Overview
Michelle is a Partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell and Co-Chair of her firm’s Entertainment and Media Law Practice Group. She has a Master of Laws in Intellectual Property and is particularly skilled in navigating complex legal matters and advising clients on emerging copyright and trademark issues. Michelle focuses her entertainment/intellectual property practice on safeguarding her clients’ copyright and trademark portfolios and delivering comprehensive representation to Grammy-nominated songwriters, composers, recording artists, producers and engineers, music licensing representatives, authors and illustrators, and a variety of entertainment-related businesses. She has represented clients in royalty disputes and copyright and trademark claims, and has negotiated an array of contracts, including artist management agreements, works-made-for-hire, band member agreements, live performance agreements, literary agreements, sound engineer and producer agreements, recording and personal services agreements, publishing agreements and licensing agreements.
- Women in Music, Chicago Chapter
- Events Chair, 2018-present
- Recording Academy
- Professional Member, 2017-present
- Grammy U Mentor, 2021-present
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Board of Directors, 2015-2018
- Rising Star Award, 2013-2014
- Meritorious Award, 2013-2014
- President’s Commendation Award, 2013-2014
- Chair, Young Lawyers Division, 2013-2014
- Lawyers for the Creative Arts
- President, Associate Board, 2019-2021
- Vice President, Associate Board, 2016-2018
- American Bar Association
- Entertainment & Sports Lawyer Journal, Columnist and Editor, 2015-2023
- Defense Research Institute
- IP Litigation Committee, Former Young Lawyers Liaison
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
- Chicago Bar Association
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Law Bulletin Media, “Leading Lawyers,” (2019-2021), (2024-2025)
- “Entertainment Case Law and Industry Updates,” ABA Entertainment & Sports Law Journal, 2017-2023
- “When Does the Sun Set on your Manager’s Commission?,” Chicago Music Guide, March 2020
- “Artist Managers – Often the Most Important Person on your Team!,” Chicago Music Guide, March 2020
- “The Music Modernization Act and all its Acronyms!,” Chicago Music Guide, March 2020
- “What is a Trademark and New USPTO Filing Requirements,” Chicago Music Guide, February 2020
- “The 411 on the Music Modernization Act,” Chicago Music Guide, February 2020
- “What do you Mean a Song has Two Copyrights?,” Chicago Music Guide, January 2020
- “What is a Copyright?,” Chicago Music Guide, January 2020
- “Seemingly Simple Ways to Make Money on Your Musical Works,” Chicago Music Guide, March 2018
- “Making Your Mark in the Music Business,” Chicago Music Guide, March 2018
- “A Win for Songwriters – Mechanical Royalties on the Rise,” Chicago Music Guide, April 2018
- “BMG out $25 Million when the Fourth Circuit Reverses the Decision Against Cox Communications,” Chicago Music Guide, May 2018
- Songwriters – Grab a Fork and Dig Into the Spotify Settlement Pie,” Chicago Music Guide, August 2017
- “Music Licensing Transparency – Within Arm’s Reach?” Chicago Music Guide, August 2017
- “Entertainment Case Law Updates,” ABA Entertainment & Sports Law Journal, 2016-2017
- “U.S. Music Industry’s Open Letter to the U.S. Government – Support Europe’s Copyright Reform and Reconcile the Royalty Payment Disparities,” Chicago Music Guide, March 2017
- “2016 – The Year the Record Business was Reborn?” Chicago Music Guide, March 2017
- “The Future of the ASCAP/BMI Consent Decrees – Calm or Chaos?” Chicago Music Guide, July 2016
- “The Music Industry – ‘What’s Trending?” Chicago Music Guide, June 2016
- “That’s Mine! Why Intraband Agreements are a MUST!” Chicago Music Guide, April 2016
- “Songwriting – Turning a Hobby into a Livelihood,” Chicago Music Guide, February 2016
- “A Peek into the Latest Entertainment-Related Litigation Matters and Industry Developments,” ABA’s Entertainment and Sports Lawyer, November 2015
- “The Do’s and Don’ts of the Music Business,” Chicago Music Guide, 2014
- “It’s All in the Delivery,” Chicago Music Guide, 2013
- “Assembling Your Team,” Chicago Music Guide, 2008
- “Breaking Down the Barriers to a Successful Songwriting Career,” Chicago Music Guide, 2008
- “Trademarks,” Chicago Music Guide, 2008
- “The Art of Artist Management,” Chicago Music Guide, 2008
- “The Road to Getting Signed,” Chicago Music Guide, 2008
- “The Copyright,” Chicago Music Guide, 2008
- “Musical Works & Sound Recordings — Demystifying Copyright Laws,” Women in Music, May 2025
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“Women in Music,” Women in Music Chicago and Senn High School, February 2024
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“Careers in IP/Entertainment Law,” University of Chicago Law School, January 2024
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“Legal and Finance Top Dos and Don’ts for Artists,” WUP It Up! Sync Fiesta 2023, May 2023
- “World IP Day Event – Women in IP: Opportunities & Challenges,” University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, April 2023
- “Women in Music,” Elmhurst University, March 2023
- “Copyright Law: What Music Creators Need to Know,” Women in Music Chicago, March 2023
- “Musical Compositions v. Sound Recordings: Copyright 101,” 2112/Center for Creative Entrepreneurship, July 2020
- “Copyright v. COVID,” Next Showcase and Chicago’s Department of Culture Affairs and Special Events, August 2020
- “Copyright v. COVID-19: What Content Creators Should Know,” Women in Music Chicago, May 2020
- Guest lecturer, Music Business Entrepreneurship Master of Arts Program, Azusa Pacific University, May 2018
- “Breaking into the Entertainment Industry,” DePaul University College of Law, October 2017
- “Musical Compositions and Sound Recordings – Copyright Basics,” 2112, October 2017
- “Making Your Mark in the Music Business – Trademark 101 for Musicians,” 2112, August and February 2017
- “Entertainment Industry and Litigation Updates,” 2112, September 2016
- “Both Sides of the Coin,” The John Marshall Law School Entertainment & Sports Law Society, March 2016
- “Careers in the Music Industry,” DePaul University College of Law, March 2016
- “Ins and Outs of the Entertainment Industry,” IICLE, September 2015
- “Entertainment Law Panel,” The John Marshall Law School, October 2015
- “Young Lawyers Perspective – State and Local Defense Organizations,” DRI Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, October 2014
- “Chicago Music Industry Insiders,” John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, October 2014
- “Strategies for Success: Ensuring Success in Your First Position,” Young Lawyers Division, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, October 2013
- Entertainment Law Seminar, Entertainment and Sports Law Society of The John Marshall Law School, 2007
