Stephanie Furgang Adwar
Partner
Stephanie Furgang Adwar brings more than three decades of experience in both transactional and litigation matters in entertainment, copyright, trademark, and unfair competition law. She represents clients in a variety of disciplines in entertainment: film, television, music, and book publishing, and represents clients in a wide array of industries, such as jewelry, interior design, business, magazine publishing, consumer goods, construction, beauty, and more, in connection with their intellectual property needs. Stephanie takes a holistic approach to her advice and counsel. While protecting her client’s rights in their artistic works and brands, she also advises them on what are the best strategies and legal positions to take when leveraging those works and brands, always keeping up on the cutting edge of the newest technologies. When her client’s rights are challenged or infringed, Stephanie is an astute litigator who takes a pragmatic approach to litigation, zealously and vigorously representing their interests and guiding them to the best possible outcome.
Stephanie began her career in entertainment at The Gersh Agency, NY, Inc., DeLaurentis Entertainment, and CBS/Fox Video in New York. She went on to produce music videos for Time Shift Video in New York. She has been quoted in the news media, including appearing on ABC-TV Network's Nightline and BBC America, and in numerous publications, including most recently, Slate Magazine, as an expert in entertainment, copyright, and trademark law.
Stephanie has remained deeply committed to improving knowledge of entertainment and intellectual property law among both attorneys and entertainment industry leaders. She has directed and participated as a panelist regularly for the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program for the Cutting Edge Music Festival in New Orleans. She is active with her alma mater, Cardozo Law School, and regularly appears on panels there and has judged the BMI Moot Court and Price Media Law Competitions. She lectures regularly at educational institutions like the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at Tisch School of Arts at New York University (NYU), Howard University School of Law, Rutgers School of Law, and the 92nd Street Y, and at industry events like AmericanaFest and the Cutting Edge Music Business Conference, and before professional organizations like the American Bar Association and at the North American Entertainment, Sports, and Intellectual Property Law Summit.
Stephanie has authored several articles, "Trademarks: What's In a Name," Hemp World, Winter 1996, Vol. 2 Issue 3; "Social Media Law for Musicians", “The Case Against Arbitration", Entertainment and Sports Lawyer 2015, Volume 41, Number 4; The Musicians’ Business & Legal Guide , Beverly Hills Bar Association Committee for the Arts (2017); and “How to Litigate Against A Copyright Troll," Bright Ideas, New York State Bar Association, Fall 2018, Volume 27, No. 2.
Ms. Adwar serves as a Governing Board Member of the American Bar Association's Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries and has, in the past, served as its Communications Chair, its Membership Chair and its Co-Sponsorship Chair. She is a member of the International Trademark Association, the New York State Bar Association's Entertainment and Sports Law Committee and Intellectual Property Law sections, the Association of Intellectual Property Firms, and the Rockland County Bar Association. She also maintains active roles in entertainment professional organizations, including the prestigious New York Women in Film and Television, The Recording Academy, Women in Music, and the American Film Institute.
In 2012, Stephanie was appointed as the first female justice in the 218-year history of the Village of Suffern, New York, where she served until 2015. She was re-appointed to this position in 2019, and continues to serve in this capacity.
Ms. Adwar is a New York Metro Super Lawyer (2021 - present) and has received an "AV" peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (the highest rating) and is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
Education
Yeshiva University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (JD)
New York University, Tisch School of Arts, Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television (BFA, Film and Television Production)
Bar & Court Admissions
New York
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Appearance before the Federal District Court of California