GBA Member Spotlight: Jeffrey Jones

Jeffrey Jones has been practicing law for 30 years, after earning his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law. He currently operates his solo practice, J.T. Jones Law, PLLC, based in downtown Greensboro.

Jeffrey’s practice focuses on transactional entertainment law, intellectual property, and estate administration. Over the years, he has worked extensively in the music industry, representing talent, writers, musicians, performers, producers, and creators, as well as handling transactions on the label and business side.  One of the highlights was attending the Grammy Awards Ceremony with a client that won a Grammy. In the literary publishing world, Jeffrey has represented both authors and creators, as well as book publishers, and facilitated numerous transactions. Within the film industry, his work primarily centers on the production sector.

Earlier in his career, Jeffrey served as a Certified NFL Contract Advisor and worked in sports marketing, which provided valuable insights into contract negotiations and brand management. Today, much of the firm’s intellectual property work involves the exploitation of publicity rights, name, image, and likeness (NIL), and the protection of properties and brands.

A unique aspect of Jeffrey’s practice lies in the intersection of estate administration and entertainment law. Creators and entertainers often possess substantial earning potential postmortem, making it crucial to align estate planning and administration with the protection and management of their intellectual property and legacy.

What is a recent legal case or project you worked on that you found particularly rewarding or challenging? 

The most challenging case I’ve ever worked on is an estate administration matter for a world-famous movie star who passed away intestate over 30 years ago. I was brought on as counsel four years ago to represent one of the heirs. For decades, the two heirs have been locked in a bitter battle, leaving millions of dollars in potential licensing fees untapped. These lost opportunities include publicity rights, name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, as well as film, merchandising, streaming, social media, and endorsement deals.

We are now incredibly close to resolving the differences between the heirs and positioning the estate to generate significant income. However, just as it seems all issues are resolved, an unexpected hurdle inevitably arises. Despite these challenges, I remain hopeful and optimistic that we will soon reach a resolution, allowing the estate to fully capitalize on its valuable NIL rights and create meaningful financial benefits for the heirs.

This case highlights an essential lesson for practitioners—estate attorneys and beyond: always advise your clients to establish an estate plan, even something as simple as a basic Last Will and Testament. I once heard the saying, “If you hate your spouse, children, or heirs, don’t create a will—and they’ll fight over your assets for the rest of their lives.” It’s a stark but accurate reminder of the chaos that can ensue when estate planning is neglected.

No one wakes up thinking, “Today is the day I’ll die unexpectedly.” This case is a sobering example of the turmoil that can arise when such planning is ignored. A little preparation can prevent years—if not decades—of legal and financial conflict.

What is one lesson you’ve learned during your career that you think is important for others to know?  

In my years of practicing law, I’ve learned that the most important quality of a good advocate is recognizing that every client comes to you with a real, often urgent, legal need. They seek your expertise, wisdom, compassion, and guidance—but above all, they need to feel heard. Clients want to know you genuinely understand their concerns and will work diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for their case.

While our profession is demanding, with constant pressures and never enough hours in the day to tackle our workload, taking the time to truly listen to our clients is essential. Without it, we risk losing the trust and confidence that make our practice sustainable—and successful.