Charles Mudd

As a writer, producer, investor, and attorney, Charles Lee Mudd Jr. enjoys expanding his contribution to the arts and entertainment.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky (1968) to Charles Lee Mudd and Anne Chestney, Charles moved with his parents and two younger brothers to suburban Chicago in 1977. He attended Lyons Township High School and graduated in 1986. During high school, his favorite films were The Road Warrior, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Blade Runner, and Amadeus. When he first saw The Road Warrior, Charles is known to have said that Mel Gibson, the star of The Road Warrior, would be big someday. His favorite actors included Ally Sheedy, William Hurt, Harrison Ford, and Jodie Foster.

Charles obtained a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy (1990) and Masters of Arts in Political Science (1994) from Purdue University. During his time at Purdue, he developed his appreciation for foreign films. In particular, he developed an appreciation for Krzysztof Kieslowski and the actress Juliette Binoche as well as Wim Wenders. Through the influence of some of his friends, he began to develop an interest in independent film and explore the works of directors such as John Sayles. He also became appreciative of the extremely talented River Phoenix and a young Leonardo DiCaprio.

From 1994 through 1997, Charles attended Quinnipiac College School of Law from which he graduate magna cum laude and 4th in his class. While in law school, he taught history and American Government at Quinnipiac College. He would also binge watch films, sometimes watching 5-6 films straight. During this period, he particularly focused on independent and foreign films.

After law school, Charles clerked for a state and federal judge as well as worked as associate for a mid-size Connecticut law firm.

In 2001, Charles and his wife, Katherine, returned to the Chicago area. In October 2001, Charles opened his own law firm, Mudd Law, and accepted pro bono clients through Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Some of these artists remain his clients today.

In the last fourteen years, Mudd Law has grown to become an internationally recognized diversified practice providing representation to a clientele of local, national, and international individuals and business organizations, particularly focused on Internet, cyber, and emerging technology issues. In addition, Charles continues to represent artists and filmmakers in various creative endeavors.

For more than fifteen years, Charles has been significantly involved in Internet and technology-related transactional matters and litigation throughout the United States at both the trial and appellate levels. In addition to appearing before federal circuit courts, he filed two writs for certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on Internet issues. He also drafted legislation (that has since been enacted) seeking amendments to the Illinois eavesdropping statute as well as other Internet matters.

Charles currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois where he has taught privacy and technology courses and guest lectures. He also guest lectures at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois.

In 2013, Charles founded and served as the co-host for Startup Radio, an online radio station providing business and legal information about startups and entrepreneurs.

Apart from practicing law, Charles has been an active member of the legal community. He is a Board Member (2015) for the International Technology Law Association and served as Chair of its Social Media & Gaming Committee for the International Technology Law Association (2013-2015). He has served as Chair for the Intellectual Property Section of the Illinois State Bar Association and as a member of the Utah State Bar's Cyberlaw Section.

Charles has been selected for inclusion in the 2014 and 2015 Illinois edition of Super Lawyers.

Since 2006, Charles has been a regular (except for two years) attendee at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. In 2013, Charles began work as associate producer.

Charles is admitted to the Indiana State Bar, the Illinois State Bar, the Connecticut State Bar, and the Utah State Bar. Charles is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States as well as the Sixth and Seventh Circuits of the United States Courts of Appeals. He is admitted to the trial bar of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois. He is also admitted to the bars of the Northern District of Indiana, Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Florida, the District of Colorado, and the District of Utah.