Services

The founder, Jessie M. Abad, brings to the table over 25 years of extensive experience as a legal and business affairs executive and her vast network of contacts and resources.

Her finely tuned legal acumen and strategic insight provide a clear guidance with solutions that are cost-effective, proactive and results-focused. Today, JMA Law Offices, P.A. provides legal services to clients ranging from start-ups to publicly held companies with the primary focus on commercial transactions and intellectual property.

Click one the sections below to learn more about our services.

High-Value Domestic & International Transactions

We offer comprehensive legal services for highly complex, multi-million dollar business transactions, both domestic and international. At JMA Law Offices we provide expert insight and actionable advice guided by a strategic evaluation and in-depth business analysis.

No two cultures, foreign markets, or political/legal systems are the same. A clear understanding of those, sometimes very subtle, differences is crucial for the successful legal and commercial outcomes. We have an extensive experience in complex cross-cultural negotiations and high-value transactions, which helps us reduce risks and maximize opportunities associated with domestic and international business expansion.


"Jessie is way more than an attorney- she is a great coach, cheerleader, strategic thinker and problem solver. She is always available with ideas, solutions to challenges entrepreneurs face every day. She is an integral part of running my business and building a brand."

Corina Biton, President / BloqUV, Miami, FL

INDUSTRIES

  • Joint ventures
  • Wholesale/retail businesses
  • B2C service businesses
  • B2B service businesses
  • Employer-employee relations
  • Entertainment & media (music, film, TV, games and streaming media)
  • Publishing and arts (fine art, literary, fashion)
  • Licensing and brand extensions
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Creatives
  • Start-ups, innovative SME, and technology,
  • Hospitality
  • Healthcare

PRACTICE AREAS

  • Commercial transactions
  • Global business development
  • Franchise
  • Corporate governance
  • Legal compliance
  • Risk management/assessment
  • Conflict resolution and arbitration
  • Intellectual property
  • Intellectual property acquisitions
  • IP audit & strategic planning
  • Trademark registration and enforcement
  • Licensing and protection
  • Anti-counterfeiting
  • Representation of celebrities, personalities, and other talent
  • Celebrity/rights of publicity
  • Internet/technology matters
  • Offensive/defensive litigation management

Geographic areas

  • North America
  • South America
  • Asia
  • Europe

Small to Mid-size Businesses, Start-ups & Entrepreneurs

JMA Law Offices, P.A. offers a complete range of general counsel services for the small to mid-size businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations. Such services cover multiple areas including:

  • Assistance in selecting and establishing your business entity
  • Preparation of the partnership, trust or incorporation documents
  • Negotiation and drafting of contracts, agreements, and proposals
  • Preparing for your business's expansion or exit strategy
  • Leveraging and safeguarding intellectual property assets

What makes us unique among the law firms, is our extensive general business management experience. Besides legal function we often serve our clients as a trusted advisor to oversee and organize operations and provide timely business insight, including:

  • Financial forecasting
  • Business plans development
  • Key employees and independent contractors hiring
  • Manuals, operational checklists, form agreements development
  • Risk management programs
  • and more

JMA Law Offices, P.A. can help your business rapidly gain a solid competitive edge and accelerate a sustainable growth. We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation and reasonable fees with fair and clear billing policies.

"Jessie came highly recommended because of her unparalleled professional skills, proven effectiveness, and unwavering work ethic. However what made all the difference for me and my career was her holistic approach, industry insight and a gift for clear communication. Jessie's extensive experience in business contracts, negotiations, Intellectual Property law, art marketing, and merchandising has proven to be invaluable. She is an influential and determined dealmaker. Her proactive approach makes things happen right now while always anticipating what the future holds. I couldn't be in better hands when respecting and protecting my artwork."

