Firm News
Katten Muchin Rosenman and Firm Founders Melvin Katten and Allan Muchin Honored by Lawyers for the Creative Arts
October 19, 2005
CHICAGO - Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is pleased to announce that the Firm and Of Counsels Melvin L. Katten and Allan B. Muchin, will be honored by Lawyers for the Creative Arts with an award for Distinguished Service to the Arts, during the organization's annual awards luncheon on October 25, 2005, at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago.
Lawyers for the Creative Arts is dedicated to harnessing the pro bono efforts of attorneys in private practice to meet the legal needs of members of Chicago's arts community, including visual artists, musicians and theatre companies. Their efforts range from the review of contracts, to intellectual property litigation, to preparing leases.
"We feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with LCA in providing first-rate legal representation to those who enrich the culture of our communities," said Jonathan K. Baum, the Firm’s Director of Pro Bono Services. "We are particularly pleased with the recognition of Mel and Allan’s individual contributions to the arts community."
As Founding Partners of Katten Muchin Rosenman, Mr. Katten and Mr. Muchin play leading roles in assisting the arts community. Mr. Katten currently serves as chairman of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. He has also made substantial monetary donations to the Auditorium Theatre, as well as numerous other art and cultural organizations.
Mr. Muchin has served as president and CEO of the Lyric Opera of Chicago since 2001 and has been a member of the Lyric Opera’s Executive Committee since 1995. He chaired the Building on Greatness capital campaign and recently completed the Look to the Future endowment campaign which increased the Lyric Opera’s endowment by an additional $50 million. Mr. Muchin is a former trustee of the Ravinia Music Festival, a season subscriber to the Steppenwolf and Shakespeare Theatres, and a contributor to many other Chicago organizations that support the creative arts.
Katten Muchin Rosenman’s tradition of supporting the arts, has included advising LCA client artists in all media on their intellectual property rights; advising the Joffrey Ballet on employment and labor law issues and assisting in contract negotiations regarding its involvement in the Robert Altman film, The Company; advising the Jubilate Children's Choir; and advising a band concerning copyrights. Additionally, the Firm has established community theatre and film production companies; provided pro bono legal services for After School Matters and Gallery 37 – programs dedicated to the arts for high school students; secured patent protection for inventors; and Firm attorneys have served on LCA’s Board of Directors and helped staff the organization through the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellowship Program.
Katten Muchin Rosenman is also a corporate sponsor of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and has made monetary donations to Facets Multimedia, the Joffrey Ballet, LCA and numerous other creative arts organizations.