Thomas A. Crowell

Thomas A. Crowell is a leading attorney in the fields of intellectual property and media law, with a focus on film, television, and comic book publishing.  He represents and advises a wide range of clients, from publishing companies and studios to individual creators and artists, on matters such as contracts, licensing, trademarks, copyrights, and litigation and has successfully handled complex and high-profile cases involving the entertainment industry and its various sectors.

Thomas is also a passionate advocate for economic social justice issues and has dedicated his time and expertise to providing pro bono legal services and training to economically marginalized people in the US and abroad.  He has served as the Director of Practice at Cardozo’s Indie Film Clinic, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and as a Visiting Professor at CUNY Law School, the nation’s premier school for social justice.  He has also created and taught the first media law courses in the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago, at the invitation of their former and current leaders.

As an educator and public speaker, Thomas has shared his knowledge and insights with diverse audiences, ranging from aspiring filmmakers to seasoned professionals.  He has taught courses and workshops on entertainment law, business, and production at various institutions, such as New York University, Cardozo Law School, CUNY Law School, Seaton Hall Law, The School of Visual Arts, and Stage 32.  He is also the founder and chair of the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Program at New York Comic Con, the largest pop culture convention in the US, where he organizes and moderates panels on the legal and business aspects of comics, film, television, and gaming.  He has written two law books, The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers and The Pocket Lawyer for Comic Book Creators, both published by Routledge Publishing and both have been adopted as text books in the US and UK.

As a dynamic and versatile media professional, Thomas has represented many of the top writers, illustrators, and publishing companies in the US comic book industry, and strives to create, protect, and empower the entertainment industry and the communities he supports.

Areas of practice:

• Intellectual property
• Copyright law
• Trademark law
• Media law
• Trade publishing
• Comic book and graphic novel publishing
• Film and television production legal
• IP clearances
• Magicians and variety performers
• Public speaking​

Education

• Cardozo Law School, J.D., cum laude (2002)
• New York University, B.F.A. (1988)