Entertainment, Art & Sports Law

Your creative work.
Your athletic career.
Legally protected.

Artists, musicians, athletes, and creatives deserve legal counsel that understands their world — not just the fine print. Attorney Maiaklovsky brings both professional expertise and a lifetime of personal connection to the arts and athletics to every engagement.

“I grew up surrounded by the work of creation — and I know what it costs when it goes unprotected.”

Attorney Maiaklovsky grew up in a household where art was not decoration but vocation — where creative work was understood as discipline, sacrifice, and legacy. That upbringing gave her a perspective on protecting creative work that cannot be learned in a law school classroom.

Her connection to athletics is equally personal — with family members who have competed at the collegiate level and reached the professional ranks, she understands what is at stake when an athlete’s name, image, and future are on the line.

This is not a practice area she added to a list. It is a part of who she is.

For Artists & Creatives

Art & Entertainment
Legal Services

From the studio to the gallery to the stage, creative professionals need contracts that protect their work, their compensation, and their rights. We provide practical, artist-centered legal counsel across the full spectrum of entertainment and visual arts law.

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Artist Contracts & Representation Agreements

Gallery representation agreements, artist management contracts, commission agreements, and collaboration agreements — reviewed and negotiated to protect your interests before you sign.

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Copyright & Intellectual Property

Copyright registration, licensing agreements, infringement claims, and work-for-hire disputes for visual artists, photographers, designers, and other creatives. Your work belongs to you — we make sure it stays that way.

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Art Sales, Commissions & Gallery Agreements

Purchase agreements, consignment contracts, provenance documentation, and resale royalty rights. Whether you are selling privately, through a gallery, or at auction, we ensure the transaction reflects your work’s true value.

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Music Contracts & Licensing

Recording agreements, performance contracts, sync licensing, publishing deals, and royalty disputes. We represent independent artists and small labels handling an industry built on fine print.

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Brand & Endorsement Agreements

Sponsorship contracts, brand partnership agreements, and influencer arrangements for artists and creatives building a public presence. We negotiate terms that protect your image and your income.

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Disputes & Enforcement

When contracts are breached, royalties go unpaid, or work is used without permission — we pursue resolution through negotiation, demand letters, and litigation when necessary.

International Artists & Athletes

Coming to the U.S. to
Perform or Compete?

International artists, musicians, performers, and athletes — including Canadian citizens — who come to the United States to perform, exhibit, or compete may require a visa. We handle the immigration side of that equation so your talent can focus on the work.

P-1 Visa

Internationally Recognized Athletes & Entertainers

The P-1 visa is for athletes who perform at an internationally recognized level, and for entertainment groups with sustained international recognition. It covers individual athletes competing at a high level, as well as entertainment companies and touring groups.

  • ►  Professional and elite amateur athletes
  • ►  Members of internationally recognized entertainment groups
  • ►  Support personnel essential to the performance
  • ►  Spouses and children may accompany on P-4 visas
P-3 Visa

Artists & Entertainers in Culturally Unique Programs

The P-3 visa is for artists and entertainers coming to the U.S. to perform, teach, or coach in a program that is culturally unique. This is particularly relevant for artists from the Caribbean, Africa, and other regions bringing traditional or folk art forms to U.S. audiences.

  • ►  Musicians, dancers, and performance artists
  • ►  Visual artists and cultural educators
  • ►  Coaches and teachers of culturally unique disciplines
  • ►  Artists coming to exhibit or perform at U.S. venues and festivals

One Firm for Both Sides of the Engagement

Your performance contract and your visa are two parts of the same transaction. We handle both — the immigration petition and the arts or sports contract — so nothing falls through the gap between two different attorneys.

Immigration Law →
For Athletes & Sports Professionals

Sports Law &
Athlete Representation

An athlete’s career is short. The decisions made at the beginning — who represents you, what you sign, how your name and image are used — have consequences that outlast the game. We provide legal counsel that treats your career with the seriousness it deserves.

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Sports Contracts & NIL Agreements

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contracts for collegiate and professional athletes. We review, negotiate, and structure deals that maximize your earning potential while protecting your eligibility and long-term brand.

