only has she made an indelible impact on the careers of her clients,
which include everyone from Jermaine Dupri to Bobby Brown, but she
consistently breaks the mold for how lawyers are expected to think,
look and act. “My practice is very different from most entertainment
lawyers because I provide services beyond the four corners of the law”
says Parks, who currently serves as a producer on BET’s hit series,
“Tiny & Toya.” “We want to help our clients maintain a standard of
living. We invest in their overall well being.”
In the 10 years that she’s been practicing law, Parks’ has maintained
close relationships with her clients through her boutique law firm, The
Parks Group, which focuses on litigation and contract negotiation. In
fact, it is the genuine concern she has for her clients’ careers — and
more importantly their lives — that keeps her motivated.
“Many of my clients have become like family,” says Parks, who says she
was lead to practice entertainment law through the encouragement and
support of her good friends, the late Island Def Jam executive Shakir
Stewart, and top Atlanta radio personality Ryan Cameron.
That said, Parks goes beyond her job duties. She is known for helping
her clients develop and maintain responsible financial habits — even
going as far as taking them to the bank and helping them establish
checking and savings accounts. As a woman in a male dominated industry,
Parks’ diligence and dedication has helped her navigate her way to the
top earning her numerous awards which include Super Lawyer, Attorney of
the Year and Georgia’s Rising Star, to name a few.
“Being a black woman you have to work twice as hard,” Parks says.
“But, when you work hard and with integrity, everything else works
itself out. I have never compromised and I will never compromise.”
Parks has some key points for artists to find success in a fickle industry.
1. Pay your taxes. What the industry does is give artists unbelievably
large lump sums of money and then let them fend for themselves without
giving them any fiscal advice.
2. Choose an attorney carefully. Attorneys are like shoes, some of
them are too tight and some look good, but don’t wear well. You want to
get the perfect fit, someone who understands your vision and most all
believes in you.
3. Read your contract and close the deal before you begin working.
– jh
(photo credit: Spark St.Jude/MagicOnFilm)
