Billboard Names Four Covington Lawyers "Top Music Lawyers"
April 2, 2024
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES— Billboard has named Adrian Perry, Neema Sahni, Jonathan Sperling, and Phillip Hill among its “2024 Top Music Lawyers.” This annual list recognizes the music industry’s leading lawyers in fields that include talent representation, music publishing, streaming, and litigation.
Adrian is an entertainment and tech transactions lawyer in Covington’s New York office and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Entertainment and Media Industry and Music Industry practice groups. He is also part of the firm's Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things initiatives, advising on deals involving AI-powered and internet-connected products. He is helping to shape the future of how content is created and consumed, and is an authority on digital content distribution issues, and on data collection and licensing, with a focus on the music, sports, TV, and film industries. A musician who has toured internationally and licensed his original music for film and television, Adrian brings significant experience in the entertainment industry to his legal practice. This is his fifth consecutive year being named one of Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers.
Based in Covington’s Los Angeles office, Neema is a commercial litigator. She serves as co-chair of the firm's Music Industry, Entertainment and Media Industry, and Commercial Litigation practice groups and vice-chair of the Sports Industry group. Drawing upon her experience at the firm and her prior experience in-house, Neema specializes in handling complex commercial disputes and providing practical solutions that help clients understand and mitigate their legal risks and advance their business objectives. Neema has represented record labels and publishers in mass infringement and large scale commercial disputes. This is her fourth consecutive year being named one of Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers.
Jonathan is a trial lawyer in Covington’s New York office with nearly thirty years of experience and chairs the firm’s Music Industry practice. He has represented record companies and publishers in some of the most significant disputes over distribution of content through new media. He has been named one of Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers for seven consecutive years.
Based in Covington’s New York office, Phillip is a copyright attorney with an emphasis on the music, media, entertainment, and technology industries. His global practice includes all aspects of copyright, as well as trademark and right of publicity law, and encompasses the full spectrum of counseling, transactions, litigation, legislation, and regulation. Phillip regularly advises on cutting-edge topics like generative AI. He serves as Chair of the American Bar Association Music and Performing Arts Committee and brings a decade of experience as a professional audio engineer in music, television, and film. This is his first year being named one of Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers.