Michael Peters

Senior Associate




  • Profile
  • Select Projects
  • Publications
  • Speaking Engagements / Media Mentions
  • Credentials

As a legal professional, academic, and art lover, Michael Peters focuses his career and passions on the complex and nuanced interplays between media, formats, and mediums taking place in the modern entertainment industry. With a specialty in music rights management as well as audio-visual production, development, and finance, Michael is uniquely positioned to advise and advocate for the modern artist and content creator that wishes to build their brand and empire across the vast and ever-expanding avenues of expression. 


Michael has experience in a wide variety of entertainment law matters including the negotiation and drafting of complex agreements relating to music production, music distribution, music finance, music publishing and administration, film and TV production and distribution, film finance, clearance for music, film, TV, and print, corporate creation and maintenance, and copyright and trademark management, as well as resolution and negotiation of copyright, contract, and privacy disputes.


Michael is currently an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School teaching Metaverse, Web3, and NFT Law, and he remains invested in the continuing harmony between art, technology, and law. 


Before becoming an attorney to pursue his passion for advocating for artists and the arts, Michael spent four years working as a musician, with musicians, and for music companies in various facets including song pitching, A&R, film and TV licensing, recording, producing, songwriting, and performing in musical groups around the greater Los Angeles area. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southwestern Law School’s SCALE Accelerated 2-year program in 2018. 

Michael advises and advocates for a variety of musical artists, producers, and songwriters, as well as premiere choreographer JaQuel Knight (Cardi B and Meagan Thee Stallion’s “WAP,” “Cry Baby,” and Ben Platt’s “The Rain”). He also advises entertainment companies on music rights including Imagine Entertainment, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, Story Pirates, Kevin Hart’s company Hartbeat, and talent booker Listeso Music Group in connection with various projects including the Candlelight concert series and the Bridgerton multinational interactive musical experience.

In addition, he serves as general counsel for music sites MetalSucks and MetalInjection and he recently handled music matters for film and TV projects including HBO’s “The Weeknd: Live at SoFi Stadium,” Henson Studios’ “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” the 2021 Sundance breakout “Wild Indian,” and Netflix’s “On the Verge.”


Production Counsel

  • “The Weeknd: Live at SoFi Stadium,” 2023
  • “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues,” 2022
  • “Afghan Dreamers,” 2022
  • “Charge Across America,” 2021
  • “Burning at Both Ends,” 2021
  • “Good on Paper,” 2021
  • “The Novice,” 2021
  • “Wild Indian,” 2021
  • “Gossamer Folds,” 2020

PUBLICATIONS


Speaking Engagements

Media Mentions


Affiliations

  • Beverly Hills Bar Association – Entertainment Law Section
  • Recording Academy
  • Association of Independent Music Publishers

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of California, December 2018
  • United States District Court, Central District of California, December 2018

Education

  • Southwestern Law School, Juris Doctor, May 2018
  • California State University at Northridge, Bachelor of Arts, Music Industry Studies; Minor, Philosophy, May 2012