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Athlete Representation & Endorsements

Endorsement agreements, sponsorship contracts, and personal appearance deals for athletes at every level. We ensure compensation is fair, usage rights are clear, and exit provisions protect you if the relationship sours.

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Agent & Agency Agreements

Review and negotiation of athlete-agent agreements, including commission structures, scope of representation, and termination rights. Know exactly what you are agreeing to before you sign.

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Sports Business & Formation

Entity formation for sports-related businesses, academies, training facilities, and nonprofit sports organizations — including not-for-profit status and governance structure for youth sports programs.

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Dispute Resolution

Contract disputes, unpaid compensation, and breach of representation agreements. We handle sports-related disputes through negotiation, arbitration, and litigation.

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Collegiate Athletics & Compliance

Guidance for student-athletes handling NIL compliance, eligibility questions, and the transition from amateur to professional. We help athletes protect their future at every stage of their career.

The Stakes

Creative work and athletic careers
have real legal exposure.

Most artists and athletes don’t have legal problems — until they do. By then, the contract is signed, the copyright is disputed, or the NIL opportunity is gone. Legal counsel is not a luxury at the end of a career. It is infrastructure from the beginning.

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Most artist contracts favor the gallery, label, or platform — not the artist.

Standard industry agreements are drafted by the other side’s lawyers. Having your own counsel review before signing changes the outcome. Commissions, ownership rights, exclusivity clauses, and payment terms are all negotiable — but only before you sign.

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Copyright is not automatic protection.

While copyright attaches at creation, federal registration is required to sue for infringement and to recover statutory damages and attorneys’ fees. Many artists discover this only after their work has been used without permission. We handle registration and enforcement.

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NIL law is new, evolving, and full of traps for unprepared athletes.

Since the NCAA’s 2021 NIL rule change, student-athletes can monetize their name, image, and likeness — but the compliance requirements vary by state and institution. A poorly structured deal can cost an athlete their eligibility. We structure deals that comply and protect.

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Art sales without proper documentation create legal risk for buyers and sellers alike.

Provenance gaps, undisclosed liens, resale royalty obligations, and title defects are all real issues in art transactions. Whether you are buying, selling, or donating artwork, proper legal documentation protects all parties.

Common Questions

Entertainment, Art & Sports Law FAQs

Do I need a lawyer to sell my artwork?
Not always — but you should have one review any significant agreement before you sign. Gallery consignment contracts, private sale agreements, and commission contracts often contain provisions that affect your ownership rights, resale royalties, and ability to show your work elsewhere. A brief review can prevent significant problems later.
What is NIL and does it apply to high school athletes?
NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness — the right to earn compensation from use of your identity for commercial purposes. In New York, the NIL framework currently applies primarily to collegiate athletes. High school NIL is governed separately and is still evolving. We advise on the current state of the law and how it applies to your situation.
What should I look for in an artist representation agreement?
Key provisions include: commission percentage and how it is calculated, exclusivity terms (geographic and subject matter), duration and termination rights, ownership of work left on consignment, and what happens if unsold work is damaged. We review these agreements and negotiate terms that protect the artist.
Someone used my artwork without permission. What can I do?
If your work is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, you have the right to sue for infringement and may recover statutory damages of up to $150,000 per work for willful infringement, plus attorneys’ fees. Even without registration, you have options. Contact us to discuss the specific facts of your situation.
Do you work with independent musicians and small labels?
Yes. We represent independent artists and small music businesses on recording agreements, distribution deals, sync licensing, publishing arrangements, and royalty disputes. The music industry has significant power imbalances — having your own legal counsel levels the playing field.

Protect what you create.
Protect what you compete for.

Whether you are an artist protecting your work, an athlete structuring your first NIL deal, or a creative professional handling a complex contract — we are here to make sure the law works for you.

Schedule a Consultation
Free · Confidential · Consultation

Your Legal Matter Deserves Personal Attention.

When you reach out to the Maiaklovsky Law Firm, Attorney Maiaklovsky reviews your matter directly. No intake assistant. No runaround. You speak with your attorney.

In person in White Plains or New City — or virtually, wherever you are in New York State.

Schedule a Free Consultation
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(914) 885-1588 | Info@klovskylaw.com