Ronald James Inawat - Business profile photo

Ronald James Inawat

R.J. INAWAT ∙ ATTORNEY • Chicago, IL
BusinessPersonal Injury

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Contact

Email
Phone
(855) 863-8510
Address
2260 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL, 60614, US

Professional

About

With a vibrant academic and professional career in the music, performing arts, and law arenas, R.J. Inawat is a skilled attorney with expertise spanning many facets of the entertainment industry. In his independent legal practice, R.J. focuses on entertainment law, soft intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets), contract law, and business/entity formation. R.J.’s mission is to provide guidance and assistance through the legal and business aspects of the entertainment industry so that artists can focus on what they do best: create art. R.J.’s expertise manifested through his comprehensive career in various sectors of the entertainment industry, including venue management, artist booking, record label A&R, radio marketing, event production, talent management, music licensing and contract negotiation. In recent years, R.J. has worked with Music Dealers, a music licensing platform that provides authentic music for today’s advertising, television, film, and gaming industries, as the in-house legal expert on intellectual property. At Music Dealers, R.J. helped independent artists and global brands alike navigate the complexities of music licensing, and he shared his expertise in several speaking engagements and publications. Additionally, R.J. has lent his expertise to The Bradford Exchange, where he negotiated and maintained soft intellectual property licensing arrangements between artists, worldwide companies and brands for the company’s direct-to-consumer service. Specifically, he negotiated and drafted intellectual property license agreements for the company to utilize proprietary assets on consumer products which were sold directly to customers, in some cases from global brands that had previously refused to share their intellectual property. As such, R.J. leveraged his legal acumen to bring consumers and brands together in ways the company had not previously achieved. R.J. is a DePaul University alumnus, having earned his Bachelor of Music in Performing Arts Management with minors in Management and Business Administration in 2005 as well as his Juris Doctor in 2013, and he continues to perform throughout the Chicagoland area as a freelance classical pianist.

About Business Law

Business law attorneys advise companies on legal matters including formation, contracts, compliance, and transactions. They help businesses navigate regulatory requirements and protect their interests. Common matters include business formation, contract drafting, mergers and acquisitions, commercial disputes.

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Credentials

Education
2013 DePaul University College of Law JD - Juris Doctor 2005 DePaul University BM - Bachelor of Music
Languages
English

Recognition & Involvement

Publications
2015 The John Marshall Review of Intellectual Property Law Music as Cultural Heritage: Analysis of the Means Preventing the Exploitation of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Associations
2014 - Present Lawyers for the Creative Arts Volunteer Attorney 2013 - Present American Bar Association Member 2013 - Present Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago Member 2012 - Present Chicago Bar Association Member 2012 - 2015 Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago Member
Speaking
2015 Lake FX Summit + Expo Follow The Data: A Global Look at the Modern Music Industry 2014 The John Marshall Review of Intellectual Property Law 6th Annual RIPL Symposium Music as Cultural Heritage: Analysis of the Means Preventing the Exploitation of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Updated: Apr 08, 2026
Business Attorney in Chicago, IL - Ronald James Inawat | Law.AI