76 BILLBOARD | AUGUST 24, 2019
BACKSTAGE PASS / Top Music Lawyers 2019
ZIMMER: ANNABEL ZIMMER. BOYARSKI: JOHN CAFARO. BRANCA: GUILLAUME COLLET/SIPA/SHUTTERSTOCK. BYRNES: COURTESY OF ZIFFREN BRITTENHAM. LANDE: COURTESY OF SUBJECT. BROWN: BARRYWPHOTOGRAPHY. BRUNTJEN: MAHSA DOYLE. CARLO: KLEINBERG LANGE CUDDY & CARLO. COOPER,KATZ, ROSEN, ROSENBLOUM: GREENBERGTRAURIG.Bromley, 40, was named the youngest head of the
entertainment transactions and finance group in
the firm’s recent history, while Jacobs, 54, became
head of the entertainment litigation group. At such
industry gatherings as MIDEM, Tashman, 46, has
been an outspoken advocate of gender equality in
the #MeToo era and of better economic leverage
for artists. Phillips, the firm’s senior partner, closed
“a major, major financing deal” on behalf of client
Paul Anka “for his iconic music publishing catalog.
It took us months, but we got it done with Primary
Wave,” he says. Gilbert, 72, has a client list that
includes the Dixie Chicks, Death Cab for Cutie,
Jackson Browne, the B.B. King estate, George
Benson, Michael McDonald and Peter Frampton,
and cut what he calls an “innovative and different”
deal for Daniel Lanois to compose the score for
top-selling video game Red Dead Redemption 2.
Biederman, 54, guided client Kobalt’s 2017
acquisition of SONGS and 2018 partnership
with Glassnote. “They were among the biggest
transactions [for the music industry] in their
respective years,” he says. Custer, 51, is a leader
in filing Section 203 notices for artists seeking
to reclaim ownership of their sound recordings
and notes that he has done so for over 100 albums
from such acts as Journey, the Eagles, Neil Young
and Joni Mitchell. Custer also has worked on
publishing terminations on behalf of such writers
as Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson and Stephen
Stills. And he is the general counsel for several
heritage artists and estates. “The funny line that
I once heard somebody mention about music
lawyers is we’re kind of like the country doctor,”
he says, “where we know a lot about a little and a
little about a lot.”
Jason Boyarski
Partner, Boyarski Fritz
BENJAMIN N. CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW
As lead entertainment attorney for the Prince
estate, Boyarski, 44, negotiated a distribution
agreement with Sony Music for the late
icon’s entire 35-album catalog and the highly
anticipated Originals album with Warner Records.
“We’re focusing on that next level of dealmaking,”
says the former music publishing executive
who also inked a deal with the Minnesota
Timberwolves to create Prince-inspired City
Edition basketball uniforms. “To use the music as
a brand to touch the film, TV and apparel world is
very exciting.”
FREE LEGAL ADVICE
“Successful recording artists essentially become
the CEO of their own businesses, so young artists
should approach their careers that way, which
leads to longevity.”
