Who is Billie Eilish’s lawyer?
From negotiating Rihanna’s return to the stage to selling Justin Bieber’s catalog, these lawyers are handling the hottest deals in music.
Published on April 12, 2023
Boyarski FritzCardozo School of Law
Boyarski is negotiating record and publishing deals for Meek Mill, the rapper’s first contracts since he was pardoned by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf for drug and gun charges stemming from an arrest when he was a teen. The firm also represents singer/songwriter JVKE, producers Cirkut, Louis Bell and Tainy, and handled merchandise and publishing deals for the estate of Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White.
I admire “Clive Davis, who’s the perfect combination of savvy executive, smart lawyer and talented creative. He found ways to make his own success and didn’t rely on luck to get there. What I admire most is that, later in his career, Clive identified the need for community and used his leadership and influence to establish a Grammy week celebration event as a means to honor music creators, executives and living legends. Bringing people together to appreciate music art is special.”
ManattBrooklyn Law School
With a client list that includes a variety of artists from Death Cab for Cutie and ODESZA to veteran acts like Eagles, Jackson Browne and Tracy Chapman, Bromley’s team closed more than $3 billion in IP transactions over the past 18 months. He continues to advocate for artists’ rights through his work with the Music Artists Coalition and led negotiations for California’s Music Business Exemption in the controversial AB5 legislation.
The actor who’d play me “The guy who played Gollum or Tom Cruise. Can’t decide.”
An industry rule made to be broken “There are no rules in the music industry.”
Ziffren BrittenhamUCLA School of Law
Keeping up with Kelly Clarkson is enough work to fill a year — representing the Grammy winner for matters related to The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Voice and American Song Contest, her highly anticipated new album and those cute Wayfair commercials — Brynes still found time to help other artists, including Travis Scott and his partnership with Nike and collaboration with Dior, the sale of Blake Shelton’s catalog, and deal extensions for Halle and Chloe Bailey with Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment.
How I start my workday “To-do list!”
How I end my workday “There is no end.”
Carter + WoodardGeorgia State College of Law
Carter’s recent highlights count negotiating the catalog sale for Metro Boomin and the rollouts for both his album Heroes & Villains and Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here as well as the latter’s film appearances in On the Come Up and The System. She has also been excited about her firm’s recent expansion into representing more media companies, including Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, Tenderfoot TV, oneRPM and Central City Productions (producer of the Stellar Awards and Black Music Honors). Noting the rise in legacy artists and songwriters who are selling their music publishing c.
What major is best for an entertainment lawyer?
The complete career guide to be an Entertainment Lawyer: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.
$136,260Potential Avg. Salary Growing DemandJob OutlookDeal MakingCareer Attribute
Entertainment lawyers represent clients who work in the entertainment industry. This may include film, theater, publishing, television, music, or digital media. They draw from a variety of legal disciplines—intellectual property, contract negotiation, and corporate law—to protect and defend their clients.
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in entertainment lawyer roles:
- Entertainment lawyers represent clients who make their livings working in the entertainment industry in film and television production, music, theater, publishing, or digital media. They may work with movie stars, novelists, musicians, or YouTube personalities.
- The majority of entertainment lawyers live and work in the three major areas in the U.S. for entertainment: California, New York, and Nashville.
- Some entertainment lawyers focus their efforts on transactional law, creating contracts, engaging in negotiations, and ensuring contracted parties adhere to agreements.
- Others specialize in litigation, representing and defending clients in lawsuits related to intellectual property, copyright infringement, defamation, liability, and corporate law.
- Most entertainment lawyers work full-time schedules during normal business hours, but overtime is common in law practice.
The first step in becoming an entertainment lawyer is to earn a bachelor’s degree. Pre-law majors are common for aspiring entertainment lawyers.
How much does a top lawyer charge per hour?
Someone recently told me they were quoted $2,500 per hour for a Minnesota attorney in a small firm. I thought that was unusually high in 2023, so I did some research. I found that, in 2023, attorney hourly rates range from about $300 to $2,500.
Attorney rates continued to climb during the pandemic, especially as corporate and bankruptcy attorneys were in higher demand. Recent news reports indicate that a number of attorneys increased their hourly rates beyond $2,000, with many new attorneys in only their second year charging over $1,000 per hour.
