Pryor Cashman LLP

Litigation Group

Partner

Partner Donald Zakarin is Chair Emeritus of Pryor Cashman’s Litigation Group, Co-Chair of the Music Group and the Media + Entertainment Litigation Practice, and a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property, Media + Entertainment, and Digital Media Groups. He has tried dozens of cases to both juries and judges around the country, including copyright ownership and copyright infringement cases, representing all of the major music companies.  He has also defended corporate executives in securities cases and in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Attorney General investigations during the more than 45 years he has been at the firm.

During the past 25 years, Don’s practice has increasingly focused on representing the owners and creators of musical compositions and sound recordings. In both 2017 and again in 2022, Don and a team of Pryor Cashman lawyers successfully represented the National Music Publishers Association and the Nashville Songwriters’ Association International, on behalf of the United States music publishing industry and songwriters, in Copyright Royalty Board proceedings to fix the mechanical royalty rate for interactive streaming.

High-Stakes Cases for High-Profile Music Clients

Don has long been regarded as one of the country’s preeminent litigators in the music business, and is among the primary go-to lawyers in litigation for songwriters, recording artists, major record companies and music publishers (and their senior-most executives).

Don also has extensive experience in representing clients in actions and governmental proceedings involving:

Copyright termination rights, website piracy, and music streaming on digital platforms Public performance rights related to agreements with performing rights organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC Taking on Complex Business Litigation

Beyond the world of music, Don has long been respected as an experienced and sophisticated business litigator in commercial, complex contract, antitrust and securities cases.

Don also advises clients in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings and has served as a party-designated arbitrator in a number of forums.

Joining Legal and Business Disciplines

Don’s business background, combined with his litigation skills, affords him insight into the business issues confronting his clients and the ability to utilize that knowledge to help his clients achieve their litigation objectives.

Member, American Bar Association, Litigation Section

New York University School of Law (J.D., 1975) Member, Journal of International Law and Politics State University of New York at Buffalo (B.S., magna cum laude, 1972)