Jordyn Eisenpress

Major: Journalism (emphasis in Strategic Communications)

Certificate: Digital Studies

Graduation Date: May 2015

How did you end up at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC?

Throughout most of my time at UW-Madison, I thought I wanted to work in advertising/PR on the account side, and I had a few internships in that space throughout college (Digital Strategy Intern at RF Binder in NYC, Consumer Brands Intern at Edelman in Sydney, Australia during a semester abroad, Marketing & Media Intern for UW Communications), but I discovered the world of advertising law during an Intro to Strategic Communications lecture, which is what drew me to this specific path.

I went on to write a senior thesis on some of the legal issues associated with social media advertising, specifically, issues surrounding the disclosure of endorsements on social media (Professor Lucas Graves was my supervisor). Then, I took the LSAT and applied to law school! I started at Columbia Law School in the fall of 2015 after graduating from UW-Madison that spring. During law school, I worked with a few different law firms and other entities that have a focus on advertising law, and joined my current firm after I graduated from Columbia in the spring of 2018.

What does a typical day in the office look like for you?

I help brands and creative agencies navigate the legal nuances involved in creating and executing their advertising, marketing, and PR strategies. Generally, that involves counseling on all things advertising (including what sort of support an advertiser will need to make certain claims about their product/service, the types of clearances required for a particular campaign, best practices for working with influencers and endorsers, and much more), drafting and negotiating the contracts associated with bringing campaigns to life (talent agreements, influencer agreements, license agreements, etc.), and handling certain types of advertising-related disputes (cease and desist letters, self-regulatory challenges, regulatory inquiries, etc.).

How has Digital Studies influenced your career path?

I don’t even know where to start! So much of advertising is digital these days. Understanding how brands and agencies are using digital media to communicate, and understanding how consumers are viewing and interpreting those messages is absolutely crucial to the work I do.

Did you have a favorite Digital Studies class or professor when you were a student?

I took both Library and Information Studies 201 (The Information Society), and Journalism 176 (Media Fluency in the Digital Age) with Professor Greg Downey and really enjoyed his classes!

Do you have any advice for current students?

Keep an open mind! If you had told me that I would have come out of UW on track to become a lawyer I never would have believed you, but my experiences at UW completely changed the path of my career. I am so grateful to have welcomed this journey with open arms because I couldn’t imagine doing anything else! Also, form relationships with your classmates, your professors, your advisors, etc. My UW network was and continues to be my biggest support system.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career thus far?

Securing a favorable decision on behalf of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies in a dispute involving advertising for competitive over-the-counter medications.