Publishing is a unique combination of creativity and commerce. In today’s
print, electronic, and self-publishing universe authors are required to develop
marketing platforms and promote as well as write their books. The expanded
possibilities and demands require decisions which can be overwhelming.
Sheila J. Levine is a New York based lawyer with deep experience in the publishing industry and book publishing contracts.
She began her publishing career in Subsidiary Rights at Doubleday. From
there she moved to Popular Library, a paperback publisher acquired by CBS,
as Contracts and Copyright Manager. She learned how to draft, review, and
negotiate publishing contracts and then became a lawyer to expand and
strengthen her analytical and writing skills.
Working with Sheila
Whether you are an author, literary agent, editor, or publisher, Sheila can
advise you on how best leverage the economic value of your intellectual
property rights and how to protect them.
Sheila’s approach is to define with a client what would be a successful
outcome and proceed in a flexible step by step process — whether
negotiating a contract with a publisher or literary agent or trying to resolve a
disagreement with a publisher before it turns into an expensive litigation.
For example, publishing contracts are written in legal terminology that can
be unfamiliar and difficult for authors to understand. She will clarify a client’s
rights and expectations, followed by a pragmatic, problem solving
examination of alternatives.
Her services include the following.
● Drafting and negotiating agency agreements and publishing contract terms.
● Client counseling on copyright issues, such as derivative rights and optioning rights for exploitation in the motion picture industry.
● Advising clients on recapturing (reversion) of granted rights.
● Reading manuscripts for defamation and invasion of privacy.
● Advising clients on online presence on the Internet.
● Representing clients as a consulting publishing attorney for book projects.
Ask the Right Questions
In addition to her legal training, Sheila also holds an MBA. She helps her
clients to reframe their authorship questions into business questions. For
example, “Do I need a literary agent” is a question about how to facilitate the
sale of the manuscript to the publisher.
Before securing a literary agent or submitting a proposal to a publisher on
one’s own, Sheila advises her clients to address the cornerstone question
first: “How do I protect my rights?”
For instance, Sheila consults with clients on copyright issues, such as derivative
rights and option agreements in the motion picture industry.
A clear understanding for copyright ownership is the foundation of any future
agreements with agents or publishers. For more examples of common
questions, click here (this link goes to the FAQ page).
Peace of Mind
With Sheila’s guidance, an author can have peace of mind knowing that their
work is legally protected, their rights are being defended, making more time
available to focus on the business of writing and the entrepreneurship of
being an author in an ever-changing marketplace.
Consultation
For consultation her telephone number is (212) 866-5353. Press the Essays Tab for a selection of her essays.
Sheila is a partner in Levine Samuel, LLP. The full services of the firm can be viewed at iplegalcorner.com. She specializes in intellectual property rights and protection of authors. She is the co-author of a series of blogs on publishing contracts and copyright law. She represents agented and non-agented authors from the outset of their careers to fully fledged authors of note. Sheila can be reached at (212) 866-5353 and by email at sheila@iplegalcorner.com
What can Sheila do for you?