Leading Entertainment Lawyer Joel Katz Joins Berklee Board

Joel Katz Added To Berklee Board

Leading entertainment lawyer JOEL KATZ has been named to the BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC board of trustees.

KATZ is former Chairman of the AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION's ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS LAW SECTION. His clients include world-famous entertainers, producers, record labels, concert promoters and FORTUNE 500 companies, including KENNY CHESNEY, JULIO IGLESIAS, WILLIE NELSON, LUDACRIS, MICHAEL JACKSON's estate, the COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION, DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS and THE RECORDING ACADEMY.

More than 30 years ago, he founded KATZ, SMITH & COHEN, which became one of the country’s largest music entertainment law firms. In 1998, KATZ merged his practice with GREENBERG TRAURIG.  In 2012, KATZ was named #38 on BILLBOARD’s POWER 100 list.

“As I have spent my entire working life in the entertainment and music business, being now included on BERKLEE’s board will give me a chance to give back even more to an industry that has been so good to me,” said KATZ. “I look forward to working with the school administration, the teaching and professional team, and of course the students. I hope to be able to give of my experiences in the artistic community directly to the students.”

“JOEL KATZ has advised and represented a who’s who of the music industry, and is someone who cares about giving opportunities to musicians and to students, and at BERKLEE, we have both,” said BERKLEE President ROGER H. BROWN. “His vast knowledge of the music and music makers will be extremely valuable to the college.”

The ATLANTA-based barrister is active at industry events, having served as a speaker or panelist at THE RECORDING ACADEMY’s GRAMMY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM, the ATLANTA DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP’s MUSIC INDUSTRY SYMPOSIUM, the ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS INDUSTRY FORUM of the ABA and the ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS LAW SECTION of the STATE BAR OF GEORGIA.  KATZ has also authored and co-authored many articles and commentary on various topics concerning entertainment law.

« see more Net News