MUSIC
 

Robert J. Epstein, Esq.
Partner

Bob Epstein represents a diverse clientele in the entertainment field. Clients include recording artists, songwriters, performers and producers, as well as corporate entities such as media companies and music publishers. He is also Counsel to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Mr. Epstein was a partner at Epstein, Levinsohn and Weinstein from its inception until 1997 when the firm merged with Susan Bodine and Andrew Hurwitz firm. Before entering private practice, Mr. Epstein was with the Business Affairs Department of CBS News and in the Legal Department of ABC.

In addition to his legal work, Mr. Epstein is a member and corporate officer of several charitable organizations. He is on the Board of Directors of Michael Bolton Charities, Inc., whose mission is to benefit women and children at risk, and is President of The Crossroads At Antigua Foundation, which supports a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic in Antigua. As a board member for the Riverside Park Fund, he is involved in raising funds for the revitalization of Riverside Park in New York City. He has been a guest lecturer at New York University, the University of Southern California, and New York’s School of Visual Arts.

Mr. Epstein received his J.D. from the University of Michigan School of Law and his B.A. from Cornell University. He lives in New York with his wife and their son .

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Mark A. Levinsohn, Esq.
Partner

Co-founder and managing partner Mark Levinsohn practices in the firm’s music group, serving a broad range of individual and institutional clients including Grammy and Academy Award winning singers, songwriters and producers; major and leading independent record labels and music publishing companies; top-tier executives, promoters and DJ’s; and the principal trade media publications.

In his twenty years of practice, Mr. Levinsohn has developed the personal relationships and legal acumen that allow him to dispense uniquely valuable business and legal advice, and that have earned him a place among the most influential and effective music attorneys in the world. In addition to providing expert legal advice and service on the full spectrum of music industry contracts and transactions, Mr. Levinsohn serves as a catalyst for business development, collaborating with clients and contacts to forge relationships and to structure innovative deals and financing arrangements that are adapted to the ever-changing music industry. He shares his insights with the legal community as he currently serves on the Entertainment Law committees of both the New York State and American Bar Associations. He frequently speaks at industry seminars and regularly attends the MIDEM International Music Market in Cannes, France.

Mr. Levinsohn was admitted to the New York Bar in 1983 and received his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York City. While attending Cardozo, he founded the Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal and served as its Editor-in-Chief. Mr. Levinsohn lives in Westchester with his wife and two children.

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Joel H. Weinstein, Esq.
Partner

Partner Joel Weinstein represents a broad spectrum of high-profile clients successful in all areas of the music industry, including recording artists, songwriters, record producers, and both independent and major record companies and music publishers. Mr. Weinstein provides transactional and advisory services concerning business development, purchase and sale of master recordings and musical composition catalogues, the creation of new enterprises, all aspects of music publishing, record distribution, talent management, artist recording, merchandising, licensing and financing. In offering counsel on all matters related to performing, Mr. Weinstein also advises clients on all aspects of show production and touring.

Over twenty years of working with top creative talent in the entertainment industry enables Mr. Weinstein to offer his clients the unique insights and practical knowledge he has acquired from his extensive experience. In addition to his significant endeavors in the music industry, Mr. Weinstein has recently broadened his practice to offer services in programming development and the negotiation of production and rights acquisition agreements for clients in the film and television industries.

Mr. Weinstein joined the partnership of Epstein, Levy and Levinsohn, in 1989. Mr. Weinstein was admitted to the New York Bar in 1976, and received his J.D. from New York Law School, where he served as Notes and Comments editor of its Law Review and President of the Student Bar Association. He is also the recipient of an M.A. from NYU. Mr. Weinstein lives in Chappaqua, New York with his wife and two sons.

