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Justen Slater Barks
About Justen
Biography
Justen S. Barks is an entertainment and intellectual property litigator, counsellor, and educator. His private practice is focused on building, fostering, and developing Texas creative industries by protecting and enforcing rights, supporting market infrastructure, and guiding artists as they make career-defining decisions. Barks PLLC exclusively represents entertainment and intellectual property clients in protecting copyrights and trademarks; negotiating music, literary, film, television, visual arts, and technology agreements, licenses, and assignments; and enforcing and defending creative and contractual rights in state and federal courts.
Mr. Barks began teaching entertainment and intellectual property at the University of Houston Law Center just one year into his practice. Since 2014, Mr. Barks has helped future entertainment lawyers and future non-entertainment lawyers alike develop the skills, understanding, and vocabulary of the music, film, visual art, and literary industries. In 2021, Mr. Barks developed a legal clinic at the University of Houston Law Center giving students looking for hands-on training to serve Texas creatives, non-profits, and companies with pro bono and low-cost legal services in the fields of entertainment and intellectual property law.
Mr. Barks is the Counsel Liaison for the Copyright Committee of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property section. He is a Barrister with the Nancy F. Atlas IP Inn of Court, and a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow. Mr. Barks also gives back to his community as a pro bono volunteer and Board Member of the Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts.
Mr. Barks graduated from Belmont University in 2008 with a degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industry Management. He graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 2013. He formed Barks PLLC in January 2024.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 6 years
State: California
Acquired: 2019
No misconduct found
Licensed in Texas for 12 years
State: Texas
Acquired: 2013
No misconduct found
Location
Barks PLLC
5005 Riverway Dr., Ste. 250, Houston, TX, 77056
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Justen Slater Barks's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
7 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 5 of 7 reviews
Posted by Matthew | November 17, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Business
Dissolved partnership
Justen really helped me out during a stressful and complicated business breakup. He helped me understand everything during the lawsuit and guided me to a successful settlement. Since then he’s also helped me draw up several documents for my new contracting business.
Posted by Heather | November 09, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Justen was an amazing asset to have on my side
Justen was referred to me to help with an opportunity I felt was too far outside my experience and expertise to handle without representation. Justen did a fantastic job of hand-holding yet empowering me simultaneously. He was always available to hear my thoughts and help me narrow down the path I wa...
Posted by House Tacos | March 10, 2020 | Business
The greatest commercial law firm
I had the privilege and joy of sitting down with Justen Barks and Rodney Beard. Although it was our first consultation, they made me feel like I was their most valued client. This is the only commercial law firm I will be using and highly recommend them to anyone and everyone.
Posted by Daren | February 08, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Business
A Review For Justen Barks
Mr. Barks has been pivotal in helping to formulate and protect my business within a quickly growing base of entertainment clientele. He is always quick to respond with sound advice and his consultation has been central in helping my business scale. He goes above and beyond and I fully recommend him t...
Posted by Nonie | January 27, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Contracts & Agreements
Simply the best
Justen Barks negotiated an extremely complicated contract between myself and a major network for a reality show, and was successfully able to ensure that I was protected in a traditionally difficult landscape. He was readily available throughout the negotiation and treated me with respect and kindnes...
Justen Slater Barks's Lawyer Endorsements
"I am a local litigation attorney who worked under Mr. Barks as a summer law clerk during my final summer of law school. Mr. Barks is a creative, thoughtful, and talented attorney. Moreover, he is just a stellar and trustworthy human being. Under Mr. Barks' tutelage, I assisted him on several business and intellectual property-related disputes, where he taught me the importance of not only seeking open-minded and practical resolutions to complex legal issues, but also the importance of building genuine dialogue and rapport with clients. I consider Mr. Barks a mentor, friend, and the kind of lawyer that I aspire to be, as I grow in service to both clients and colleagues. He is an excellent teacher and adviser of the law, to all those who seek his counsel -- and, I could not recommend his professional services highly enough!"
"Mr. Barks is an excellent, prepared and responsive attorney. I endorse him as a fellow attorney and as a responsible and trustworthy person."
