Sidley partner Rollin A. Ransom has been named to Billboard’s 2022 “Top Music Lawyers” list. This is the third consecutive year he has been included in the annual supplement, which profiles stellar lawyers in the music industry.
Rollin's recognition follows his successful representations of many of the major record labels, including UMG Recordings, Warner Records, and Sony Music Entertainment, as well as The Music Center (home of Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion). In one such matter, Rollin is defending UMG Recordings, Inc. in a putative class action filed by various artists that has potentially significant repercussions for the music industry. The Copyright Act gives authors the ability to terminate a grant under certain circumstances after 35 years. Recording artists from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s are seeking to leverage this statutory provision to attempt to reclaim ownership rights, a matter which commentators have described as a “ticking time bomb.” Rollin successfully obtained an order narrowing the case and effectively dismissing the lead plaintiff as well as related claims of a large portion of the putative class, from the case.
Rollin co-leads Sidley’s global Commercial Litigation and Disputes practice. He is managing partner of the Los Angeles office and also head of the Greater Los Angeles Litigation group. Representing both individuals and corporations, Rollin has extensive experience prosecuting and defending lawsuits involving a wide variety of intellectual property claims, including copyright and theft of idea, trademark, false advertising, trade secret, and unfair competition actions. His clients cover an array of industries, including media and entertainment, technology, and financial services companies. Rollin also regularly counsels clients outside of litigation on a variety of intellectual property, advertising, and internet-related matters.
