Loeb and Disney Join Forces to Provide Pro Bono Legal Support to the Arts

As part of a shared commitment to supporting the creative community, Loeb & Loeb and firm client Disney partnered on May 29, 2025, to host a virtual pro bono clinic for eight clients of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA), offering legal support to the voices behind New York’s vibrant arts scene. Founded in 1969, VLA is a nonprofit committed to supporting New York’s artists and arts organizations through legal services and education. Through direct representation and its programs, VLA works to safeguard the livelihoods, businesses and creative works that power the city’s cultural community.

The clinic began with a brief orientation led by the VLA team, followed by breakout sessions where teams of Loeb and Disney lawyers reviewed their assigned matters before conducting virtual consultations with the clients. Eight teams—each made up of four to five Loeb and Disney volunteers—took on eight separate VLA matters. In total, 18 Loeb lawyers, 16 in-house counsel from Disney and three Disney paralegals collaborated to provide pro bono legal support to low-income artists and arts organizations. The clients included a content creator, co-writers of a feature film script, a philosophical wellness organization, a children’s book author, a songwriter and musician, a multidisciplinary arts nonprofit, a fashion designer and the widow of a late musician.

Loeb’s volunteer lawyers came from a range of practice areas—including corporate, finance, advertising, litigation and private client—and most provided counsel aligned with their individual practices. During the clinic, teams advised clients on matters involving copyright, trademark, royalties, authorship and credit rights, nonprofit governance and employment-related issues.

“With its renowned legacy of creativity and expansive reach across media, Disney’s contributions added unique depth to this collaboration,” said Loeb associate Brandon Zamudio, facilitator of the firm’s pro bono partnership with Disney and a member of VLA’s associate board. “Bringing Loeb and Disney together to support Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts was a powerful way to give back. Helping artists safeguard their work isn’t just important—it’s essential for a thriving creative community and a vibrant culture.”

“My colleagues at Disney Legal jumped at the opportunity to work with VLA in collaboration with the team at Loeb,” said Seth Stuhl, senior vice president of the Business Affairs & Legal Counsel team at Disney Theatrical Productions. “Supporting the arts is very important to my colleagues and me, and it was very meaningful for all of us to support artists confronting a variety of issues, helping make it possible for them to keep creating.”

In addition to Brandon, the Loeb lawyers that participated as pro bono volunteers included partners Roger Arar, Tal Dickstein, Seth Rose and Megan Stombock; senior counsel Mary Bassi, Brittany Berckes and Caitlin Dempsey; and associates Ava Badie, Melissa Brenner, Brianna Cloud, Janice Han, Jacob Maslavi, Sam Raffa, Rosie Schwarz, Erin Shields, Jacob Sievers and Richmund Sta. Lucia.