The POWER List 2022: Pete Salsich III

Capes Sokol, St. Louis

“If it appears on a screen, I’ve done the deal to get it there,” says Pete Salsich III. “I’ve been in court when the deal wasn’t done correctly.”

Known to many as The Screen Lawyer, Salsich is an experienced intellectual property attorney who focuses his practice on advising large and small companies and entrepreneurs regarding the creation, protection and use of intellectual property. Find him on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, too.

“All businesses are creative,” Salsich says, “and all have intellectual property.”

Currently, as general counsel for entertainment content creation studio Coolfire Studios, he negotiates all contracts for more than 20 television shows as well as commercial productions, documentary films and digital entertainment projects. He has served as general counsel for software company Coolfire Solutions, Inc., from formation through successful Series A venture capital investment round. He also is general counsel for MedAware Solutions, Inc., a mobile software platform company for the healthcare industry.

Salsich’s recent speaking engagements include Social Media Day San Diego, City & Regional Magazine Association Annual Conference, Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival, Cinema St. Louis and MaxLawCon. He also is a popular podcast guest on “The Streaming Lawyer” and “Maximum Lawyer” podcasts.

At Capes Sokol, Salsich chairs the Entertainment & Media Practice Group. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at St. Louis University Law School, teaching an upper-level seminar on “Intellectual Property for Creative Businesses” and an Intellectual Property Licensing drafting class.

In his local community, Salsich serves on the board of The Angel Band Project, which provides music therapy programs for victims of sexual violence. He also is a member of the executive board of the St. Louis University Billiken Club.

Before entering law school, Salsich was the sales manager and playground equipment designer for EduProducts Childgarden, an early childhood educational equipment company.

Salsich earned his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 1996.