Bio
My Practice
Madeleine Nichols is an attorney practicing in art and entertainment law and providing legal strategies that support the growth of artists and organizations that work with them. More specifically, I provide business law and strategy services for artists. The law firm includes counseling, advice and negotiation services as well as contract drafting to protect each client’s intellectual property. Fair contracts and proper licensing arrangements are key to the business success of artists.
I understand many of these issues because in addition to being an attorney I am a real estate investor and business owner. I continue to develop strategies for interdependent enterprises, including the performing arts sector, major museums, educational institutions and corporations where a key element is innovation.
Throughout my career I have focused on the need to encourage and protect innovation. My interests have always focused on the visual and its impact on the way we communicate. I believe that “Most lawyers have little experience with the artist’s process, pain or needs. Most artists cannot convey what they need in a language or at a pace that lawyers can process. I feel an urgency to use my background and experience to translate the needs of my artist clients into protection for them and their work — protections provided by legal documents.”
2003-present |
Nichols Law Group |
|---|---|
1988-2003 |
Curator of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center where she led the international information service and preservation lab, producing over 600 films and videos, and writing and lecturing internationally on copyright and intellectual property issues |
1989-2002 |
Adjunct professor at New York University, Department of Dance and Dance Education |
1990-2003 |
Curated exhibitions on Bronislava Nijinska, American Ballet Theatre, George Balanchine, Vaslav Nijinsky, Martha Graham, and Isamu Noguchi, among others. |
1986-present |
Private Practice, Law Firm of Madeleine M. Nichols |
1986 – 1988 |
Of Counsel, Law Firm of Paul N. Hodys |
1985 – 1986 |
Associate, Law Firm of Robert M. Simels |
1982 – 1985 |
Law Secretary to Hon. Ernst J. Rosenberger, Extraordinary and Special Term, Supreme Court of the State of New York |
1980 – 1981 |
Law Assistant, Civil Court of the City of New York |
1978 |
Special Assistant to Director, Iranian National Ballet, Ministry of Arts and Culture, Tehran, Iran. Advisor for negotiations and liaison with guest artists, choreographers, press. |
1969-1977 |
Head of Jerome Robbins Film Archive, Dance Collection, Performing Arts Research Center, The New York Public Library at Lincoln Center |
1968-1969 |
Staff Editor for American Book Prices Current, Columbia University Press, NY |
1966-1968 |
Public Service Librarian, The New York Public Library, The Branch Libraries |
Professional Associations
Legal Associations
Member, the American Bar Association
Member, Entertainment, arts and sports law section, New York State Bar Association
Member, New York City Bar Association
Arts Organizations
Board of Directors,1996-present, Presidents’ Council Special Officer, 2009-present, Americas delegate 1996, 2000, 2004, The World Dance Alliance
Board of Directors, special advisor, 2000-present, Core of Culture
Member, National Advisory Board of the Atlantic Center for the Arts
Board of Directors and Editorial Board of the Society of Dance History Scholars
Member, National Museum of Dance
Member, the National Leadership Group for the UCLA Dance/Media Project
Member, Dance USA
Founding Member, the Dance Heritage Coalition
Board of Directors, 1990-1998; Editorial Board 1999-2003, Society of Dance History Scholars
Library Organizations
Library Information and Technology Association, Arts and Technology Committee (Joint LITA/ ACRL Committee), 1990-2006
Member, Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), Arts Section, past Chair Chair 1990-1991, The New York Public Library Research Libraries Council
American Library Association, lifetime member
Awards
Dance USA, National “Ernie” award (2006)
For achievements “behind the scenes” within the infrastructure of the dance field which have significantly empowered artists and supported their creativity
Theater Library Association award (2005)
For outstanding professional vision, energy and knowledge extending the boundaries of performing arts librarianship
Tap City 2003 Tap Preservation Award (2003)
For outstanding advancement of tap dance through presentation and preservation
Bessie Special Citation (2002)
For outstanding work in the dance field and contemporary performing arts in New York City
Human Rights award for Outstanding Editorial Contribution (1980)
For achievement as Articles Editor for Human Rights Journal
Articles and Speeches
Madeleine often lectures and writes articles related to her interests in the nexus between the law and artists’ innovations.
See ‘Outreach’ for current activities.