Justen S. Barks is an entertainment and intellectual property litigator, counsellor, and educator. His private practice is focused on building, fostering, and developing Texas creative industries by protecting and enforcing rights, supporting market infrastructure, and guiding artists as they make career-defining decisions. Barks PLLC exclusively represents entertainment and intellectual property clients in protecting copyrights and trademarks; negotiating music, literary, film, television, visual arts, and technology agreements, licenses, and assignments; and enforcing and defending creative and contractual rights in state and federal courts.

Mr. Barks began teaching entertainment and intellectual property at the University of Houston Law Center just one year into his practice. Since 2014, Mr. Barks has helped future entertainment lawyers and future non-entertainment lawyers alike develop the skills, understanding, and vocabulary of the music, film, visual art, and literary industries. In 2021, Mr. Barks developed a legal clinic at the University of Houston Law Center giving students looking for hands-on training to serve Texas creatives, non-profits, and companies with pro bono and low-cost legal services in the fields of entertainment and intellectual property law.

Mr. Barks is the Counsel Liaison for the Copyright Committee of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property section. He is a Barrister with the Nancy F. Atlas IP Inn of Court, and a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow. Mr. Barks also gives back to his community as a pro bono volunteer and Board Member of the Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts.

Mr. Barks graduated from Belmont University in 2008 with a degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industry Management. He graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 2013. He formed Barks PLLC in January 2024.