John Branca
Partner/head of music department,
Ziffren Brittenham
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES,
SCHOOL OF LAWDavid Byrnes
Partner, Ziffren Brittenham
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES,
SCHOOL OF LAWDavid Lande
Capital partner, Ziffren Brittenham
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA LAW SCHOOL
Branca, after bringing in over $1 billion for the
Michael Jackson estate from the sale of its
Sony/ATV and EMI publishing assets, is taking
on Broadway, with a musical inspired by the life
of the singer slated for 2020. He also guided the
Jackson estate when HBO’s Leaving Neverland
documentary revived old child molestation
accusations against Jackson. For the estate of
another icon, Elvis Presley, Branca negotiated the
NBC tribute special that aired Feb. 17, 2018. He also
worked on Carlos Santana’s recent residency in Las
Vegas. For one major artist (whom he declines to
name), Byrnes negotiated a multipicture deal with
Netflix; for another, he cut apparel and branding
deals. Lande helmed the agreements for three of
the biggest tours of the past year: those of Justin
Timberlake, Shakira and Beyoncé (her part of
On the Run II with Jay-Z). Lande also negotiated
Beyoncé’s partnership with Adidas; it establishes
the superstar as an owner and partner, not just an
endorser, allowing her to co-create footwear and
apparel. “I want my clients to own everything that
they do,” he says.Vernon J. Brown
Founder/owner, V. Brown & Company
PACE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
As attorney for Cash Money Records, Brown, 58,
negotiated an end to the label’s legal dispute with
Lil Wayne last year — but more significantly, he
also settled a lawsuit in May between Cash Money
and Aspire Music Group, which had claimed it was
owed royalties on Drake albums after signing him
early in his career. “I felt like that was something
that could go on for the rest of my life,” he says of
the suit, which lasted for nearly a decade. “Knowing
all the parties are able to move on and everyone got
what they felt they deserved just feels good.”
NEW DEAL POINT
“Deals are now based on the number of songs
being delivered and not the number of albums
being delivered. It gives more flexibility to the
artist, and it gives more flexibility to the label.”Justin Bruntjen
Owner, Decerto Law
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS SCHOOL OF LAW
As one of the attorneys handling the estate
of Prince (which has been valued at up to
$300 million), Bruntjen, 34, helped establish the
rightful heirs out of the dozens of people who came
forward claiming they were entitled to a share.
“When someone dies without a will, especially
when that person is a celebrity, it really creates a lot
of chaos,” says Bruntjen. “Helping to bring order to
that chaos is something I’m very proud of.”
RECENT MEMORABLE CONCERT
“J. Cole. Lyrically, he’s a throwback to 2Pac and
Biggie. I’m a fan of [artists highlighting] social
issues in their work.”Candace Carlo
Partner, Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Carlo
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS, SCHOOL
OF LAW
Carlo is involved in every deal struck by film
composer Hans Zimmer and his three companies
— 14th Street Music, RCI Global and Bleeding
Fingers — including the most recent scores for
Disney’s live-action remake of The Lion King,
starring Beyoncé and Donald Glover; Dark
Phoenix; Widows; and the forthcoming Wonder
Woman 2. “Things shouldn’t be analyzed in terms
of how much money you make,” says Carlo, who
is also guiding the Hans Zimmer Live tour as it
heads to Europe this year. “It has to be analyzed
in terms of creative satisfaction.”Jay Cooper
Founder, Los Angeles entertainment
practice; Greenberg Traurig
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAWJoel A. Katz
Founding chairman, global entertainment
and media practice; founding member of
the Atlanta office; Greenberg Traurig
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF LAWJess Rosen
Co-chair, Atlanta entertainment and media
practice; Greenberg TraurigBobby Rosenbloum
Vice chairman, global entertainment and
media practice; Greenberg Traurig
HARVARD LAW SCHOOLBruntjenCarloLOYOLA LAW SCHOOL
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles
Enrollment 1,058THE BEST THING ABOUT MY
LAW SCHOOL WAS
“Only having to take torts once.
I passed torts the first time I tried.”
Zia Modabber
Katten Muchin RosenmanNEW YORK UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF LAW
New York
Enrollment 1,380THE BEST THING ABOUT MY
LAW SCHOOL WAS
“The location in Greenwich Village,
which is a cultural mecca for music
and art that is sought out by people
from all over the country.”
Clara Kim
ASCAPUNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY,
SCHOOL OF LAW
Berkeley, Calif.
Enrollment 976THE BEST THING ABOUT MY
LAW SCHOOL WAS
“A lot of my classmates have gone
on to greater success. And the
faculty is on fire right now.”
Jeffrey Harleston
Universal Music GroupTop Music Law Schools
CooperKatzCarlo (left)
with Zimmer
in 2018.BoyarskiBrancaByrnesLandeBrownJ. RosenRosenbloum