Written by Monash University Law Student, Georgia Taranto
I recently attended Studio Legal’s Creative Lawyer Chats evening, and it was one of the most practically useful industry events I’ve experienced as a law student. The panel was hosted by leading creative lawyer, Jennifer Tutty, who guided the discussion in a relaxed, thoughtful, and genuine way. The night also included an acoustic performance by Charly Oakley, which complemented the conversational tone of the panel. The discussion gave students and early-career lawyers practical insight into how creative legal careers develop in real life.
The panel featured other creative lawyers and barristers, Tom Cordiner KC, Matthew Rogers from GYRO Group, Alana Kushnir from Guest Work Agency (now Aurelian Lawyers & Advisers), and Yasmin Naghavi from Artis Causa. While Tom spoke from the perspective of the Bar, the other panellists reflected a range of solicitor and advisory pathways within the creative industries. Together, they showed how legal careers in this space can take many forms, from advocacy and disputes work to commercial strategy, fine art law, and independent practice.
I was personally interested in the insights provided by Tom Cordiner KC, particularly about the role barristers can play in advocating for creatives. Tom’s insights offered a rare, grounded perspective on navigating career challenges and made it clear that creative legal careers are rarely confined to a single area of law.
Creative lawyer turned Entertainment Exec, Matthew Rogers reflected on how early involvement in the music industry through personal connections led him to a career supporting it through both legal and commercial strategy. Now Chief Commercial Officer at GYRO Group, he highlighted the importance of industry immersion in shaping creative legal work. For students, this challenged the idea that a career in law follows one fixed pathway, showing instead how careers can grow from authentic connection to the field.
Alana Kushnir discussed her work in fine art law and her role as the Founder and Director of Guest Work Agency. She highlighted that creative legal practice involves overlapping issues of copyright, contract, authenticity disputes, and the commercial realities of the art market.
Yasmin Naghavi reflected on establishing her own Melbourne-based practice after more than 15 years at Media Arts Lawyers. She spoke candidly about the challenges of going out independently, but also the long-term value that came with building an independent practice aligned with her values.
Key Takeaways
Many of these points came from a question I asked the panel: If you had to restart your career after finishing law school, what would you do differently?
1. Immerse yourself in the industry that excites you
The panellists emphasised that the first step is immersion. If you are drawn to music, fine art, film, or another creative field, attend exhibitions, launches, and industry events when you are not there in a legal capacity. Cultural and commercial understanding is essential in this space.
2. Accept that creative legal careers are rarely linear
None of the speakers followed a perfectly planned career path. They stressed the importance of curiosity, trying different paths, and staying open to unexpected opportunities.
3. Choose IP-focused electives at university
The panel highlighted the value of electives such as copyright, trademarks, media, entertainment and technology law. Independent reading and industry awareness remain equally important beyond university.
4. Be comfortable working across multiple areas of law
Creative legal work is inherently cross-disciplinary. The speakers described moving between IP, contracts, disputes, employment, and broader commercial advice as part of everyday practice.
5. Stay engaged with how technology is shaping creative industries
Matthew Rogers spoke about the growing impact of AI and streaming platforms on the music industry, highlighting the legal and ethical challenge of balancing technological efficiency with the protection of human creativity.
Across these points, another theme consistently emerged: ambition and balance are not mutually exclusive. Several panellists spoke about prioritising work–life balance while still pursuing meaningful goals, reinforcing the idea that long-term success in law is built on sustainability.
A Different Kind of Networking Event
What distinguished the evening was its genuine tone. Rather than feeling transactional, it created a space for meaningful conversation between students and practitioners.
The Creative Lawyers Chats panel didn’t prescribe a single pathway to success. Rather, it offered a realistic and encouraging picture of what creative legal practice involves and how students can begin working toward it. The evening reinforced that creative legal careers are built through curiosity, adaptability and genuine industry involvement.
Thank you to Jennifer Tutty and the Studio Legal team for hosting such a thoughtful event and for creating an environment where students could engage meaningfully with the profession.
Written by Monash University Law Student, Georgia Taranto
Published 16 February 2025.
Check out some pictures from the night here!
Learn more about Studio Legal’s AI, arts, and copyright service offerings here:
Georgia is a third-year Juris Doctor student at Monash University with a strong interest in intellectual property law. Outside her studies, she is passionate about music and film and has a strong interest in writing. She hopes to pursue a career as a creative lawyer, combining legal practice with her creative interests.