Deborah Hrbek

Deborah Hrbek is the firm’s founder. Focusing her practice on entertainment and small business law, Hrbek represents creative professionals, entrepreneurs and artists, including independent record labels, TV and film production companies, book publishers, podcast producers, art institutions, directors, talent, writers, managers, talent agents, literary agents, spokespersons and influencers, musicians, independent filmmakers, visual artists, animators, graphic artists, photographers and influencers, as well as collectors and investors in the arts. Hrbek’s Featured Client artist roster includes the producers of Chapo Trap House, a top political podcast, Hyperallergic – the must-read online publication in the fine art world, an Oscar winning film production team, and a novelist short-listed for the Booker Prize.

Hrbek’s small business clients include fashion designers, artisans and makers, branding and influencer agencies, specialty food distributors, venue owners, event planners, marketing companies, beauty product distributors, app developers, start-up technology companies, social networking sites and other Internet-based business ventures. With this broad corporate and entertainment industry background, Hrbek has been able to provide effective representation to parties involved in the multi-platform, transmedia deals that fuel the new media industry.

Born in Princeton, N.J., Hrbek was raised in Palo Alto, California and London, England. She received her law degree at King’s College, Cambridge University, and went on to qualify as a barrister in England. She argued cases and conducted trials in London’s Magistrates’ Courts, the High Courts and the Old Bailey, under her maiden name of Deborah Weich.

After an initial stint in New York City starting in 1990, Hrbek moved to the British Virgin Islands and practiced law at a BVI-based international corporate law firm for two years. It was the height of the dot-com boom, and most of the firm’s clients were in the technology business. Hrbek prepared investment agreements and other financing documents for international technology companies raising capital through IPOs and private placements, and handled international corporate litigation. She chaired the BVI Association of Registered Agents’ e-Commerce Working Group (1999-2000) and drafted that group’s Report and Recommendations to the BVI Government. 

After transferring back to Manhattan to work at Beck & Arad LLP, the New York tech law firm affiliated with her BVI employer, Hrbek started her own law firm in Manhattan in 2002.

Hrbek pays close attention to the needs of her clients, helps them to determine which legal projects should be prioritized and which can be back-burnered, provides them with the legal protection they need working within their budget. As early as the initial consultation, Hrbek works with her clients to develop an effective strategy designed to move them closer to accomplishing their business and professional goals.  Hrbek has a strong, engaging personality and a practical approach to problem solving and business planning. Her broad experience in a variety of cultures gives her a unique sensitivity and perspective in every aspect of her practice. She lives in Astoria, Queens with her husband Brad and her cockapoo and frequent office mascot, Henry.