Eisner, LLP Announces Significant Expansion of New York Office Entertainment Practice

New York, NY—July 16, 2019—Eisner, LLP, the Los Angeles-based law firm recognized as having one of the nation’s premier business- and entertainment-related practices, today announced further expansion in New York with the merger of boutique entertainment law firm Tavel & Shulman, P.C. The firm’s founders, Andy Tavel and Dan Shulman, will be joining Eisner as partners. In addition, the firm is pleased to announce that Evan Krauss, a founding partner of Gray Krauss Sandler Des Rochers LLP, will be joining Eisner as a partner.

“With Andy, Dan, and Evan, we add over 60 years of significant business and entertainment law experience, broadening and strengthening our entertainment practice and ability to address our clients’ needs, particularly those located on the East Coast,” said Eisner chair Michael Eisner. “Our New York office is a key element in the firm’s growth plans and solidifies our reputation as a bicoastal law firm with the resources and firepower to deliver premier counsel to our clients, regardless of their location.”

Over the past decade, Tavel & Shulman established itself as a premier New York firm representing talent and businesses, primarily in the music industry. The firm’s clients include global superstar artists, music producers, songwriters, and emerging talent, as well as start-ups and established media companies.

For more than three decades, Tavel has been an ardent legal advocate for creators and entrepreneurs and has served on the boards of several charitable organizations in the music industry, including the T.J. Martell Foundation. He started Tavel & Shulman in 2009 after spending 10 years as a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, where he launched the firm’s New York entertainment practice.

“Andy and I go back 20 years to our time together at Greenberg Traurig, and I couldn’t be more pleased to once again call him my partner,” said Leslie Corwin, managing partner of Eisner’s New York office, who joined the firm last June with fellow former Blank Rome partner Simon Miller. “The arrival of our new colleagues signals the establishment of a significant entertainment group here in New York.”

“Dan and I were drawn to Eisner for many reasons, including its outstanding reputation and high-caliber lawyers,” said Tavel. “The firm offers tremendous resources to clients who can benefit from full-service legal counsel in areas such as litigation, corporate, tax, and intellectual property, while simultaneously allowing for us to remain nimble and innovative, thanks to its size.”

Shulman, who also practiced at Greenberg Traurig, focuses his practice on transactional entertainment, media, and intellectual property matters. He counsels a vast array of clients—from global, publicly traded media companies to superstar and developing artists, producers, managers, writers, and other individuals and entities in the entertainment industry.

Shulman noted, “It may be an overused expression, but our merger is a win-win, as Tavel & Shulman’s clients will now have access to the full range of legal services necessary to support their success. And our addition will provide Eisner clients with deep experience handling the unique business and legal challenges facing creatives in the music industry.”

Krauss’ practice ably stretches across many areas of entertainment, with a focus in music, film, television, and new media. For recording artist clients in the music industry, Krauss negotiates recording and publishing agreements with major and independent record and publishing companies, handles the structuring of their personal management agreements, and oversees their touring and all other aspects of their career. In his film and television practice, Krauss handles all aspects of development, finance, and production, with a particular concentration in content distribution. Krauss’ knowledge of both the film and music industries uniquely situates him to serve his clients’ needs across multiple disciplines, and he will bring that skill set to the entire team at Eisner. Additionally, he has worked as a producer on various film projects, most recently “Apollo 11.”

“It is no secret that Eisner has grown rapidly into a national power player in business and entertainment law,” said Krauss. “I’m greatly looking forward to combining forces with Andy and Dan to the benefit of our respective clients. The scope of the firm’s practice will serve all of our clients’ needs as they grow and expand their careers.”

Jordan Gutglass from Tavel & Shulman also joins the team as an associate.

The addition of these four lawyers follows on the heels of partner Kerry Smith, former head of the television and film group in New York for Greenspoon Marder LLP, and associate Darien Schwartz, who joined the firm in June.