Derek C. Dessler

212-729-8233
[email protected]
Personal Website

Derek Dessler is an attorney with over 20 years of experience focusing on entertainment and media, new technology, the arts, and related intellectual property and corporate matters.

His work routinely includes matters at the intersection of intellectual property rights and new technology, and he regularly advises clients on issues relating to the ongoing convergence of technology and content, including new technologies for distributing and monetizing content.

Over the past 20 years he has successfully negotiated and closed hundreds of transactions, big and small, ranging from customary industry agreements, to joint ventures, to strategic corporate transactions (such as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, investments, and related due diligence reviews), and involving parties from around the world, including the United States, China, and Europe.

Before founding his own firm he served for 14 years as a legal and business affairs executive at the Universal Music Group (UMG), where his roles included: Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs, of UMG’s worldwide corporate unit; General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, of Universal’s start-up “music video” cable and satellite television network, branded IMF – International Music Feed; and Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs, of UMG’s Universal Motown Records Group (now the East Coast Labels Group).

Derek represents companies and individuals, established and emerging, including: recording artists, songwriters, DJs, producers, and other entertainers and creative talent; personal managers; promoters of live events; the “major” recorded music companies; music publishers; cable television networks; software developers and publishers; filmmakers; visual artists; and galleries.  These clients are based around the world and range from global corporations and other established businesses, to small, entrepreneurial startups, to investors.