Nobody should have to trade ownership for opportunity.

I'm Casey Handy-Smith, an entertainment and IP attorney. I've been negotiating creator and talent deals for over a decade, and I've trained that playbook into an AI inside The Contract Collective, so every deal you sign gets that standard, with me and the community there when you need it.

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Attorney • Educator • Advocate

Where Creativity

Meets Protection.

Guiding creators with the legal insight, tools, and education they need to build sustainable businesses rooted in protected IP.

Hi, I'm Casey Handy-Smith—an entertainment and IP attorney dedicated to helping creators protect their work and build lasting legacy.

Attorney. Educator. Advocate.

Hi, I'm Casey

Talent is everywhere. Access to trustworthy legal counsel isn't.

Too many creatives and the businesses behind them sign away more than they realize, because the contracts are complex, the stakes are high, and the people across the table have lawyers while they don't. Predatory practices and exclusion from traditional legal networks hold talented people back every day. I've made it my mission to change that.

My work is about equipping creators and entrepreneurs with the legal protection and knowledge they need to build their own tables without begging for a seat at someone else's.

Attorney. Educator. Advocate.

Hi, I'm Casey

Talent is everywhere. Access to trustworthy legal counsel isn't.

Too many creatives and the businesses behind them sign away more than they realize, because the contracts are complex, the stakes are high, and the people across the table have lawyers while they don't. Predatory practices and exclusion from traditional legal networks hold talented people back every day. I've made it my mission to change that.

My work is about equipping creators and entrepreneurs with the legal protection and knowledge they need to build their own tables without begging for a seat at someone else's.

The Work

For over a decade, I've practiced entertainment and intellectual property law. I'm the Founder and Managing Attorney of C. Handy Law, PLLC, a boutique law firm serving creatives and entrepreneurs nationwide.

I've negotiated deals with companies including Meta, iHeart Media, Universal Music Group, Paramount Pictures, and Procter & Gamble. My clients include New York Times bestselling authors, media personalities, platinum-selling recording artists, and top creator agencies. My client work has been mentioned on The Breakfast Club and in Billboard.

Beyond the Firm

I believe legal knowledge shouldn't be reserved for people who can afford to learn the hard way. That belief is the foundation of Legacy Haus Studio, home to:

Redline Ready™, a legal membership community for talent management agencies

Boss Contract Society, an attorney-drafted contract template shop

The Contract Playbook, my podcast and newsletter

I also developed Redline Ready™, an attorney-trained AI playbook for contract teams and professionals who need AI backed by real legal expertise. My work with legal AI has been featured in Forbes, and I've trained large language models on legal reasoning and contract law. My work has also been featured in Foundr and by the American Bar Association.

Speaking

Some of my favorite work happens in the room. I speak to creators, founders, agencies, and attorneys about brand deals, intellectual property, AI in contracting, and the deal terms that cost creatives the most.

I've hosted CLEs with the American Bar Association and TRTCLE, including Contracting in the Creator Economy: Brand Deals, AI, and Multi-Party Relationships, and led workshops as the exclusive legal partner of Women in Influencer Marketing (WIIM). My speaking has also taken me to CultureCon, the She Did That Founder's Forum, and Podcast Movement. Invite Casey to Speak

Recognition

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2023 to present)

The National Black Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40

Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in Entertainment Law (2023 to present)

Education & Affiliations

J.D., cum laude, Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

B.A., magna cum laude, Alabama State University; 2026 inductee, Alabama State University 50 Under 50

Member of BESLA, Diverse Representation, and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA)

Licensed in Texas. Serving clients nationwide.

Let's Protect What You're Building

Whether you're signing your first brand deal or scaling an agency, you deserve counsel that understands your industry and has your back.

Book a Legal Business Strategy Consultation | Apply to Work With the Firm