M. Graham (Gray) Coleman

Gray Coleman has more than 25 years of experience in intellectual property and general business law. He handles entertainment and media transactions including theater, film and television financing and production, and music and publishing matters. Gray acts as production counsel for a number of independent films, television series and specials, and theatrical productions on Broadway and elsewhere; guides clients in trademark selection, registration, licensing and protection; copyright registration; ownership and licensing issues; manuscript/script review for protection in all media; and a wide variety of contractual arrangements for parties working in the above industries and other businesses utilizing intellectual property. He also assists in the licensing of name/likeness rights, famous trademarks and character rights; and in enforcement, litigation and dispute resolution support in intellectual property infringement cases.

Practice Highlights

• Intellectual property counsel to a leading producer and distributor of licensed sports merchandise, and primary outside counsel to a privately held company that is the leading print and online publisher of monthly sports collectibles magazines
• Counsel to numerous theatrical/live attractions producers and production companies, including several award-winning Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions, including "The Color Purple," "God of Carnage" (2009 Tony Award – Best Play), and "Fences" (2010 Tony Award – Best Play Revival)
• Counsel to several independent film producers whose productions include several Sundance Film Festival and other festival award-winning productions in the last 15 years
• Counsel to the award-winning television series "Inside the Actors Studio" since its inception in 1994, as well as numerous television programs from BBC Production USA, Optomen Productions and other producers of television programming
• Counsel to Tony Awards Productions, including the annual awards presentation honoring excellence in the American theater 
• Trademark and licensing activity for a variety of clients, including book and magazine publishers, film and video producers, online retailers and information service providers, and designers and manufacturers of consumer goods