Arent Fox welcomes back music IP team

Arent Fox has welcomed back two copyright partners into its New York offices—Ross  Charap and Matthew Finkelstein.

Both lawyers worked at the Washington, DC-based law firm from 2010 to 2014 before leaving to join  Akerman as partners in January 2015.

The duo’s focus is music IP, having bought and sold copyrighted works and royalty streams worth more than $750 million in their time together.

They have represented famous songwriters and artists across many genres, including “The Rolling Stones”, opera singer Jessye Norman and Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg of “Wizard of Oz” fame.

They will be rejoining Arent Fox’s music IP team, which includes counsel Celeste Moy and associate Jackie Robinson.

Ricardo Fischer, trademark and copyright practice leader said: “We are delighted to have Ross and Matt back as part of the Arent Fox family. Music and entertainment are critically important to the national and global economies. Ross and Matt’s decades of experience in these industries will benefit our clients on a wide range of matters involving all manner of copyrighted works.”

The team also represents national and international independent music publishers for many purposes, including the acquisition of music publishing catalogues and related royalty streams.

As well as their music focus, the duo also represents non-music clients in the technology, film, digital media and book publishing markets.

Charap said: “We welcome the opportunity to help to fulfil the vision of Tony Lupo, Cristina Carvalho, and Ricardo Fischer, all outstanding IP professionals. Conventional wisdom teaches that you can’t go home again. In Matt’s and my case, happily, that has proven to be untrue.”