Intellectual Property Law/Arts & Entertainment Law

Selecting the right attorney is the first of many important decisions you will make. You will want a lawyer who takes the time to listen, and gives your case the time and attention it deserves, as well as prompt and personal legal services. Barbara J. Gislason strives to embrace these qualities and provides intelligent representation that reflects her creativity and compassion.

She represents writers, authors, entertainers, agents, venues, and businesses, and negotiates contracts and advocates for the interests of clients in the book publishing, television, cable, and music industries, and related contract and intellectual property law concerns. In some instances, she will team up with another qualified attorney if she believes additional expertise would be beneficial in a transparent manner that will not impact the client's bottom line.

For example, though familiar with trademark issues, she works with another law firm to perform and monitor trademark registrations. She also associates with another firm if a decision is made to litigate a claim.

Gislason is a pioneer in the field of Arts and Entertainment Law. She was the founding chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association Arts and Entertainment Law Section, taught Art, Copyright, and Trademark Law at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, chaired the Copyright Committee of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association, served on the Board of Directors of the Computer Law Section where she chaired the International Committee, served on the Minnesota State Bar Association Bar Media Committee where she chaired a symposium, and served as an advisor for the Minnesota State Arts Board. She has spoken at a variety of Intellectual Property Law and Art & Entertainment Law conferences, most recently at the National American Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Conference in Arlington, VA.

Over the years, she focused significant attention on the book publishing industry, and negotiated contracts for writers and authors in two capacities. Through the Gislason Agency, she represented fiction writers, including a mystery author who received critical acclaim in Publishers Weekly. She will only consider solicited authors through her agency. In addition, she has negotiated many book deals as an Arts and Entertainment lawyer. In some instances, she is willing to give people feedback on a writing project for a reasonable amount.

Gislason has spoken at writers conferences throughout the United States and Canada, including the Willamette Writers Conference in Portland, Oregon, the Surrey and Shuswap Conferences in British Columbia, Canada, the Southwest Writers Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Society of Southwestern Writers Conference in Tucson, Arizona, the Romance Writers Conference in Amarillo, Texas, the Bouchercon Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Minicon, Midwest Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers Conferences in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Midland Conference in Midland, Michigan.

At the present time, Gislason is expanding her Intellectual Property Law practice, and this year, has accepted two leadership positions in the American Bar Association. She has just been reappointed chair for the ABA Intellectual Property Law Section's Insurance and Risk Management Committee. Also, Gislason is the Chair Elect of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section's Intellectual Property Law Committee.

Contact our Fridley office at 763.572.9297 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to schedule an initial consultation with Barbara J. Gislason.