Bob Donnelly Named to "Irish Legal 100" by Irish Voice Newspaper

9/15/2008

Contact:
Martin Keller, Media Savant Communications Co.
612-729-8585, mkeller@mediasavantcom.com


TWIN CITIES, NEW YORK — September 15, 2008 — A 30-year veteran of the legal profession, practicing in the entertainment industry, has been named to the prestigious first annual “Irish Legal 100” by the Irish Voice newspaper and Irish American Magazine. Bob Donnelly of the law firm Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg PA (www.lommen.com), based in Minneapolis, Wisconsin and New York, was named to the list, which will be published in a special supplement of the September 15 issue of Irish America Magazine. The “lrish Legal 100” reception and award ceremony will take place on September 18 in New York City at the lrish Consulate offices of the lrish government.

Donnelly is a longtime champion of artist’s rights and royalties, practicing in Manhattan. He is best known for having brought the case with then-New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, which resulted in the major record labels having to pay their artists $55 million dollars in back royalties. Today he is considered one of the premier artist’s rights lawyers in the country. He’s also been awarded 40 gold and platinum records over his 30 years of representing music clients worldwide.

"‘The Irish Legal 100’ represents our newest network designed to bring people together, foster modern relationships with Ireland and to advance the interests of Irish America,” notes Niall O'Dowd, founding Publisher of the Irish Voice Newspaper and Irish America Magazine. O’Dowd notes that the list is the first-ever compilation of the most distinguished and accomplished lawyers of lrish descent in America.

“It includes Supreme Court Justices, partners at major law firms, law deans and many others across the legal profession, including Mr. Donnelly,” O’Dowd says. "He was chosen because he is one of the country's most successful music attorneys. Bob represents many of the best-known artists in Celtic music such as Solas, Altan and Cherish The Ladies. His efforts to preserve the rights of performing artists is legendary within the Irish arts community. Bob Donnelly was an obvious choice for our inaugural Irish Legal 100 honor."

“I am extremely proud of my Irish lineage: All four of my grandparents were born in Ireland,” Donnelly says. “When my maternal grandparents arrived at Ellis Island, they had only five pounds to their name and my grandfather spoke only Gaelic. The fact that our family was able to grow from such humble beginnings to the point where all of their grandchildren have graduated from law schools and business school is a terrific only-in-America story and a great tribute to the work ethic of Irish families like mine. I am honored to accept this award recognition on behalf of my proud Irish family and ancestors.”

“Bob has distinguished himself as an uncompromising advocate for his artist clients,” adds Ken Abdo, who leads the Entertainment Practice at Lommen Abdo. “He is known as a feisty Irish-American legal pugilist armed with a sharp eye, quick wit, and a warm soul. He's the best."

About The Irish Legal 100
The inaugural “Irish Legal 100” is the latest in the list of achievement awards that also include “The Top 100 lrish Americans,” “Wall Street 50” and “Business100” that have made The Irish Voice and Irish America Magazine the preeminent Irish-American publications read by more than 250,000 people.

About Bob Donnelly
Donnelly started his career as the in-house attorney for legendary artist managers Steve Leber and David Krebs, who were responsible for launching the careers of Aerosmith, AC-DC, Def Leppard, Michael Bolton and many others. He is a published author and frequent commentator on the subject of artist royalties in legal and music trade publications and as a speaker at music business conferences. He has also helped to win some important victories for musicians by helping to settle several groundbreaking cases and with his work in Washington on matters such as the “work-for-hire” legislation. He has also received several awards, including the career service award by Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

Donnelly’s list of clients reads like a “Who’s Who?” in several genres and includes many Grammy-award winners (Dianne Reeves, Riverdance, Hall & Oates) as well as Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Ronnie Spector and the Ronnettes, and nominees in jazz and a cavalcade of musicians. He also represents other Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Bootsy Collins and the Lovin’ Spoonful and many others.

The Lommen Abdo firm represents many successful managers (e.g. Invasion Group) music publishers (e.g. Cherry Lane) composers (e.g. Riverdance’s Bill Whelan), producers (Michael Beinhorn) and emerging artists (Matisyahu). Donnelly estimates that artists from these combined areas have sold in excess of 500 million records during the course of his career. The Lommen Abdo firm also has long-standing practices in the film, publishing, media and IP worlds.

For more information — or to interview Bob Donnelly — please contact Martin Keller at Media Savant Communications Co., 612-729-8585, or mkeller@mediasavantcom.com.