Recording Academy Holds 20th Entertainment Law Initiative Event

Last weekend, in New York City, the Recording Academy hosted the industry’s top, as well as up and coming, entertainment lawyers at the 20^th anniversary of the Entertainment Law Initiative Event. The Entertainment Law Initiative is a gathering where industry practitioners have the opportunity to honor its members who have made significant contributions. This year the event presented awards to Michael Reinert, a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, and Allen Grubman, a partner at Grubman, Shire, Meiselas & Sacks, P.C. for their service to the industry over the years. Both Reinert and Grubman shared their experiences as new lawyers starting out in the industry, naming and thanking mentors who helped them along the way.

Central to the Entertainment Law Initiative’s purpose, to “support promising law students interested in entertainment law,” the event also honored Rebecca Pollack, a law student at Lewis & Clark Law School, winner of the Initiative’s writing contest. Pollack made a brief appearance on stage summarizing the thesis of her paper titled “Innovation Or Exploitation: Is It Time To Update The DMCA Safe Harbors?”  As winner of the contest, Pollack will receive a $10,000 scholarship.

Following the awards, the event featured New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The attorney general spoke of his love for music and his work fighting ticket bots and scalpers, reminding the audience of the importance of the work they do in supporting music. Schneiderman ended his remarks encouraging industry attorneys to reach out and work with state governments to find solutions to the problems faced by the entertainment industry.

Dallin Earl is an Entertainment Highlight Contributor for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law and a current first year student at Harvard Law School (Class of 2020).