Carlos Betancourt, Artist

INDUSTRIES

  • Wholesale, distribution and retail businesses
  • B2C service businesses
  • B2B service businesses
  • Employer-employee relations
  • Joint ventures
  • Start-ups, innovative SME, and technology
  • Entertainment, media, publishing and arts
  • Creative professionals
  • Licensing and brand extensions
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Hospitality
  • Healthcare

PRACTICE AREAS

  • General counsel
  • Commercial transactions
  • Business development
  • Corporate governance
  • Legal compliance
  • Intellectual property
  • Representation of celebrities, personalities and other talent
  • Trademark registration and enforcement
  • Anti-counterfeiting
  • Licensing and protection
  • Intellectual property acquisitions
  • Celebrity/rights of publicity
  • IP audit & strategic planning
  • ​Websites, e-commerce and social media
  • Franchise
  • Internet/technology matters
  • Risk management/assessment
  • Conflict resolution and arbitration
  • Offensive/defensive litigation management

Geographic Areas

  • US-based business entities serving local, national or global markets

Entertainment, Media, Publishing and Arts

When it comes to Arts, Media, and Entertainment, JMA Law Offices, P.A. offers in-depth industry understanding and unmatched expertise in negotiating and drafting a wide variety of contracts, release and distribution agreements, strategic partnership agreements, marketing deals and more. Our services are international in reach and multidisciplinary in scope.

Through our far-reaching network in the corporate and entertainment worlds, we help procure major agreements for talent and independent labels. We help our clients to build and solidify valuable relationships with key business alliances. We also have an extensive experience with high-value contracts to secure goods and services from highly sought-after artists and vendors. Additionally Jessie M. Abad, the founder of JMA Law Offices, P.A., has worked extensively with Spanish-language programming and film for distribution in the United States and Latin American market.

We provide comprehensive guidance and assistance in all matters associated with business, entertainment & media law as well as the full scope of Intellectual Property law, both domestic and international. Our goal is to minimize risks, maximize opportunities and accelerate rapid, yet sustainable growth and offer solutions arising from newly created technologies.

Below are highlighted selected practice areas and businesses we serve in Arts, Media, and Entertainment sector.

"I have worked very closely with Jessie Abad, the General Counsel for Estefan Enterprises, Inc., for twelve years, and on a daily basis for the past six years. She and I have worked very closely in the very sensitive area of the administration of music publishing, production, and recording contracts and royalties.

Not only is she a top, expert lawyer, she is also a master problem solver, always with a clear sense of purpose in protecting her client’s interests. She is very logical, systematic, and strategic in bringing order and resolution to the largest, most complicated matters. Jessie thrives on those huge challenges. She is a kind, generous, diplomatic colleague and co-worker who has the highest respect for the humanity of everyone with whom she works."

Barbara Vera
Client Account Manager at The Nordlinger Group
Previously: Director of Royalites at Estefan Enterprises, Inc.

PRACTICE AREAS

  • Intellectual property
  • Representation of celebrities
  • Representation of personalities
  • Representation of other talent
  • Celebrity / rights of publicity
  • Trademark registration and enforcement
  • Anti-counterfeiting
  • Licensing and protection
  • Intellectual property acquisitions
  • IP audit & strategic planning
  • Commercial transactions
  • Global business development
  • Legal compliance
  • Defensive litigation management
  • Offensive litigation management
  • Risk management/assessment
  • Conflict resolution and arbitration

Entertainment

  • Recording artists
  • Songwriters
  • Independent record labels
  • Major record labels
  • Music publishers
  • Producers
  • Promoters

Film and Television

  • Producers
  • Directors
  • Writers
  • Actors
  • Production companies
  • Broadcasting services
  • Services from script to screen

Digital Media, Interactive Arts and Performing Arts

  • Artists
  • Actors
  • Performers
  • Producers
  • Designers
  • Playwrights
  • Directors

Literary Publishing and Print Media

  • Authors
  • Agents
  • Illustrators
  • Book publishers

Visual Arts

  • Artists
  • Photographers
  • Graphic designers
  • Art galleries
  • Artist collectives

Puerto Rico the New Tax Haven

When it comes to ROI (return on investment) in today’s highly competitive markets, tax havens can bring significant leverage. Puerto Rico, with its plethora of tax incentives, offers exceptional benefits and opportunities. Proximity to the US mainland, ease of doing business, stable legal system, advanced infrastructure, and a high quality of life are only a few of the long list of Puerto Rico’s advantages. High-net-worth individuals, retirees and individual investors can obtain a total tax exemption on all passive income under Act 22, while businesses can easily gain a strong competitive edge with unprecedented corporate tax exemptions and incentives. Puerto Rico is attracting companies from many industries including: media and entertainment, specialized manufacturing, renewable energy, pharmaceutical, medical devices, aviation/ aerospace, information technology, healthcare, banking, and real estate, among others.

