| Profile |
What do three time GRAMMY award winner Dianne Reeves, the composer of the Irish hit show Riverdance, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee The Ronettes, the creators of Woodstock and members of current chart-topper Matisyahu have in have in common? All rely on attorney Bob Donnelly to negotiate their entertainment contracts. This year marks Bob’s 32nd year as an attorney specializing in the representation of music industry clients. He has been awarded 41 platinum albums by his clients. His first music law job was to serve as in-house counsel for Leber-Krebs who managed the careers of Aerosmith, AC/DC, Def Leppard and many other well-known recording artists.
Bob has had his share of interesting gigs over the years. He was part of the legal team that won a substantial judgment in unpaid royalties for his client Ronnie Spector against her former record company. Bob also figured prominently in handing the record companies one of their few legislative losses by getting the Congress to repeal the pro-record company/anti-artist “Works-for-Hire” bill. New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer gave Bob much of the credit for bringing the so-called “suspense account case” that resulted in the payment to artists of $55 million in back-due royalties. Bob was part of the team that presented the famous Central Park free concert series that included artists such as James Taylor, Diana Ross and Simon & Garfunkel. Bob was also one of the very first lawyers to do a superstar endorsement deal when he put Blondie’s Deborah Harry into a pair of Murjani jeans. Other endorsement deals have included Sir Elton John, Reggie Jackson and Michael Jackson.
Bob’s law practice has covered the full gamut of the entertainment spectrum from television (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous) to commercials (Diet Pepsi) to music publishing (Cherry Lane) to internet business (Priceline.com) to licensing (Gloria Vanderbilt and Sardi’s Restaurant), and to theater (Beatlemania). Bob helped launch the careers of current chart-toppers the Dave Matthews Band. His roster of clients reflects his own eclectic taste in music: Rock superstars Hall & Oates, Jazz Hall of Famer Ornette Coleman, Rock Hall of Famers Bootsy Collins and the Lovin’ Spoonful, and jazz masters such as Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Dave Holland and Brad Mehldau.
When he’s not negotiating contracts, Bob can usually be found doing guest lectures on entertainment law at colleges, law schools and music industry conferences like South by Southwest (SXSW). He is also a contributor to Billboard and many other legal and music industry trade magazines. His awards within the industry include two special recognition awards from the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and from St. John’s Law School Entertainment Law Society. Bob was recently the only entertainment attorney to be named to Irish America Magazine’s list of the 100 most distinguished lawyers in the United States of Irish American descent. Bob Donnelly has been given Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating and he is listed in the WHO’S WHO IN ENTERTAINMENT.
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| Bar Admissions |
New York, 1974
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1974
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| Membership |
Entertainment Law Initiative
Entertainment Panel of the American Arbitration Association
New York State Magistrates Association
National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences/The Recording Academy
New York State Bar Association
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| Areas of Practice |
Contracts
Copyright
Entertainment Law, with emphasis on music law
Intellectual Property
Licensing |