By Jem Aswad, Steven J. Horowitz, Mike Wass
John Branca, Danielle Aguirre and Jeff Harleston Courtesy Images They may not make the music or mastermind the marketing campaigns, but — duh! — the music business wouldn’t and couldn’t exist without lawyers.
The best of them oversee the mega-million deals and catalog sales of superstars, protect the creative work of human beings against AI and other entities that would steal it, prevent young artists from signing something they’ll regret and more. Lots more.
Or so one hopes. But there’s a reason why some lawyers are so praised by artists and executives. A good lawyer is like a good doctor or contractor or financial planner; finding someone who gives seasoned, honest, direct counsel and looks after your best interests, often over their own, is invaluable, especially in an era where grift, dirty deals and dishonesty are coming from the very top.
We must emphasize that this list is based on attorneys’ and firms’ accomplishments over the past year — legacy and an impressive client base matter, of course, but there are already plenty of “power lists” that are basically directories. We want this one to be a bit more meaningful, and we hope it is.
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Lisa Alter and Katie Baron
Image Credit: Courtesy Images Lisa Alter Partner Katie Baron Partner
Alter, Kendrick & Baron
Alter and Baron negotiated and closed more than $1 billion in music transactions, including Iconic Artists Group’s acquisition of Rod Stewart’s publishing and music catalog and a partnership with RZA centered on the Wu-Tang Clan catalog. They also advised Reservoir Media and Influence Media Partners on catalog acquisitions, financing and other transactions involving Miles Davis, Mannie Fresh, Louis Prima, DJ Khaled, Future, Enrique Iglesias and Blake Shelton, as well as a separate music-backed securitization. The pair counseled KKR on debt financing provided to HarbourView Equity Partners and served as intellectual property counsel on Sony Music Entertainment’s acquisition of Ultra Records.
What is your proudest accomplishment of the past year? Baron: “Fostering the growth and development of our associates and watching them apply lessons learned working under us as they come into their own as attorneys capable of taking on increasingly complex matters.”
What is the greatest threat to the music industry at the moment? Alter: “Stakeholders failing to act collectively to protect their interests and instead fighting for their respective piece of the pie. In contrast, when record labels, publishers, songwriters, and artists work collaboratively to bolster music copyright protection by advancing legislative initiatives such as the NO FAKES ACT, the industry as a whole is strengthened.”
What can music attorneys do to make the industry, as well as the world, a better place? Baron: “Stay true to your values in all aspects of your practice, don’t compromise yourself for profits, and be kind to both your colleagues and your adversaries.”
