Modeling and the Law
We explored various legal issues that arise in modeling, including modeling agency agreements, termination rights, exclusivity, rights to publicity, non-disclosure agreements, employment issues, and compensation. To learn, we interviewed three very interesting experts: a former model turned attorney, a fashion and modeling law expert, and a UMBC grad and current model!
Our Experts
Uduak Oduok is a former fashion model who attended Georgetown Law School and became an attorney. She has litigated a wide range of issues in California courts, and represents a diverse range of clients on business-related issues, particularly in the fashion and entertainment fields. Ms. Uduak is a leader for her work on Africa’s emerging global fashion and entertainment markets, as well as her work in the practice of fashion law in the U.S. She founded her own law firm FASHIONENTLAW, a boutique fashion, media and entertainment law firm.
Doreen Small is a distinguished intellectual property, fashion, and entertainment lawyer, and a leading expert in the field of fashion modeling law. She is a partner at Davis Shapiro Lewit & Grabel, LLP in New York City. She is also an adjunct professor at the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School, where she created and teaches the Institute’s first course in Fashion Modeling Law. Earlier in her career, Doreen was Vice President/General Counsel for Ford Models, Inc., and a Senior Intellectual Property and Music Counsel for NBC, where her clients included Saturday Night Live, Late Night, and The Tonight Show.
Michelle Ye is an artist involved in a variety of art forms. She is a model, actress, photographer, videographer, dancer, choreographer, singer/songwriter, and YouTuber based in New York City. Most importantly to us, she is a recent UMBC grad, where she majored in Dance, and Media and Communications. She is currently signed with State Management modeling agency.