by Manojna Yeluri
Coffee for Contracts:
Making creative legal conversations easier; one cup of coffee at a time.
What is Coffee for Contracts?
An annual listening project by Artistik License exploring the legal lives of artists and creative practitioners.
Coffee for Contracts is an annual community initiative by Artistik License, created to demystify legal conversations in the creative world – one cup of coffee at a time.
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Launched on a sunny afternoon in 2018 by IP, artist rights, cultural rights lawyer and Artistik License founder Manojna Yeluri, this initiative began as an experiment in care, curiosity, and solidarity. Every July, artists, designers, musicians, writers, and other creative practitioners are invited to share the legal questions, challenges, and uncertainties they're navigating – from contracts and copyright, to collaborations, disputes, and everything in between.
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And ​all Manojna asks in return?
If your paths happen to cross in the real world one day, buy her a cup of coffee.
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While some of these conversations happen over a virtual cup of coffee, the project has always been about something larger than one-on-one probono legal support. It's an annual opportunity to listen: to better understand the questions artists are asking, the barriers they encounter, and the realities of building creative lives across different contexts.
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These conversations don't end here. They go back to the community by shaping Artistik License resources, guides and workshops.
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Coffee for Contracts is intentionally informal. There is no formal lawyer-client relationship – just thoughtful, respectful and confidential conversations rooted in a shared commitment to making our creative economy fairer and more sustainable.
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At its heart, Coffee for Contracts is a reminder that legal support doesn’t have to be cold, complex, or purely transactional. It can be warm, collaborative, and rooted in listening – and built on the belief that when we better understand the legal, socio-economic and political realities artists and practitioners face, we build a stronger creative ecosystem for everyone.
July 2026 edition
Thank you so much for taking the time to write in and be part of this year's edition of Coffee for Contracts. I truly appreciate you sharing your legal query, along with a little bit about your work, your practice, and the circumstances you're navigating – it genuinely means a lot to have your trust. I'll read every submission personally and be in touch as soon as I can. Depending on your submission, we might continue our correspondence over email, connect for a virtual coffee date, or if our paths happen to cross IRL – share that promised coffee together :)
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Coffee for Contracts is an independent community initiative that I run on my own and alongside my regular legal practice, teaching, writing and research. Thank you in advance for your patience and grace, if it takes me a little while to respond.
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In the meantime, you're always welcome to follow along on instagram @artistiklicense, where I regularly share legal resources, reflections and insights inspired by my conversations and work with the creative community.
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Thank you again for being part of this project! <3
Guidelines
1. This July, I'm opening a limited number of 25 "coffee dates" or inquiries. Submissions are welcome from artists, creative practitioners and cultural workers from anywhere and any discipline. The submission window begins on July 4 ending July 31, 2026.
2. You're invited to share your legal question or contract related query by emailing connections@artistiklicense.com. Please submit your response using the following format:-
Subject: Coffee for Contracts 2026
Please include the following:
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Your preferred name and pronouns
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Where you're currently based
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What kind of artist or practitioner you are?
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Your query
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Whether you'd like a virtual coffee date, if that feels helpful.
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3. Please note that I reserve the right to not respond to any queries or correspondence, and that the offerings of this project do not extend to any ongoing client relationships and projects.
4. Participating in the Coffee for Contracts project i.e collaborating with or submitting your queries does not automatically create a lawyer client relationship. This project is a community initiative that is purely educational. This also means that neither Manojna (myself) nor Artistik License is inviting work from you. I'm intentional about keeping our exchanges informal.
5. And lastly, I make all efforts for complete confidentiality to be maintained with your submissions, personal data and conversations.