Jason Karlov and Joel Katz Named to Billboard’s 2021 Top Music Lawyers List

LOS ANGELES – Jason Karlov and Joel Katz have been recognized in Billboard Magazine’s Top Music Lawyers list. The list recognizes top in-house and private practice music lawyers handling the industry’s biggest legal battles and deals. 

“This recognition for our growing and successful entertainment group is a testament to the team’s hard work in the industry, especially during challenging times like 2020,” said Robert T. Grand, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg. “Jason is a stellar leader of our entertainment team, and we welcome Joel Katz to the firm; we look forward to him being an integral part of our team.”

Karlov, Chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Entertainment, Media and Sports Practice Group, handles music, sports, advertising and entertainment deals for the industry’s top live events, artists and organizations. Notably, he represented the NFL in its partnership deals with Jay Z and Roc Nation, and Super Bowl LIV’s halftime show featuring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. He continues to handle all the legal work for long-time clients Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, T Bone Burnett, Michael Bolton and Rufus Wainwright, including tours, merchandising, branding, album releases, and licensing. In 2020, Karlov finalized the music publishing catalog sales for Journey, The Killers and Imagine Dragons. He also continues to represent the Grateful Dead catalog in their publishing deals and agreements, as well as for companies like Beachbody.

Katz has played a profound role in shaping the entertainment industry through his work in facilitating entertainment-related corporate acquisitions and mergers and consulting multinational and multimedia entertainment companies. His star-studded client roster includes music industry legends from an array of genres, as well as music producers, record companies, concert promoters and corporate heavy hitters.

Barnes & Thornburg's entertainment attorneys offer music industry clients seasoned experience and creative solutions across diverse platforms in a rapidly evolving industry. 

With more than 700 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, New York, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.