"Justen is extremely knowledgeable on all things entertainment law. He is able to communicate effectively with both business- and entertainment-focused clients and works hard to find the best solution in both transactional and litigation matters. Justen is passionate about his work and is one of the few attorneys that can make the evolution of copyright or trademark law into an entertaining story (and from memory, at that). I rely on Justen as a resource whenever I have an entertainment law question and recommend him highly to anyone seeking legal advice in the field."
"Justen Barks has been extremely helpful consulting on my client's IP infringement issues. His background as an law professor helps him explain the issues thoroughly yet simply enough for someone who is not an expert in the subject to understand."
Experience
Honors
2023
Rising Star, Texas Super Lawyers
2022
Rising Star, Texas Super Lawyers
2018
Top Lawyer - Entertainment Law, Houstonia Magazine
2017
Top Lawyer - Entertainment Law, Houstonia Magazine
2016
Top Lawyer - Entertainment Law, Houstonia Magazine
2013
National Order of the Barristers Award, Order of the Barristers
Work Experience
2024 - Present
Principal, Barks PLLC
2021 - Present
Adjunct Director, University of Houston Law Center - Entertainment Law Clinic
2018 - 2024
Partner, Beard & Barks PLLC
2017 - 2018
Associate, Vethan Law Firm P.C.
2015 - 2017
Associate, Alonso PLLC
2014 - 2024
Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law, University of Houston Law Center
2013 - 2015
Of Counsel, Craft Chu PLLC
Associations
2023 - Present
State Bar of Texas, Intellectual Property SectionCounsel Liaison - Copyright
2023 - Present
Texas Bar FoundationFellow
2021 - Present
Nancy F. Atlas IP Inn of CourtBarrister
2015 - Present
Houston Bar AssociationMember
2014 - Present
Houston Intellectual Property OrganizationMember
2014 - Present
Texas Bar AssociationMember
2014 - Present
Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the ArtsMember
2020 - 2023
State Bar of Texas, Intellectual Property SectionChair, Copyright Committee
2016 - 2018
Copyright Society of the USAMember
2014 - 2015
International Trademark AssociationMember
Education
2013
University of Houston Law Center
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
2008
Belmont University
B.B.A. - Entertainment Industry Management
Speaking Engagements
2023
State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting Intellectual Property CLE
That's Not Fair! (or Is It?)
2023
State Bar of Texas 36th Annual Advanced Intellectual Property CLE
Copyright Update: 2022
2020
State Bar of Texas 33rd Annual Advanced Intellectual Property Law: Overview of IP CLE
Tales from the Crypt: And Other Stories from Copyright's Past Year
2020
AIPLA 2020 Annual Meting
Copyright/Right of Publicity
2018
Comic Indie Con
The Secret Wars of Comic Book Writers - Lecture
2017
Touchdown! A Sports CLE Program
Intellectual Property, Merchandising, and Fantasy Football - CLE Presentation
2017
Culture Remix: Illegal Art, Copyright, and the Music Industry
Freedom of Expression - Panel Discussion
2016
A MUSIC SYMPOSIUM: TRADITIONAL AND DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TODAY’S MUSIC INDUSTRY
The Changing Economics of the Music Business - Panel Discussion
2015
World IP Day - Houston 2015
The Musical Flavors of Houston - Panel Discussion
Publications
2023
State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting Intellectual Property CLE
That's Not Fair! (or Is It?)
2022
State Bar of Texas 35th Annual Advanced Intellectual Property Law Litigation CLE
Ethics Lessons from Copyright Cases: Section 512, Fair Use, and the Attorney-as-witness Rule
2021
State Bar of Texas 34th Annual Advanced Intellectual Property Law: Overview of IP CLE
A Weekend Update: Copyright Year-In-Review
2020
State Bar of Texas 33rd Annual Advanced Intellectual Property Law: Overview of IP
Tales from the Crypt: And Other Stories from Copyright’s Past Year
2019
State Bar of Texas 32nd Annual Advanced Intellectual Property Law CLE
Thoroughly Modern Copyright, or What In the Dickens Happened After Ragnarök?”
Languages
English