ESTABLISHED IN PROTECTION
Boutique
Law Firm
for Modern Creatives
KJL Law Firm PLLC helps creators, athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainment professionals confidently protect their intellectual property, negotiate strategic opportunities, and build lasting brands.
Our Story
KJL Law Firm PLLC is driven by a simple belief: the people who create culture and drive innovation deserve legal protection that actually keeps up with them. After seeing too many creatives and athletes sign one‑sided deals, lose control of their IP, or leave money on the table, we set out to be a firm that does things differently: strategic, proactive, and firmly on your side.
Our practice is dedicated to helping creatives, founders, and athletes protect what they build: names, brands, content, and everything in between. Whether you’re negotiating a record deal, structuring an NIL partnership, or protecting a growing brand, you get a lawyer who understands both the legal landscape and the realities of your industry.​
We take a modern, relationship‑driven approach to representation: clear communication, practical guidance, and strategy tailored to where you are now and where you’re going next. You’ll always know what’s happening, why it matters, and how each decision supports your long‑term goals.
Our mission is clear: to make top-tier legal protection accessible, strategic, and empowering. We want every client to walk away with more than just a contract—we want them to have the confidence to scale their vision securely.
Our Mission
Help creators, athletes, and entrepreneurs protect their ideas, brands, and opportunities through proactive legal guidance.
Our Vision
To become a trusted legal partner for the next generation of creators, innovators, and athletes building influential brands.
Our Values
Integrity, Excellence, Strategy, Accessibility, and Empowerment.
Founder & Principal attorney
Kerline Jean-Louis, Esq.
Kerline Jean-Louis is the founder and principal attorney of KJL Law Firm PLLC, a boutique intellectual property, sports and entertainment law firm focused on protecting the ideas and brands that drive today's culture.
Â
Drawing on experience across intellectual property, entertainment and NIL matters, Kerline helps creatives, entrepreneurs, and athletes understand their leverage, protect their rights, and negotiate from a position of strength.
Â
Clients value her calm, strategic approach, her ability to translate complex legal issues into clear next steps, and her commitment to building long-term, trust-based relationships.
Practice Focus
-
Trademark and brand protection
-
Copyright and content licensing
-
Entertainment contracts (music, film, digital media, podcasting)
-
NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals for student-athletes
-
Sponsorships, endorsements, and influencer agreements
-
IP strategy for creatives, founders, and personal brands
Admissions
-
State Bar of Massachusetts
-
State Bar of New York
-
Supreme Court of the United States
Education
-
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Northeastern University School of Law
-
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Boston College
Professional Memberships
-
Member, ABA Standing Committee on Membership
-
Membership Director, ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division
-
Co-Chair, Programs Board, ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division
-
Vice-Chair, Diversity Board, ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division
-
Member-at-Large, Council, ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division
-
Continuing Legal Education Coordinator, ABA Section of State, Local and Tribal Government LawÂ
-
Vice-Chair, Pro Bono Action Group, ABA Section of Intellectual Property LawÂ
Speaking Engagements
-
Panelist: "Protecting Native Artists and Cultural Patrimony: The Indian Arts & Crafts Act as a Shield and a Sword," ABA Midyear Meeting (2026)
-
Moderator: "Success as a Diverse Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Lawyer," ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division (2025).
-
Moderator: "Juneteenth in Action: Removing Confederate Statues and Reclaiming the Narrative," ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division (2026).
-
Panelist: "Starting a Business: From Legal to Taxes," All Raise (2021).
Publications
Article: Jack Daniel's v. VIP: Expressive Works, the First Amendment and the Interest in Protecting Consumers Against Confusion in the Marketplace, PLI Chronicle (2023).
​
Article: How Building Community Can Help You Succeed as a Solo Attorney, GPSolo Magazine (2025).
