Ms Sandra Crawshaw-Sparks > Proskauer Rose LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Proskauer Rose LLP
11 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036-8299
NEW YORK
United States
Sandra Crawshaw-Sparks photo

Work Department

Litigation

Position

Sandra A. Crawshaw-Sparks is a senior partner in Proskauer’s Litigation Department, and Chair of the firm’s Entertainment, Copyright Media Practice Group. Sandy handles a wide variety of litigation and transactional matters in the entertainment industry, with a special focus on music. She maintains a bi-coastal practice (with offices in New York and Los Angeles) and has represented many clients in matters involving recording, publishing, licensing and management contracts, copyrights, trademark rights, unfair competition claims, and the rights of privacy and publicity.

Sandy typically handles copyright infringement, trademark infringement, enforcement of personal services contracts, accounting and royalty disputes, and matters involving the rights of privacy and publicity.

As a regular and substantial part of her practice, Sandy counsels clients in connection with transactions, negotiates pre-litigation resolutions of accounting and royalty disputes, negotiates licensing arrangements, and handles applications for court approval of personal services contracts with minors.

In her 34 years of practice, Sandy’s clients have included: Madonna; Lady Gaga; Sting; The Police; Britney Spears; Shania Twain; Luther Vandross; U2; Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails; Amerie; Fiona Apple; Hall & Oates; Matisyahu; Meat Loaf; Debbie Gibson; Sally Hershberger; Judd Hirsch; Living Colour; and Just Blaze. Sandy has also represented numerous entertainment industry leaders, including: Chris Blackwell; Jimmy Iovine; and Russell Simmons. The music industry companies she has represented include: Live Nation; Sony Music Entertainment (including Arista Records, J Records, Jive Records, Provident Music Group, RCA Records, Zomba Recording Corp., and Verity Records); Universal Music Group (including Interscope Records, Def Jam Records, Geffen Records, GRP Records, MCA Music Publishing, MCA Records, Island Pictures, Island Music, Island Records, Mercury Records, Motown Records, and PolyGram Records); Warner Bros. Records; Warner/Chappell Music; BMG Rights Management; Primary Wave Music Publishing; Kobalt Music Publishing; the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; American Recordings; Cash Money Records; EMI-Capitol Music Group; EMI Music Publishing; Gee Street Records; IslandLife; the Island Trading Company; JB Music Publishing; Jellybean Recordings Inc.; Palm Pictures; Maverick Recordings; Rykodisc, Inc Vagrant Records; and Wind-Up Records.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional

The New York-based team at Proskauer Rose LLP advises on high-profile M&A , OTT launches and distribution deals for the likes of Warner Bros, Discovery, Hulu and iHeartMedia.  Practice co-head Robert Freeman ‘s detailed knowledge of the media and entertainment side of M&A deals makes him a valuable corporate asset. Fellow co-head Lauren Boglivi  is another M&A expert who recently represented Homecare Homebase LLC in its acquisition of CellTrak Technologies. Co-head Sandra Crawshaw-Sparks divides her time between New York and Los Angeles and focuses her bi-coastal practice on music litigation and transactional matters. Also in New York, Jeffrey Neuburger is a blockchain specialist who is handling a range of matters for Miramax related to a a collection of NFTs, while filmmaker-turned-lawyer Wai Choy  is another name to note who is also leading on the Miramax NFT matter.

United States > Intellectual property > Copyright

(Leading lawyers)

Sandra Crawshaw-SparksProskauer Rose LLP

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation

Proskauer Rose LLP is a go-to for major record labels and recording artists; film production companies and high-profile entertainers also trust the team with a variety of contentious matters. ‘Top-flight counsel’ Sandra Crawshaw-Sparks leads the team from New York and Los Angeles, she litigates across the music industry with copyright infringement, trademark rights and unfair competition claims among the cases that routinely appear on her docket. Los Angeles-based labor law specialist Anthony Oncidi is highly experienced in employment litigation involving the media and entertainment industry; he is currently representing Viacom in an employment contract dispute against Netflix. Also in Los Angeles, Kate Gold  focuses her practice on employment-related suits and also conducts work investigations for major media companies. Further recommended is New York-based trial attorney and senior counsel David Munkittrick, who focuses his practice on music-related copyright matters.