Event Summary

WALA Creative Entrepreneurs Series (CES)  (Legal Issues for Creative Entrepreneurs)

WALA’s Creative Entrepreneurs Series is a series for creatives of all kinds who want to take the next step in their professional career by creating their own business. Explore the basics of forming a business for your creative endeavors, from deciding whether to incorporate as a non-profit or for-profit entity, to understanding copyrights and trademarks, contracts and licensing, the grants process, and finally estate planning for artists and creatives.

The series comprises six ONLINE sessions to be held on *consecutive Tuesdays, starting Tuesday, September 22, 2026 and continuing through Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 11am – 1p.

Session #2: Business Entities Formation


Presentation and Q & A with: 
Karl W. Means, Attorney

This Session Covers:

• Overview of Business Entities
• Types and Organization
• Management and Control
• Liability Protection
• Tax-Related Issues
• Business Agreements
• Shareholder and Membership Agreements
• Employment and Independent Contractor Agreements
• Non-Disclosure Agreements
• Non-Profit Entities
• Types
• IRS Form 1023 for Tax-Exempt Status
• Common Mistakes for Entrepreneurs

Karl W. Means advises clients on a range of intellectual property-related issues, including working with clients on to protect and license copyrighted works covering a wide variety of subjects, including publishing, music, computer software and web-based content. Karl also counsels clients on the selection and protection of federally registered trademarks in the U.S., international trademarks, domain names and web-based advertising, and brand development. He also has extensive experience with technology-based transactions involving the commercialization of products and services, brand licensing, technology transfer, software licensing and development agreements.

Before joining Miles & Stockbridge, Karl was a Shareholder in the Intellectual Property practice at the firm of Shulman Rogers. Karl began his legal career with the U.S. Customs Service in Washington, D.C., where he was Senior Attorney in the Intellectual Property Rights Branch. Karl holds an M.B.A. from Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma.

Visit Miles & Stockbridge online at https://www.mslaw.com/karl-w-means

#waladc

WALA programs and activities are funded in part by

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The 2026 Fall WALA Creative Entrepreneurs Series is FREE for WALA members. 

$20 per workshop for non-members/General Public. 

#WALAFALL2026
 

Event Details

• Date

  September 29, 2026

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• Time

  11:00am - 1:00pm

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• Partner

  DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment

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• Venue

  Online