Russell Spence - Minneapolis, MN
Attorney at Hellmuth & Johnson
Business & Corporate Law Lawyers in Minneapolis, MN
8050 West 78th Street Minneapolis, MN 55439
Minneapolis Business & Corporate Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Business & Corporate Law
- Entertainment Law
- Information Technology & E-Commerce
- Intellectual Property
- Litigation
Litigation: 75%
Attorney Information
Overview
Mick Spence is a partner with Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC representing entertainment, intellectual property and business clients through the firm's Business Services Group. He assists individuals and entities of all sizes, with a wide variety of business and litigation issues, including:
- Copyright, Trademark, Patent, Trade Secrets & Right of Publicity/Privacy
- Asset acquisitions, licensing and protection
- Complex, multi-party litigation, including class-actions
- Commercial disputes of all varieties
- Estate counsel & Probate litigation
Mick provides thoughtful counsel, proactive advice and zealous representation to his clients, while aggressively defending their rights and interests in all business or litigation matters. Combining his passions for creativity, commerce, advocacy and success, Mick has established a reputation as the go-to attorney for both creative talents and entrepreneurial businesses.
Mick’s extensive litigation experience involves entertainment assets, businesses, talent and their careers. His commercial litigation experience includes shareholder & partnership disputes, infringement actions, class-actions, trade secret protection, fraud, unfair competition and even estate or probate disputes.
Mick has been chosen by his peers as a Minnesota Super Lawyer®; with only 5% of Minnesota attorneys earning this recognition. Prior to that, he was selected as a Rising Star for multiple years running. Mick has taught college courses in Copyright, Music Publishing and Contract Law. He also frequently speaks and writes regarding business and legal issues, including the evolving entertainment industry and litigation developments.
Mick is licensed to practice law in Minnesota’s Federal and State Courts. He has also been admitted and represented clients in the Courts of New York, Florida, Texas and Utah. He is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (the Grammy® Organization), the Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel, the Forum of Entertainment and Sports Industries of the ABA and the Art & Entertainment Section of the MSBA, serving as its Chairperson. He was also twice elected as President of the Minnesota Music Academy, where he produced the Minnesota Music Awards. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak also appointed him to serve and advise on the Minneapolis Arts Commission.
Mick received a business degree from the Entrepreneur Program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He left the sun, sand & smog behind, returning to his home state of Minnesota, to earn his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- AV "Preeminent" Rated (Highest possible rating for both legal ability & ethical standards), 2003 - 2011
- Named to Minnesota Super Lawyers List - only 5% of Minnesota Attorneys earn this recognition each year, 2001 - 2003
- Outstanding Business Plan Award - Selected from over 100 submissions by USC Entrepreneur Program Facility
Education
-
Legal Education
-
William Mitchell College of Law,
St. Paul,
Minnesota, 1993
J.D.
-
William Mitchell College of Law,
St. Paul,
Minnesota, 1993
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles,
California, 1988
B.S.
Major: Entrepreneurship/Business Administration
-
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles,
California, 1988
Past Positions
- The Spence Law Firm, Managing Partner, 1999 - 2011
- Meshbesher & Spence, Attorney, 1993 - 1999
- Music Tech College of Contemporary Music, Adjunct Professor, 1998 - 2007
- Minneapolis City Attorney's Office, Attorney, 1992
Classes and Seminars
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Copyright Basics - Midwest IP Institute, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2007
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Not a Whole Lotta Love: Entertainment Litigation, The Art & Entertainment Law Institute, 2007
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What’s Going On? - Entertainment Litigation Update, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2006
-
When the Bullet Hits the Bone: Entertainment Litigation, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2003
-
Lawyers, Guns and Money: Litigation in the Entertainment World, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2002
-
Copyright Transfers, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2000
- Add Music to the Mix, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1999
Representative Clients
Advertising Agencies
Music Publishers & Record Labels
Film & Video Production Companies
Internet Content Providers & Developers
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1993
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1994
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 2011
Other Affiliations
- Art & Entertainment Law Section, MSBA, 1991 - 2011 (President)
- Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel, 2009 - 2011 (Member)
- ABA Forum on Entertainment & Sports Industries, 1991 - 2011
- National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2008 - 2011
Photo
Contact
8050 West 78th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Phone: (952) 746-2138
Fax: (952) 941-2337
Email: Send a message
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am to 5pm
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