In Conversation with US Entertainment Attorney Melanie Rodriguez working across Music, Film Production & Intellectual Property Rights!
Helping to support the “independent” sector, across the entertainment industry…
This week on The Entertainment Engine podcast we welcome the US entertainment attorney — Melanie Rodriguez to the show.
We learn about her time playing musical instruments, studying law, and attending many music Festivals and LIVE experiences where she has a real passion!
Melanie is an Austin, Texas native with a passion for live music and anything entertainment!
In 2016, Melanie made the best decision of her life to move from Austin to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for law, specifically music and entertainment law.
Having a variety of experiences in the industry which have given her the tools and knowledge to be a rising legal star.
She is a trusted advisor who provides expertise to creative entrepreneurs, entertainment entities, and music artists across all aspects of the industry.
Licensed to practice law in California (USA). With a broad range of legal experience and her collective experience in the legal field spans more than 8 years.
After many years working as a paralegal, Melanie Rodriguez realized her calling was to make the transition to entertainment where she could combine her passion with her hobby.
During her time at law school, she interned at Music Sales Corporation, now (Wise Music), an indie music publisher.
Where she also gained experience in a breadth of transactional matters and intellectual property at New York City-based boutique law firm, The Fried Firm, where she worked with artists, producers, entrepreneurs, and movie production companies to name a few.
After that, Rodriguez worked at Yu Leseberg, a reputable Hollywood firm, where she was exposed to an array of Billboard Hot 100 artists.
Currently, she is also an associate at HBK Lawyers, a plaintiff’s law firm that handles employment and habitability cases.
Melanie Rodriguez graduated from Southwestern Law School with a concentration in Entertainment and Media Law.
Education:
Juris Doctor, Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA
Master of Arts in Legal Studies/Paralegal Certification, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Bachelor of Business Administration, International Business, St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX
During law school, she was actively involved in campus activities, serving as President of Entertainment Law Society and President of Music Law Society.
Rodriguez was also selected to be a Law Student Reporter for the 34th Annual (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Conference (ABA–IPL) in Arlington, VA, held in April 2019.
To check out more about our chat, with Melanie just click on the link below to learn more;
Attorney Melanie-Law Objectives;
Mission:
To align her clients with strategic and innovative legal solutions tailored to meet their individual needs so they can give full focus to their creative process.
Values:
Empowerment, Courage, Adventure, Wisdom, Collaboration, Organization, Innovativeness, and fun.
Experience:
- HBK Lawyers APC, (Glendale, CA), Law Clerk/Associate
- Yu Leseberg (Hollywood, CA), Law Clerk
- The Fried Firm PLLC (DTLA), Legal Intern/Post Bar Law Clerk
- MusicSales Corporation (Santa Monica, CA), Copyright Extern
- Texas Medical Board (Austin, TX), Legal Assistant I
- Mehaffey Weber, P.C. (Austin, TX, Legal Secretary
- Komie & Morrow, LLP (Austin, TX), Paralegal
- Mueller Law, PLLC (Austin, TX), Legal Assistant
- Germer PLLC, formally Germer, Gertz, Beaman & Brown (Austin, TX), Clerk
- Office of the Governor of Texas, Constituent Services Intern
As a legal professional who wants to see her clients thrive in their creative and personal endeavors strives to provide outstanding, personalized service for all client's legal transactional needs.
Whether you are a rising creative entrepreneur or a seasoned veteran, working together to meet your business goals. Rodriguez can handle the legal aspects of your career so that you can focus on your creative process.
Practice areas:
Music services
Assist musicians, producers, records labels, licensing companies, and other music professionals with agreement drafting and review, and advice regarding their musical career.
Production services:
Film and TV contracts and production issues can be confusing and require a high level of review and specialized knowledge. Rodriguez can assist you in understanding the production issues you may encounter along the way.
Intellectual Property:
Whether filing copyrights, registering trademarks, or engaging in any other formal process to protect your IP, Rodriguez can handle all your registration and maintenance needs. To help to streamline the process.
In past articles and podcast “episodes” our conversations have been about the importance of having the right “team” to build around your “entertainment” career. Engaging an attorney is integral to your success and should never be overlooked.
Every band and artist need to have the right team and the attorney certainly goes a long way to helping you create and build your entertainment career for years to come!
By Peter Moore.