Examples of lawyers with the highest hourly rates in 2023 include the following:
A recent article on Law.com noted that a number of firms are charging over $1,000 per hour for attorneys in only their second year of practice. See also ABA Journal.
In 2024, hourly attorney rates increased:
Most state ethics rules state that attorneys are not permitted to charge an “unreasonable” amount. For example, here is an oral argument where the Minnesota Supreme Court considered whether an attorney’s fees were excessive. But what qualifies as “unreasonable?”
Like other states, Minnesota’s Rules of Professional Responsibility provide some guidance to determine whether attorney fees are reasonable or excessive:
- The time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly;
- The likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer;
- The fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services;
- The amount involved and the results obtained;
- The time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances;
- The nature and length of the professional relationship with the client;
- The experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and
- Whether the fee is fixed or contingent.
See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(a). This third factor, “the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services,” requires consideration of other attorney rates in your geographic region and practice area. So the amount other attorneys are charging is relevant to how much an individual attorney can charge.
Not all attorneys charge hourly rates. Attorneys who receive contingency fees, based on the outcome of cases, often receive much higher (or lower) rates, depending on the results of their cases.
In my experience, I have observed attorneys billing as low as $300 per hour in 2023. Attorneys who are inexperienced, without enough work, or located in rural areas are more likely to have the lowest rates.
Here are additional online resources to continue learning about this topic:
Well, we did a little digging.
What is the highest paid type of lawyer?
Interested in a high-paying legal career? Learn about the highest-paid types of lawyers, their roles, and how our programs can help you achieve your career goals.
In the wide range of legal professions, certain specializations stand out for their substantial financial rewards. The Colleges of Law is committed to training dedicated, ethical, and hardworking lawyers, skills required for success in these and other careers in law.
The field of law is diverse, offering a multitude of specializations, each with its unique challenges and rewards. While all legal fields hold the potential for financial success and personal fulfillment, there are certain areas where lawyers, on average, tend to see higher earnings per year.
As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
| 1. Patent Attorneys |
| 2. IP Attorneys |
This variation in earnings is influenced by factors such as specialization, geographic location, the complexity of the legal field, and the demand for specialized expertise. Some areas of law have emerged as particularly lucrative due to their complexity, the high stakes involved, or the specialized knowledge required.
Patent attorneys are involved in protecting the intellectual property rights of inventions. Their work spans drafting and filing patent applications, advising on patent law, and representing clients in patent litigation. This field is ideal for those who are fascinated by law and technology, offering an exciting blend of innovation and legal expertise.
Patent attorneys will find the Technology Professional Certificate program from The Colleges of Law highly beneficial. This program offers deep insights into areas like data security and blockchain technology, which are increasingly relevant in the rapidly evolving field of patent law.
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers on average, they earn an annual income of around $185,000, According to Indeed. Although the salary range varies on a number of factors, the average patent attorney’s salary range falls between $110,000 and $310,000 in the US.**Data collected in 2024.
IP attorneys play an important role in protecting rights related to artistic and inventive creations. Their responsibilities include negotiating deals, drafting licensing agreements, and representing clients in IP disputes. As the digital and creative landscapes continue to expand, IP attorneys find themselves in a constantly evolving and high-demand field.
IP attorneys will find our Entrepreneurship Professional Certificate to be invaluable. The program focuses on topics like emerging technology and the law, and building legal applications is crucial for IP attorneys working with startups and innovative companies. This certificate offers IP attorneys additional expertise to advise clients on the legal intricacies of launching and growing technology-driven businesses.
According to Salary.com IP attorneys are among the highest-paid types of lawyers, averaging around $167,000 a year. An IP attorney’s salary normally ranges from around $152,000.
How much do top entertainment attorneys make?
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Top Earners
$129,284
$10,773
75th Percentile
$101,700
$8,475
Average
$99,309
$8,275
25th Percentile
$78,000
$6,500
What is the highest paying lawyer type?
Interested in a high-paying legal career? Learn about the highest-paid types of lawyers, their roles, and how our programs can help you achieve your career goals.
