Michael Rexford
Practice Areas
- Music
- Entertainment
- Intellectual Property
Biography
Michael Rexford is a partner in the firm's entertainment transactions department, with a focus on the music industry. His practice primarily involves the representation of creative talent and companies in music, media, fashion, branding, new technologies and digital media, with emphasis on negotiation and strategic guidance. Mr. Rexford has represented numerous songwriters, recording artists, producers and companies in their sales and acquisitions of publishing catalogs; recording catalogs; and name, image and likeness rights, and is a leader in sales and acquisitions. Clients include songwriters, music publishers, recording artists, record companies, producers, managers, music industry executives, models and fashion designers.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Rexford was a partner in the music department at a national law firm; Vice President of Business Affairs at Universal Music Publishing Group, where he provided business and legal advice to the company and handled company-wide deal-making and business and legal needs; and an associate at a boutique music law firm. Mr. Rexford was an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School from 2013-2017.
Mr. Rexford served as a judicial extern under the Honorable Kevin M. McCarthy of the Superior Court of California.
Mr. Rexford is a frequent presenter and panelist on the subject of mental health/illness and suicide prevention, including his highly-regarded presentations "How to Talk to Someone in Crisis" and "Lawyering with a Healthy Mind", around the country, at venues that include colleges/universities, law schools, bar associations, Fortune 500 companies and charitable organizations.
Education
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), San Francisco, California
- J.D. - 2003
- Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts
- Bachelor of Music - 1993
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Professional Music
Bar Admission
- California, 2003
- New York, 2010
- Tennessee, 2008
Current Employment Position
- Partner
Honors
- Billboard Magazine, Top Music Lawyers List
Past Positions
- Universal Music Publishing Group, Vice President of Business Affairs
- Honorable Kevin M. McCarthy of the Superior Court of California, Judicial Extern
Charitable Activities
- Founder and CEO, LightHopeLife Inc., a nonprofit suicide prevention and action foundation
- 14+-gallon blood donor