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| Full Name |
Kenneth J. Abdo |
| Email |
ken@lommen.com |
| Phone |
612-336-9316 |
| Fax |
612-339-8064 |
| Vcard |
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| Profile |
Ken Abdo is a Vice President of the Lommen Abdo Law Firm and Co-Chair of the Entertainment Law Department. In over more than 20 years of practice, he has helped build the largest, most visible and successful entertainment law practice in the Midwest. Ken’s practice is limited to entertainment law, and his primary focus is on all music law transactions. He is a known artist advocate and leader within the national entertainment law community. He is a popular author and lecturer. A life-long multi-instrumentalist/songwriter and former disc jockey, Ken has a love and deep knowledge of music, music business and music law.
He has served as legal counsel to artists which most recently include, among others, Jonny Lang, Michelle Branch, Garrison Keillor, Anna Nalick, Johnny Rivers, Sugarland writer/performer, Kristen Hall and Austin City Limits. He has been listed in the Super Lawyer® list in Entertainment Law and a “Minnesota Leading Attorney” every year since 1994. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (highest competency) since 1992. For more information than you need to know on Ken Abdo, click on this link to read the article published in the Spring 2005 newsletter of the William Mitchell College of Law.
An article on Ken Abdo which was published in the American Bar Association’s Forum in the Entertainment and Sports Industries quarterly publication.
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| Bar Admissions |
Minnesota, 1983
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1983
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| Representative Clients |
Anna Nalick (Columbia); Billy McLaughlin (Narada/Virgin Records); Bobby Vee (Liberty); Garrison Keillor (Rounder); Gingerjake; Jessica Harp (Maverick); Jimmy Thackery (Telarc Records); Johnny Rivers (Soul City Records, Inc.); Jonny Lang (A&M/Interscope); Kristen Hall (Sugarland); Austin City Limits; Luther Allison (Alligator Records); Michelle Branch (Maverick); Prophet Omega (Capitol); Reeve Carney (Interscope); The Replacements (Twin Tone/Reprise); Rockie Lynn(Universal); Steven Anderson (American Gramaphone); Tagine (Bluhammock); Tiny Tim; Music Estate; Vienna Teng (Rounder); Warner/Chappell Music Publishing, The Emmy® Award winning, made for TV movie, “Deep In My Heart”, starring Anne Bancroft and Gloria Reuben (CBS); The Off-Broadway play “Triple Espresso;” Major market radio disc jockeys, TV anchors, program directors and managers.
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| Published Works |
"The Economics of Developing & Maintaining an Entertainment Law Practice," Entertainment, Publishing & Arts Handbook, 2005 - 2006; State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Conference Journal, 2004
“Shopping Record Deals for Lawyers: A&R Approach and Ethics Issues” ABA Entertainment and Sports Lawyer, Summer 2005
“Entertainment Law Ethics,” Entertainment, Publishing and The Arts Handbook, Thomson/West, 2005
“Entertainment Law Ethics,” ABA Entertainment & Sports Lawyer, 2005
"Agents, Managers and Lawyers: A Roadmap for the Entertainment Attorney," Entertainment Law: Cases and Materials (3d ed.), Matthew Bender & Co. Inc., 2003
“Entertainment Law Ethics,” Practicing Law Institute, 1999 - 2003
“The Practical Musician - A Legal Guidebook to the Music Industry,” Minnesota CLE, Contributing Author, 1993
“Law & Business of the Entertainment Industries,” 5th Edition, Praeger
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| Classes or Lectures |
Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law, William Mitchell College of Law, 1992 to 2003
American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries Annual Meetings, USA
American Bar Association Your Lawyer Division, New York, New York
American Law Institute, Los Angeles, California
Atlantis Music Conference, Atlanta, Georgia
Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, California
Billboard Music & Money Symposium, New York, New York
Colorado Sate Bar Association, Denver, Colorado
Emerging Artists & Talent in Music (EAT’M), Las Vegas, Nevada
Hamline University Law School, Adjunct Professor, St. Paul, Minnesota
Institute of Production & Recording, The, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota Association of Professional DJs, Bloomington, Minnesota
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota’s Journal on Law & Politics, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota State Bar Association, Art & Entertainment Section, Minnesota
Minnesota State Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, Minnesota
National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University School of Law, Marquette, Wisconsin
Ohio State Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio
Philadelphia Music Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Practising Law Institute, Los Angeles, California
Recording Academy, The, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Resources & Counseling for the Arts/Springboard for the Arts, Minnesota
Sedona Conference on Independent Music & Film, Sedona, Arizona
South by Southwest, Austin, Texas
Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California
State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Convention, Madison, Wisconsin
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Minnesota School of Law, Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of St. Thomas School of Law, Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Texas at Austin & The Texas Bar Association, Austin, Texas
William Mitchell College of Law, Adjunct Professor, St. Paul, Minnesota
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| Membership |
National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences/The Recording Academy®, (presenter of the Grammy® Awards) Chicago Chapter, Governor, 2005 - Present; Voting Member (musician/producer)
The Recording Academy®, Entertainment Law Initiative Executive Committee, Charter Member; Chair, 2006
American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries: National Forum Chair, 2003 - 2005
American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries: National Music Division Chair, 2000 - 2002
American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries: “The Entertainment & Sports Lawyer,” Editor-in-Chief, 2000 - 2002
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts, Distinguished Alumni Award for achievement in law, education and community service, 2005
Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California, Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute International Advisory Board, Board Member, 2000 - Present
T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer and Leukemia Research, Midwest Committee, 1999 - 2001
Minnesota Film Board, Board Member, 1999 - 2001
Cricket Theatre, Minneapolis, Board Chair, 1994 - 1996, Board Member, 1990 - 1996
Concerts for the Environment (producer of the official 25th Anniversary Earth Day concert, Washington, D.C., Board Member, 1992 - 1996
Hennepin County, Minnesota State and American Bar Associations
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| Office Location |
Minneapolis |
| Areas of Practice |
Business Law
Intellectual Property
Media Employment |
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