Below is a brief overview Puerto Rico Tax Incentives Acts.

At JMA Law Offices, we assist our clients in taking a full advantage of the unique opportunities available right now in Puerto Rico. Call us today at 786.473.7333 to schedule an appointment and learn more about how you can benefit.


Act 20 of 2012
The Export Services Act

Benefits include:

  • 100% tax exemption on dividends or profit distributions.
  • 4% corporate tax rate.
  • 60% exemption on municipal taxes (or 90% tax exemption if it operates in the industrial development zone in the municipalities of Vieques and Culebra).
  • 100% tax exemption on property taxes.

Requirements:

  • Services performed from Puerto Rico.
  • Employ 5 people within 2 years.
  • Possess a bank account in Puerto Rico.

Act 22 of 2012
The Individual Investors Act

Benefits include:

  • 100% tax exemption from Puerto Rico income taxes on all dividends.
  • 100% tax exemption from Puerto Rico income taxes on all interest.
  • 100% tax exemption from Puerto Rico income taxes on all short-term and long term capital gains accrued after the individual becomes a bona-fide resident of Puerto Rico.
  • 0% federal taxes on Puerto Rico source income.

Requirements:

  • Become a bona-fide resident of Puerto Rico.
  • Purchase property in Puerto Rico within 2 years.
  • Possess a bank account in Puerto Rico.

Act 27 of 2011
Film & Media Tax Incentives

Benefits include:

  • 190% tax exemption on personal or real property taxes.
  • 100% tax exemption on dividends or benefits distributed by a Grantee to its investors, stockholders, members, or partners from income derived from the exploitation of activities covered under a Grant.
  • 100% on municipal license taxes, construction taxes, and other municipal taxes.
  • Additionally, a cost production credit of up to 50%.

Eligible media projects include:

  • feature length films
  • short films
  • documentaries
  • television programs
  • series in episodes
  • mini-series
  • music videos
  • national and international commercials
  • video games
  • recorded live performances
  • original soundtrack recordings and dubbing

Requirements:

  • BFor Infrastructure Project, a Large-Scale Studio Operator or a Studio Operator - minimum production expenditures of a $100,000 investment.
  • For Film Projects - minimum production expenditures of a $50,000 investment.

Act 73 of 2008
Economic Incentives Act for the Development of Puerto Rico

Benefits include:

  • 100% tax exemption on dividend distributions.
  • 100% tax exemption on municipal construction taxes.
  • 100% tax exemption on excise taxes and sales and use tax on raw material and certain equipment used in the production process
  • 100% first-year bonus depreciation.
  • 90% tax exemption from personal and real property taxes.
  • 60% tax exemption on municipal license taxes, with the first 3 semesters being 100% exempt.
  • 12% fixed income tax rate on royalties paid to foreign entities.
  • 4% fixed income tax rate on gains derived from the sale of ownership interests or substantially all the assets of the exempt business.
  • 1% fixed income tax rate for innovative firms introducing pioneer operations in Puerto Rico.

Additionally, tax credits include:

  • 50% tax credit on research and development costs.
  • 35% tax credit on purchases of products manufactured in Puerto Rico from recycled materials.
  • 25% tax credit on purchases on Puerto Rico manufactured products.
  • 12% tax credit for royalties paid to foreign entities.
  • First-year tax credits for job creation during the first year.

Act 273 of 2012
International Financial Center Regulatory Act

Benefits for the International Financial Entity (IFE) include:

  • 100% exclusion on interest of financing charges or participation in partnerships.
  • 100% tax exemption on all real and personal property belonging to an IFE.
  • 100% tax exemption on municipal license taxes.
  • 6% fixed income tax rate on dividends.
  • 4% fixed income tax rate.

Requirements::

  • The capital stock of at least $5 million USD and up. $250,000 must be completely paid at the time of license issuing.
  • IFE must employ at least 4 persons in its Puerto Rico office location.