In the wide range of legal professions, certain specializations stand out for their substantial financial rewards. The Colleges of Law is committed to training dedicated, ethical, and hardworking lawyers, skills required for success in these and other careers in law.
The field of law is diverse, offering a multitude of specializations, each with its unique challenges and rewards. While all legal fields hold the potential for financial success and personal fulfillment, there are certain areas where lawyers, on average, tend to see higher earnings per year.
As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
| Patent Attorneys | $185,000 |
| IP Attorneys | $167,000 |
This variation in earnings is influenced by factors such as specialization, geographic location, the complexity of the legal field, and the demand for specialized expertise. Some areas of law have emerged as particularly lucrative due to their complexity, the high stakes involved, or the specialized knowledge required.
Patent attorneys are involved in protecting the intellectual property rights of inventions. Their work spans drafting and filing patent applications, advising on patent law, and representing clients in patent litigation. This field is ideal for those who are fascinated by law and technology, offering an exciting blend of innovation and legal expertise.
Patent attorneys will find the Technology Professional Certificate program from The Colleges of Law highly beneficial. This program offers deep insights into areas like data security and blockchain technology, which are increasingly relevant in the rapidly evolving field of patent law.
IP attorneys play an important role in protecting rights related to artistic and inventive creations. Their responsibilities include negotiating deals, drafting licensing agreements, and representing clients in IP disputes. As the digital and creative landscapes continue to expand, IP attorneys find themselves in a constantly evolving and high-demand field.
IP attorneys will find our Entrepreneurship Professional Certificate to be invaluable. The program focuses on topics like emerging technology and the law, and building legal applications is crucial for IP attorneys working with startups and innovative companies. This certificate offers IP attorneys additional expertise to advise clients on the legal intricacies of launching and growing technology-driven businesses.
What major is best for an entertainment lawyer?
The complete career guide to be an Entertainment Lawyer: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.
$136,260 Potential Avg. Salary Growing Demand Job Outlook Deal Making Career Attribute
Entertainment lawyers represent clients who work in the entertainment industry. This may include film, theater, publishing, television, music, or digital media. They draw from a variety of legal disciplines—intellectual property, contract negotiation, and corporate law—to protect and defend their clients.
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in entertainment lawyer roles:
- Entertainment lawyers represent clients who make their livings working in the entertainment industry in film and television production, music, theater, publishing, or digital media.
- They may work with movie stars, novelists, musicians, or YouTube personalities.
- The majority of entertainment lawyers live and work in the three major areas in the U.S. for entertainment: California, New York, and Nashville.
- However, many also work in secondary markets with a strong entertainment presence.
Some entertainment lawyers focus their efforts on transactional law. Transactional lawyers create contracts, engage in negotiations, and ensure contracted parties adhere to agreements. These lawyers often work with the agencies who represent clients, negotiating working agreements and pay rates that are favorable to clients, and ensuring clients do not enter into unfavorable agreements. They may also work with entertainment lawyers and participate in union negotiations or create union contracts.
Other entertainment lawyers are focused on litigation. These lawyers specialize in representing and defending clients who have filed lawsuits against a third party, or whom have had a lawsuit filed against them. Often, entertainment lawsuits revolve around issues of intellectual property, copyright infringement, defamation, or liability. Additionally, entertainment lawyers may need to defend clients against major corporations who’ve filed claims, so they must be familiar with corporate law as well.
Most entertainment lawyers work full-time schedules during normal business hours, but overtime is common in law practice. Attorneys may need to work in evenings or on weekends to accommodate client schedules, or to review or finalize paperwork to meet deadlines.
Many entertainment lawyers work for private law firms: they may run their own practice, share a practice with one or more other lawyers, or work as an employee of a privately-owned law firm. Some may also be employed by corporations in the entertainment industry to handle paperwork and litigation. Others work for entertainment agencies, preparing legal contracts for clients on behalf—and in the best interest of—the agency.
The first step in becoming an entertainment lawyer is to earn a bachelor’s degree. Pre-law majors are common for aspiring entertainment lawyers.
How much do entertainment lawyers make in New York?
As of Nov 26, 2024, the average annual pay for an Entertainment Attorney in New York is $132,481 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $63.69 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,547/week or $11,040/month.