OUR
VISION
Levinsohn Associates is a transactional entertainment law firm, with a focus in the music industry. The firm was established by Mark A. Levinsohn in 2010. Mark has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry and is well-known for his ingenuity, pragmatic advice and creative solutions. Mark has been selected as one of music's top attorneys by Billboard magazine.
A primary focus of our practice involves deals related to music publishing and recording rights and copyrights. We work closely with our clients in all stages of transactional practice, from pre-deal planning and strategy, to research and negotiation, to drafting, execution and closing. We represent clients of diverse nature and backgrounds, varying from corporate entities to independent music publishers to individual songwriters, producers and artists or their estates and heirs. Our practical, business-focused approach makes us effective strategic counselors and deal managers. Our clients often look to us for advice regarding not only specific music and entertainment industry transactions, but also litigation matters as well as general aspects of their business operations, including, for example, employment matters and other general commercial matters.
We are recognized for our results-oriented work and we take pride in the quality of our work. Our successful track record is a testament to our superior work, guided by the firm's core values: professionalism, creativity, diligence, responsiveness, efficiency, and results.
OUR
WORK
Entertainment Law
Music Law
Copyright Law
Transactional Work
Litigation Consulting
Due Diligence Reviews
A primary focus of our practice involves deals related to music publishing and recording rights and copyrights.
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We draft, review and negotiate agreements, licenses and other instruments involving all types of music transactions in the entertainment industry.
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We conduct due diligence reviews of music catalogs and assets related to potential acquisitions of music publishing and/or master catalogs.
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We perform copyright termination analyses for publishers as well as authors and/or their heirs.
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We research, analyze and resolve contractual and royalty issues
We work closely with our clients in all stages of transactional practice, from pre-deal planning and strategy to research and negotiation, to drafting, execution and closing. Our work involves a wide array of deals and transaction, including, for example:
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asset sale and purchase agreements
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co-publishing and sub-publishing agreements
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administration agreements
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management agreements
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producer agreements
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songwriter and composer agreements
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recording agreements
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distribution agreements
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various licenses, including synchronization and digital licensing
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joint venture and income participation agreements
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employment-related agreements
We advise clients regarding litigation strategy and the selection of litigation counsel with an integrated business approach in mind. We may work together with litigators on certain matters. In recent years, the firm has collaborated very successfully with our clients' litigators on various litigation matters, often involving complex, unsettled issues or sui generis cases. For example:
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As the transactional entertainment attorney for the heirs of Marvin Gaye, we represented the Gaye heirs in connection with the much-discussed Blurred Lines case which resulted in a $5.3 million jury finding in favor of our clients.
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The firm represented F.B.T. Productions in the Eminem digital downloads case, which resulted in a landmark ruling against Aftermath/Interscope Records and Universal Music in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. F.B.T. Productions, LLC, et al. v. Aftermath Records, et al., 621 F.3d 958 (9th Cir. 2010), cert. denied, 131 S. Ct. 1677 (2011).
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We provided litigation consulting services in connection with producer Shep Pettibone's successful defense of the sampling claim filed against him and Madonna in 2013 regarding the hit "Vogue".
We have substantial experience conducting and coordinating efficient due diligence reviews of music catalogs and assets and counseling clients on the valuation of music copyrights. We prepare due diligence reports related to the potential sale or acquisition of music catalogs and assets.
We advise clients on all matters and issues with respect to copyrights, including the registration, renewal and termination thereof. We perform comprehensive copyright termination analyses for authors and/or their heirs, and counsel and assist them in the recapture of their copyrights.
OUR
ATTORNEYS
MARK A. LEVINSOHN
Mark established the firm in 2010. Mark is a top music lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in entertainment and media law. He is sought after for his expertise in the music industry and has earned a reputation for his pragmatic advice, client loyalty and creative solutions. Mark is respected for his ingenuity, integrity and intelligence among his clients. As a deal maker, he focuses on helping to create and maximize business opportunities for his clients. Selected as one of Billboard's top music attorneys, Mark is recognized as one of music's most powerful lawyers.
Mark serves a broad range of individual and corporate clients, including award-winning singers, songwriters, producers, senior executives and leading music publishers and record labels. He is well-known in the music industry, both in the United States and in Europe. Mark has a track record of helping industry entrepreneurs develop and grow their companies, and routinely handles complex commercial transactions.
Before forming the firm, Mark was the Managing Partner of Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein, LLP and Levinsohn & Arnay, LLP. After many years as a partner with these larger firms, Mark has been enjoying working in the more personalized business of a small boutique firm. Mark is admitted to practice in New York and received his J.D. from the Cardozo School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the inaugural publication of the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal.
WINNIE Y. CHAU
Winnie is experienced with all aspects of transactional work in the music industry, with a focus on catalog acquisitions and copyright law. Winnie practiced matrimonial and family law before joining the firm in 2011. She was an executive compensation analyst at Lehman Brothers prior to her career in the law.
Winnie received her J.D. from the Cardozo School of Law and is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. She was the Senior Managing Editor of the Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender, and a teaching assistant for LLM students in the Lawyering Skills and Legal Writing Program at Cardozo. Winnie graduated summa cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University.
CONTACT US
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