As any music-business attorney will tell you, it’s not a job for the faint of heart — especially in 2020. These legal eagles made massive deals, litigated thorny disputes and helped their clients navigate fine deal points, all during a pandemic. Head here to read an interview with Dina LaPolt, our Power of Law honoree, and for profiles on more entertainment attorneys — many of whom also work in music — check out Variety‘s full Legal Impact list.

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Donald Passman
Partner
Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman
Even with a client list that includes Taylor Swift, Adele, Pink and Green Day, Beverly Hills-based Passman says his side job represents his biggest recent feat: prepping the 10th edition of his 1991 book “All You Need to Know About the Music Business,” released in October. “It was the most extensive update I’ve ever done in the history of the book because streaming has so radically changed the music business’ ecosystem. For the first time in history, music is monetized by not selling something but listening and consumption. It literally took a year longer than normal to update the book.” Upside: While COVID obviously sank touring income this year, “I’ve found that the rest of the business is pretty robust. People are still making record deals, publishing deals; people are buying and selling catalogs.”

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