Michael Kahn concentrates his practice in First Amendment and media law (libel, privacy rights), copyright and trademarks.  He is a widely recognized trial lawyer and regularly advises clients on a range of intellectual property matters. In addition to his active practice, he is an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law where he teaches an upper level course on  Censorship and Free Expression. Mr. Kahn is also the author of a series of mystery novels.

Representative Experience

• Successfully represented a variety of firms (including professional sports teams, radio and TV stations, and newspapers) and individuals (including authors, artists and professional athletes) in connection with libel, copyright, trademark, right of publicity and First Amendment disputes

• Negotiated a variety of intellectual property licenses with professional sports leagues, music stars, and other celebrities on behalf of a major toy company, a publisher, and others

• Has been counsel of record for the National Basketball Association, Oprah Winfrey, Lions Gate Entertainment, Image Comics, Mark McGwire, McFarlane Toys, Radio One, Emmis Communications, the St. Louis Business Journal, Eveready Battery Company, Paramount Pictures, and The Topps Company in various intellectual property or media-law disputes.

• Awarded for services as special counsel to the Examiner in a major bankruptcy proceeding in St. Louis, the only bonus ever given by a bankruptcy court to an examiner’s counsel

Publications

• "Bulls In The China Shop: Obscenity Law In America," Belles Lettres: A Literary Review, Vol. V, No. 2, December 2004

• "The Missouri Franchise Act: Much Ado About Nothing," St. Louis Bar Journal, 1991

• Award-winning author of Trophy Widow and many other legal thrillers and short stories. His latest, The Mourning Sexton (Doubleday 2005), published under pen name "Michael Baron"

Speaking Engagements

• "New Wine in Old Bottles: Fair Use in an Era of New Use," Missouri Bar Association, October 2007

• "Weird Issues in Copyright Law," Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, July 2007

• "The Hazards of Celebrity Promotions: Lawsuits of the Rich and Famous," Seminar, 2002

Professional Affiliations

• The Missouri Bar

• Illinois Bar Association

• Mystery Writers of America

• The Authors Guild

• The Copyright Society of the USA

Civic Involvement and Distinctions

• Center for the Humanities at Washington University in Saint Louis – Advisory Board Member

• Jews United for Justice – Chair

• St. Louis Journalism Review – Board of Directors

• Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the categories of Intellectual Property Law and First Amendment Law, 2000-2009; Entertainment Law, 2009; Media Law, 2009

• Named a "Super Lawyer" by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers 2005-2009

• Inducted into the University City (MO) High School Hall of Fame in 2000