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James D. Arnay, Esq.
Partner

Partner James Arnay represents a wide range of individual and institutional clients including major and independent record labels, music publishers, artists, producers, mixers, remixers, songwriters and executives. Mr. Arnay works closely with clients to provide transactional and advisory services concerning business development, the creation of new enterprises, music publishing, distribution, talent management, merchandising, licensing, financing, copyright acquisition, and strategic planning and tactical advice. Mr. Arnay’s advanced negotiating and drafting skills are applied to a variety of transactions running the gamut of music industry practice, including recording agreements, joint venture agreements and the full range of industry contracts in the areas of master recording and music publishing licensing, pressing and distribution, production, video and employment.

Mr. Arnay joined Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz, and Weinstein in 1991. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Arnay practiced corporate law at Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam and Roberts (currently Pillsbury Winthrop). He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1989 and received his J.D. from Cornell Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Arnay has four children and lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

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Matthew L. Finkelstein
Associate

Matthew L. Finkelstein is an associate in the firm’s music group.  He advises and provides legal services for clients in a variety of areas, including copyright law, music publishing, joint venture agreements, asset purchase agreements, recording agreements, and producer agreements.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Matthew gained an extensive understanding of the music industry while working at record companies, in live concert production, and in the secure digital music distribution arena.  His professional involvement as an attorney includes membership in the Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section of the New York State Bar Association as well as the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries.

Mr. Finkelstein joined Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein, LLP in 2004.  He received his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, where he was editor-in-chief of the NYLitigator law journal and president of the Entertainment & Sports Law Society.

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Alan N. Skiena, Esq.
Of Counsel

Alan Skiena became associated with Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz and Weinstein, LLP, in 2003 and specializes in music industry practice.  Mr. Skiena’s clients include Grammy Award-winning record companies, production companies, producers, music publishers and recording artists.  He has experience in all forms of recording, licensing, distribution and exploitation agreements, and represents clients based in the United States and many foreign countries.

In his twenty-nine years of practice, Mr. Skiena has developed high-level skills in the negotiation and drafting of all forms of agreements affecting music properties.  His extensive knowledge of the international record and music publishing markets has resulted in close relationships with key executives at established and cutting-edge music companies throughout the world.  During consultations with clients, Mr. Skiena consistently applies a sophisticated knowledge of the law and the music industry coupled with practical considerations of the realities faced by individuals and companies dealing with the challenges of today’s music and recording industries.  He has shared his insights as a guest lecturer and panelist at numerous seminars and conventions, including the Winter Music Conference in Miami, the Learning Annex in New York City, and the CMJ Music Marathon.  Mr. Skiena’s community service extends beyond the entertainment field, as he has also been trained and is active as a volunteer affiliated with the Crimes Victims Treatment Center of St. Lukes and St. Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, where he counsels and advocates for survivors of domestic violence.

Mr. Skiena began practicing in the music industry as an associate of Walter Hofer and as Vice President, Business Affairs, for Copyright Service Bureau, Ltd., an international music publishing administration company.  After engaging in solo practice for fifteen years, Mr. Skiena became Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, of Strictly Rhythm Records, a joint venture company with the Warner Music Group.

Mr. Skiena was admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bars in 1975 and to the New York Bar in 1982.  He received his J.D. degree from The Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Douglas C. Bernheim
Of Counsel
 

Douglas Bernheim works with both the firm's music and film groups, primarily advising on issues concerning licensed music and original scores for film and television projects.

In addition, Doug works as a film and television music supervisor.  A list of his credits may be viewed on the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076813/).
 

Brian R. Godshall
Paralegal

Brian R. Godshall is a paralegal in both the firm’s film and music groups. Mr. Godshall provides a variety of legal services, focusing primarily on reviewing and issuing synchronization and master use licenses for music used in clients independent films. Most recently, he cleared the music for the upcoming Bill Condon film, “Kinsey".

In addition to his other responsibilities, Mr. Godshall has issued licenses for Subliminal Records, and handled the artist contracts for the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Celebration as well as the video of “What’s Goin On" for the African AIDS Charity Project. Prior to joining Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz, and Weinstein as a paralegal in 1999, Mr. Godshall was an agent in the Film Synchronization Department at the Harry Fox Agency. He spent eight years there handling both theatrical and non-theatrical licensing on behalf of many of Harry Fox’s publishing clients.