Showing excellent judgement by the firm, Covington & Burling announced that Jacqueline Charlesworth is joining their New York office.  I’m glad to see Jacqueline join the firm and they are lucky to have her.  What’s not included in the press release is that she was one of the counsel of record along with the Gerard Fox firm representing Songwriters of North America, Michelle Lewis, Thomas Kelley and Pamela Sheyne against the United States Department of Justice for the DOJ’s absurd overreach on 100% licensing.

Here’s the press release:

Jacqueline C. Charlesworth has joined Covington’s Intellectual Property Rights and Media and Communications practices in the New York office. She most recently served as General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights of the U.S. Copyright Office.

While at the Copyright Office, Ms. Charlesworth had primary responsibility for interpretation of the U.S. Copyright Act. As General Counsel she oversaw a wide range of litigation, legislative, regulatory, and policy matters, including the Office’s participation in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, rulemaking proceedings under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other provisions, legal review of Copyright Royalty Board decisions, administration of statutory cable, satellite, and music licenses, and copyright registration and termination issues. She also advised Congress on copyright-related legislation and policy concerns.

Prior to joining the Copyright Office, Ms. Charlesworth was in private practice, in litigation and transactional matters. She also previously served as General Counsel of the National Music Publishers’ Association and as General Counsel of The Harry Fox Agency, a music licensing organization.

“Jacqueline’s experience includes a rare combination of litigation, transactional and policy work in both public service and private practice,” said Simon J. Frankel, co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Rights Practice Group. “At a time of significant technological developments and potential revisions to the Copyright Act, we believe Jacqueline’s deep expertise will enhance our ability to serve a wide range of clients dealing with copyright and related intellectual property issues.”

“I am excited to resume my private practice and was particularly drawn to Covington because of its outstanding legal talent and highly collaborative culture,” said Ms. Charlesworth. “I look forward to drawing on my government and private sector experience to assist a diversity of clients with their copyright needs.”

Ms. Charlesworth received a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from Yale Law School. She clerked for Judge Betty Fletcher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.