Deena R. Merlen

Deena Merlen assists individuals and companies with labor and employment, intellectual property, business, commercial transactions and media/entertainment law matters. A partner with Reavis Page Jump LLP, Ms. Merlen sees clients in both the New York City and Stamford, Connecticut offices of the firm and heads the firm's Connecticut practice. Ms. Merlen, who received her B.A. from Oberlin College and ranked first in her graduating class from New York Law School (J.D. 1996), formerly served as law clerk to Hon. Roger J. Miner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, where she practiced for over five years in the corporate law and intellectual property practice groups.   

Ms. Merlen has an extensive practice representing clients in intellectual property (trademark, copyright and licensing), employment and workplace matters including general counseling, discrimination actions, wrongful termination, mediations and dispute resolution, investigations by federal or state agencies, as well as ADA claims, wage and hour claims, FMLA and other labor law matters, and advising on and negotiating employment and separation agreements, independent contractor arrangements, company restructurings and other services-related arrangements. In addition to assisting with intellectual property and employment law matters, Ms. Merlen provides general business counsel and represents companies and individuals in transactional matters such as partnerships, joint ventures, startups, licensing arrangements, the purchase or sale of businesses, and corporate matters such as company formation, mergers and acquisitions, capitalization and governance. 

Drawing from a previous career in the arts, Ms. Merlen’s practice also encompasses copyright, trademark, brands, licensing and more. She has helped her clients to develop and protect their intellectual property rights in over 35 countries globally. Ms. Merlen ran her own business in the entertainment industry prior to commencing her law practice, and brings that business experience and acumen to her legal practice, particularly in regard to her clients involved in music, film, television, theatre, publishing, literary arts, performing arts, fine arts, design, digital and interactive media, and technology. She has worked on films and television programs, ranging from award-winning documentaries to commercial fiction feature films as well as new media, publication of books, music licensing and distribution, artist management and recording matters. She also is a frequent guest speaker and moderator for intellectual property and entertainment industry panels on a variety of topics.  

Ms. Merlen serves on the Board of Directors of Friendship Ambassadors Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization and NGO involved in international cultural exchange and the arts, with special, consultative status with UNESCO and formally associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information. Ms. Merlen is the Co-Chair of the Entertainment, Media and Intellectual Property Law Committees of the Fairfield County Bar Association, and she served as Co-Chair of its Employment Law Committee from 2015 through 2018.  She also is a member of the New York State Bar Association.