The University of Miami School of Law's Entertainment and Sports Law programs garnered top recognition again. This year, alumni, adjunct faculty, and program cohorts stand out in Billboard Magazine's list of the nation's best music lawyers.
The attorneys chosen were nominated by their firms and peers and ultimately selected by Billboard's editors. The listing is broken into five categories: Major Music Groups, Streaming, Live, Performing Rights, and Talent and Litigation.
"Miami Law continues to turn out alumni who make major impacts in the entertainment arenas," said Greg Levy, associate dean, of Academic & Student Services and Strategic Initiatives and director of Miami Law's EASL LL.M. "We could not be prouder of not only our alumni but also our Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law LL.M. faculty, advisors, and speakers who made this list."
Alumni Recognized as Leaders in the Talent and Litigation category:
Matthew Buser J.D. '11, founder, Buser Legal
According to Billboard, Buser negotiated the recording agreement for one of 2022's top breakout acts: the rapper GloRilla, who turned heads with "F.N.F. (Let's Go)" with Hitkidd, reached the Hot 100 top 10 with the Cardi B collaboration "Tomorrow" and inked a deal with CMG/Interscope.
Carlos Rodríguez-Féliz, LL.M. '18 in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law, founder/managing partner, RodFel Law
Rodríguez-Féliz—whose clients include RaiNao, Lenny Tavárez, Villano Antillano, Subelo Neo, and Young Miko—says the most pressing concern in the industry is "how fast music is being consumed by fans and how demanding of music the public is in short periods of time," according to Billboard.
Oswaldo M. Rossi, J.D. '01, founder/managing partner, Rossi
The firm provided legal services to Colombian superstar Karol G, who had a top-grossing tour, a history-making Billboard 200 No. 1 album with "Mañana Será Bonito," and new brand deals with Corona and Google Pixel, according to Billboard. Rossi also assisted with Noah Assad's joint venture with Live Nation, the renewal of Bad Bunny producer MAG's publishing deal with Warner Chappell, and his "Un Verano Sin Ti" producer agreement.
Simran Singh, J.D. '04, founder/managing partner, Singh Singh & Trauben & Michael A. Trauben J.D. '04, founder/partner, Singh Singh & Trauben
Singh, Trauben, and partners helped several marquee clients make significant deals last year, including Marco Antonio Solís, whose Amazon documentary, "El Buki: Las Letras de Mi Historia," was released worldwide in December. The firm also oversaw the catalog acquisition, purchase, and sale agreements for clients Ozuna and Duars Entertainment—and repped Daddy Yankee and his La Última Vuelta World Tour, which grossed $197.8 million.
Lauren Spahn J.D./ M.M. '13 in Music Business, equity partner, Shackelford Bowen McKinley & Norton
Spahn represents music festivals, music publishers, record labels, technology companies, recording artists, songwriters, and other entertainment industry clients. She serves as legal counsel for the Women in Music Business Association and on the board of advisers for Miami Law's Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law LL.M. Program.
Richard C. Wolfe, J.D. '82 and LL.M. '83 in Tax, founding attorney, Wolfe Law Miami
With notable clients including Maluma, Travis Scott, Menudo, and Walter Kolm, Miami-based Wolfe says he has solved three major disputes between artists and managers in the last year (client Danny Ocean with his manager, client Indi-E Entertainment's Jorge Pino with singer Feid and one more he says is confidential), Billboard writes.
Leslie Jose Zigel, J.D. '95, partner/chair, entertainment, media, and technology group, SMGQ Law, & Javier Feito, J.D. '07, partner, entertainment, media, and technology group, SMGQ Law
According to Billboard, Zigel and Feito represent Pitbull, Marco Antonio Solís, and Carlos Vives, among other top stars, and recently served as counsel for Puerto Rican reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel's "La Última Misión" world tour, which included 14 concerts at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot. Zigel teaches as a Miami Law adjunct faculty member and serves on the advisory board for Miami Law's LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law. An involved alumnus, Zigel has also participated in Miami Law's EASL speaker series and its Table of Eight networking initiative.
More Lawyers with Connections to Miami Law Make the List
In addition to many Miami Law alumni, there are other lawyers on the Billboard listing with solid ties to Miami Law and its entertainment law program. They include:
Christopher R. Navarro, partner, Singh Singh & Trauben, mentors students in Miami Law's LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law and has also been a panelist at its annual Global Entertainment and Sports Law + Industry Conference. This past year, Peter Anderson, partner at Davis, Wright, and Tremaine, spoke at the conference on the panel "Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin's Impact on Music Copyright Law."
James G. Sammataro, partner/co-chair of the music group and media and entertainment litigation practice at Pryor Cashman, has been a guest speaker in the LL.M. program and hired Miami Law LL.M. '21 Sophia Sofferman as an associate at the firm. Clara Kim also came to Miami Law as a guest speaker for students.
"Miami Law is on the cutting-edge in teaching entertainment, arts, and sports law. It is no surprise so many of our grads and program partners have been recognized by Billboard," said Levy.
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