Brooklyn Law School and alumni named amongst the top in the music law industry

September 3, 2019 Rob Abruzzese

Brooklyn Law School was recognized by Billboard magazine as one of the top law schools in the country for music law. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

Share this:

Brooklyn Law School and five of its alumni were recognized by Billboard magazine for being amongst the elite in the music law industry.

In an article published on Aug. 26, Billboard magazine ranked the top law schools for music law and identified the top 113 attorneys and law firms who are “on the front lines of the music industry’s legal battles and deals.”

BLS was ranked among 15 of the top law schools. One alumnus, Paul Schindler, of Greenberg Traurig, was quoted and praised the school’s ability to prepare students for the bar exam.

David Chidekel, the immediate past president of the Brooklyn Bar Association, who has numerous musicians as clients, said that it’s no coincidence that BLS has such a strong program because of the number of talented artists in the borough.

“Brooklyn Law is the right place for a great music program,” Chidekel said. “Their development at such a high level reflects BLS’s commitment to excellence.

“Brooklyn is alive with musicians, music groups and music venues, and they need competent lawyers who know the special multi-disciplinary legal issues which Brooklyn Law’s music program trains their attorneys in,” Chidekel continued. “Brooklyn’s musicians supply the rhythms and melodies of the music and Brooklyn Law meets the demands of the musicians to have caring and competent attorneys to protect them and advance their interests. This reflects on the cultural variety and high level of musical and legal skills here in Brooklyn.”

The five BLS alumni included in the Billboard article were Schindler, Allen Grubman, Peter Brodsky, Ed Shapiro and Jordan Bromley.

Grubman, who was honored by BLS as Alumnus of the Year during a luncheon in February of 2018, is the founder of Grubman Indursky Shire & Meiselas, which is considered one of the leading entertainment law firms. The firm represents Spotify, is helping to restructure Barbra Streisand‘s recording arrangements and is working with Bruce Springsteen on his Broadway show and Elton John on a movie about his life.

Brodsky, executive vice president for business and legal affairs for Sony/ATV Music Publishing, led a team that closed on a $2.2 billion deal in which Sony acquired a 60 percent share in EMI Music Publishing.

Schindler, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, helped to negotiate a contract for Billy Joel‘s performance at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles, in July. It was the first concert of its kind at the stadium.

Shapiro, a partner at Reed Smith, helped to negotiate Rihanna’s partnership with luxury goods company LVMH, which manufactures the singer’s Savage X Fenty Lingerie and her Fenty Beauty products. His other clients include Meek Mill, Lil Uzi, Normani, Anitta, Kaskade, Mariah Carey, SZA, Lord Huron, Romeo Santos and Kesha.

Bromley, a partner at Manatt Phelps & Phillips, is the youngest head of the entertainment transactions and finance group in the firm’s history. Billboard noted that the achievement is no small feat as Manatt Phelps & Phillips is known for having a deep roster of music lawyers with seven attorneys who made the list.

One other Brooklyn connection on Billboard’s list was Andrew Bart, a partner at Jenner & Block, who represents three major music organizations: RIAA, BMG and Roc Nation. He also works pro bono for Brooklyn venues Roulette in Park Slope and National Sawdust in Williamsburg.

BLS offers courses and workshops on entertainment law and certificates in intellectual property, media and information law. In addition, the Brooklyn Entertainment and Sports Law Society is one of the largest student-run organizations of its kind and helps provide students with a source of programs and resources needed to enter the music law field.