spoken

Yes, Mandarin Chinese, French (proficient) and Japanese (proficient).

Business

We provide in-house counsel services to start-ups, existing businesses and non-profit organizations.

We advise on matters including entity formation, equity structuring, capital financing (venture backed, angel backed or self-funded), mergers acquisitions, joint ventures, business contracts drafting and negotiation and executive and general employee compensation and employment matters.

Our representative transactions include:

1. Advised transnational (US, UK and Germany) cloud computing startup on matters relating to corporate structure, financing, IP asset allocation and strategic alliance issues for entity seeking European government (4M EUR) and US venture capital funding (up to USD 5M).

2. Advised majority shareholder of one of oldest U.S. online retail foreign exchange brokerage service providers in corporate governance and shareholder right issues in parent company and 6 subsidiaries.

3. Represented online music social networking, fashion design, game developer and mobile food startups on corporate structuring, financing (angel, venture capital and convertible debt issuance) and employment issues (non-compete/solicitation).

4. Advised senior executive team of music publishing company on equity compensation issues in midst of company acquisition by global record label.

5. Advised CTO of well-known fashion social media startup on employment and compensation issues in midst of corporate restructuring and financing.

6. Assisted a non-profit startup with its initial incorporation, obtaining 501(c)(3) status and subsequent negotiations and document preparation arising during the course of its activities with international government, non-governmental agencies and the academia.

Intellectual Property

We advise clients on intellectual property and internet law, such as the creation, protection and exploitation of creative assets including video games, iPhone apps, e-books, film and music and website terms and privacy surrounding social media.

As a boutique firm dedicated to servicing clients in the creative industries, we work with our clients in particularly the following areas:

1. Intellectual Property and Technology Transaction:

Assist clients with creating, protecting and acquiring copyright and trademark assets, as well as devising strategies to manage and enforce their copyright and trademark rights. We counsel technology and service providers in deals pertaining to the development, hosting, maintenance, database security, marketing, licensing, acquisition and sale of technology assets.

Representative transactions include:

--Assisted information management software developer with the drafting and negotiation of software development, licensing, marketing, hosting, maintenance, database storage, escrow and end-user licensing agreements based utilizing the SAAS model. Counseled client in its negotiations with contractors regarding IP assignment, cross-licensing and open source code issues. Assisted client in its negotiations with licensees which include banking, health-care, insurance and educational institutions.

--Advise renown martial arts entertainment company on copyright and trademark issues relating to their digital assets, services and merchandise, among them instructional materials, promotional videos, smartphone applications, character rights (fictitious and real) and artwork.

2. Digital Media and Entertainment

We represent clients in negotiations pertaining to the creation, protection and exploitation of digital content and intellectual property assets, which includes video games, smartphone apps, e-books, film and music, for distribution over mobile devices, TV, film, radio and print media.

Representative transactions include:

--Advised sports league entertainment startup on co-production deal with Netherland based television production company relating to media assets including social and mobile games, and digital and traditional TV production.

--Advised game design startup on game publishing and acquisition deals with an industry top 5 social game company and a leading Korean game company.

3. Internet, E-commerce and Privacy

We advising social media networks, smartphone and tablet application developers and e-commerce merchants regarding website terms of use, privacy policies, copyright, trademark, domain name, rights of publicity and defamation issues.

Representative transactions include:

--Advised fantasy sports on-line network on e-commerce, third-party content liability, privacy, terms of use, copyright and trademark infringement, right of publicity, advertising, banking and marketing issues; drafted all website terms and conditions, end-user licensing agreements, affiliation and subscription agreements.

--Advised a national network marketing company on website domain name, copyright and trademark disputes with its infringing members.

How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?

I enjoy building companies and guiding them through their early stages. I also enjoy anything that is creative. As a result, I chose to practice corporate and intellectual property law.

What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I am glad that clients educate themselves, particularly when it facilitates my efforts to serve them cost efficiently.

Is your firm willing to review documents prepared by clients?

Absolutely, when it makes qualitative and economic sense. The quality of the documents prepared makes a big difference. When it takes longer to review and fix a document, I will strongly suggest that the client take the cost effective path of having me draft it. I like to see what my client prepares; often I get good language and concepts that add insight and may be added to the final, prepared documents.

Is your firm willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

With respect to contract negotiations, it all depends on whichever method will achieve the best legal and economic results for the client. Sometimes, clients prefer that I communicate with the other party directly. However, there are also incidences where issues get resolved much quicker by having clients deal with each other directly, with attorneys advising in the background.

Julia Cheng

Beginning in 2001, I practiced for several years as a corporate and securitization lawyer with the Wall Street law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft LLP, the oldest law firm in the U.S.. working with major investment banks such as Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse First Boston and Deutsche Bank. I then served as the general counsel for a wireless technology startup in downtown Manhattan and spearheaded the startup's efforts in establishing a NYC wireless homeless management information system. Prior to attending law school, I worked as a TV promo for Sony Music Entertainment in Asia, working with channels such as VH1, MTV and local TV stations in the promotion of Sony artists such as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and the Fugees.

Having worked in the entertainment industry, a Wall Street law firm and a technology startup, with clients ranging from Grammy/MTV award winning recording artists, investment bankers to social workers and entrepreneurs, I have the versatility and skills required to work with clients and their parties from various professional backgrounds. Also, growing up overseas in various countries gave me the social skills to work with clients from various cultural backgrounds. So far through my clients' projects I have worked with companies and attorneys in Taiwan, China, France, U.K., Canada, Spain, Palestine, Liberia and Colombia. Last but not least, with an undergraduate degree in pre-medicine, I have the math and science aptitudes required to understand client subject matters covering the foregoing disciplines, whether it be reviewing stock option pricing terms or software module codes for licensing.

I treat my clients the way I would like to be treated if I were a client. I work like a team member, advise like a parent and negotiate like a lawyer. I have been told by my clients that I am very thorough, quick on my feet and personable.

Personal interests:

MIDI music composition (Juilliard School of Music), traveling (Vieques, Granada, Moganshan) and street cycling.

License

Bar Number: 3900859
New York , 2000
Bar Number: 276337
California , 2011

Education

Fordham University School of Law
J.D. , 1999
New York, NY
Corporate/Securities/Intellectual Property Law

Fordham International Law Journal--Notes & Articles Editor
The Johns Hopkins University
B.A. , 1995
Baltimore, MD
Psychology/Pre-Medicine

Zara Watkins

I am a bankruptcy and commercial litigation counsel at CyberlawStudio with at least 9 years of experience practicing in both state and federal courts. I frequently help small businesses and entrepreneurs enforce their contractual rights through litigation and, when necessary, to navigate the complex bankruptcy process as debtors or creditors. I work on every aspect of litigation from case assessment to post judgment appeals. From time to time, I have also helped my clients avoid lengthy and costly litigation by implementing creative and thorough discovery processes, motion practice, and settlement negotiations.

My representative transactions are:

--Advised Taiwanese company in filing motion to accept late file claim in Borders Chapter 11 bankruptcy; representation led to successful settlement negotiation of outstanding claim.

--Represented Italian company in breach of contract action against US company resulting to default judgment and asset investigation.

--Assisted technology startup in filing pre-packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy to expedite reorganization.

I started my practice at the international law firm of Torys LLP. I graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and I am bilingual in Spanish. I'm admitted to practice in New York and Florida.