Justen S. Barks

Justen S. Barks is an experienced commercial litigator with a concentration in intellectual property and entertainment law. He represents creative professionals and businesses in protecting and enforcing their rights in courts and before federal agencies. As the founder of Barks PLLC and Director of the University of Houston Law Center’s Entertainment Law Clinic, Mr. Barks is deeply committed to client advocacy, education, and the evolving legal landscape of the creative industries.

Mr. Barks earned his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2013, where he was recognized as a member of the Order of the Barristers and contributed to the Journal of Consumer and Commercial Law. He holds a B.B.A. in Entertainment Industry Management from Belmont University, which he earned in 2008.

Mr. Barks is an experienced intellectual property and entertainment lawyer handling copyright and trademark disputes, contract litigation, and complex commercial matters. He represents Grammy®-winning recording artists, leading fashion brands, filmmakers, and reality TV talent in high-stakes disputes and strategic IP protection. His practice includes litigation in state and federal courts, as well as proceedings before the U.S. Copyright Office, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). He also regularly argues appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Mr. Barks is licensed to practice in Texas and California, as well as in federal courts, including the Southern District of Texas, the Central District of California, and the Federal Circuit. He is also active in several legal organizations, including the State Bar of Texas IP Section—where he served as Copyright Committee Chair—and the Copyright Society of the USA. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a board member of Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts.

Justen S. Barks has earned multiple honors, including recognition as a Texas Rising Star in 2022 and 2023 and being named a Top Lawyer in Houston for entertainment law by Houstonia Magazine from 2016 to 2018. Through litigation, education, and thought leadership, Mr. Barks continues to support creatives and businesses in navigating intellectual property and entertainment law.

Law Office Affiliations

• Owner, Barks Law PLLC
• Director, University of Houston Law Center
• Member, State Bar of Texas IP Section
• Member, Copyright Society of the USA
• Member, Houston Bar Association Entertainment and Sports Law Section
• Member, State Bar of Texas Entertainment and Sports Law Section
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Member, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts

Licensed State

• Texas
• California

Education

• University of Houston Law Center
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Belmont University
  Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Awards & Badges