counsel llp
JONATHAN BLAUFARB, ESQ.
Jonathan Blaufarb is the Managing Partner of the San Francisco law firm counsel llp. His law practice includes advising recording and performing artists, songwriters, producers, record labels, digital music and technology companies, mobile firms, merchandising companies, film and television talent, and authors. Jon was formerly the Managing Partner of the San Francisco office of Davis Shapiro Lewit & Hayes, LLP, a national music law firm with other offices in New York and Beverly Hills. Before that he was a partner in the Beverly Hills entertainment law firm of Bloom, Hergott, Diemer & Cook. His background also includes complex business and entertainment litigation with Rogers & Wells and Wyman, Bautzer, as well as music transactions as in-house counsel for Sony Music. Jon's music business experience also includes personal management of recording artists, record retail operations, and performing and recording as a professional musician.
DAVID KOSTINER, ESQ.
David Kostiner is a founding partner of Counsel LLP, a boutique entertainment law firm based in San Francisco. David began his career as a professional musician drumming in jazz clubs, later joining Dreamworks artists Creeper Lagoon and recording with others such as Matt Nathanson and Patrick Park. He later co-founded the Independent Online Distribution Alliance, was a sponsorship director for the Noise Pop Music Festival, managed internationally-known artists Rogue Wave and was an associate in the San Francisco office of Davis Shapiro Lewit and Hayes, LLP. David frequently appears as a panelist and public speaker, and has been published by the Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal and the Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal.
Mr. Kostiner's practice includes the representation of musicians, record labels, music producers, songwriters, music publishers, visual artists, digital technology companies, music festivals and executives. He is responsible for negotiating and drafting agreements covering most aspects of his clients’ careers or businesses, as well as providing strategic guidance and informal dispute resolution services. David's education includes a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of Law, a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston University's Tanglewood Institute and the Interlochen Arts Academy. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at Hastings College of Law.
VIVEK SRIDHARAN, ESQ.
Vivek Sridharan is an Associate Attorney at Counsel LLP. His primary practice is representation of artists, producers, and independent record labels, with a focus on drafting and review of agreements, entity formation, and copyright and trademark issues. He earned his JD from Santa Clara University while working as law clerk at Counsel since its inception, and was admitted to the bar in 2009. Prior to Counsel, he worked as law clerk at Davis Shapiro Lewit & Hayes, LLP, and Yu Leseberg, PC. Vivek was one of the first employees at IODA, working as a Content Acquisition Manager and Financial Analyst for the then start-up, as it grew from a handful of unpaid employees to a stalwart in the digital music industry. He was also an early consultant to brand-marketing start-up Colligent, and was the digital business manager for Bay Area independent label Get Low Records. Additionally, he worked as a hip hop DJ for college radio stations WRCT and KSCU, and continues to DJ at bars and clubs in San Francisco. He also performs regularly on various Indian percussion instruments.
ANDREW WON, ESQ.
Andrew Won is Of Counsel to the San Francisco law firm counsel llp. Before joining counsel llp, Andy was head of the business practice of Capstone Law Group LLP for over ten years. Prior to Capstone, Andy practiced law with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. Andy's practice includes representing early-stage startup technology companies, established businesses, and angel and venture capital investors in financing, intellectual property, reorganization, and M&A matters. Andy received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1987, and his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1983. While attending law school, Andy also studied at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. As a young lawyer, Andy was a legal writing instructor at UC Hastings College of the Law and a reader for the California Bar Examination.
ANDREW HACKBERT, ESQ.
Andy is Of Counsel to Counsel LLP adding a complimentary skill set gleaned from his 15+ years of legal practice, including a broad range of sophisticated business litigation and in-house roles with prominent technology companies like Sony and IBM. Andy began his career as a litigation associate with the prestigious Los Angeles office of Katten Muchin & Zavis (an AMLAW 100 firm based in Chicago), specializing in entertainment industry and intellectual property disputes, including substantial experience defending and prosecuting claims for breach of contract, copyright and trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, fraud and idea submission, as well as involvement in lawsuits regarding constitutional issues, insurance coverage and bankruptcy issues. More recently, Andy served as a senior counsel with IBM for 5+ years, where he became an expert in technology licensing, software product issues including open source, consulting services agreements, and the due diligence and integration aspects of mergers & acquisitions. Andy is a graduate of Harvard College, cum laude in Philosophy & Government, and the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), where he was an editor on California Law Review. In his spare time, Andy is an avid music lover, and occasionally DJs electronic dance music at smaller bars and lounges in San Francisco and Los Angeles.