Adam Zia is the senior and founding partner of The Zia Firm, PLLC and directs the firm’s global business strategy and oversees its prominent clientele in the music and entertainment industries.
Adam focuses his practice on the music industry, with clients that include multi-platinum recording artists, Grammy Award-winning producers and songwriters, top managers and industry executives, and independent record labels, music publishers and production companies.
Adam is instrumental in helping his clients navigate the multi-platform terrain of today’s music and entertainment business, guiding his clients towards protecting their artistic vision while exploring new revenue streams. He has facilitated a variety of opportunities for his clients that include forming independent own record labels, music publishing companies, fashion lines, management agencies, and branding agencies, various brand-integration and strategic partnerships, as well as opportunities in the film, television and digital media sectors.
Adam’s expertise includes the full scope of artist related legal issues in the music industry, including negotiation of recording and publishing agreements, catalogue sales, joint ventures, licensing and branding agreements, touring agreements, merchandising agreements and the like.
Bar Admissions
New York
New Jersey
Education
J.D., Fordham University School of Law
B.A., University of Maryland
Recognition
Named in Billboard's 2023 Top Music Lawyers
Named in Billboard's 2022 Top Music Lawyers
Named in Billboard's 2021 Top Music Lawyers
Named in Billboard's 2020 Top Music Lawyers
Nate is a partner at The Zia Firm, PLLC and, along with servicing his own clients, manages day-to-day activities for the firm and its clients at all stages of development and across various industries, including music, entertainment, film, television and digital media, art and design, web3/blockchain, technology, corporate, and financial services.
Nate represents artists and creative professionals throughout the world with an emphasis on independent and established musicians, producers, songwriters, record labels, industry-leading brand influencers, celebrity DJs, conceptual artists and designers, filmmakers and digital content creators, media and technology companies, entertainment agencies, web3/blockchain companies, blue chip NFT collections and collectors, and associated web3 legal issues.
Nate began his career in the corporate-finance practices of Clifford Chance US LLP and Alston & Bird LLP in New York, where he worked on billion-dollar acquisition financing, secured lending and fund formation transactions. Nate leverages his experiences working on complex corporate matters in advising, negotiating and drafting on behalf of his creative clients.
Outside of law, Nate is a long-time DJ, avid record collector and sci-fi/fantasy enthusiast.
Bar Admissions
New York
Education
J.D., Fordham University School of Law
M.A., University of London, University College London
B.A., University of California Los Angeles
Recognition
Named in Billboard's 2023 Top Music Lawyers
Named in Billboard's 2022 Top Music Lawyers
Dan is Of Counsel to The Zia Firm. Prior to joining the firm, Dan worked at several entertainment law firms, managed critically acclaimed recording artists and held a position at Live Nation reviewing agreements for performances at venues such as Madison Square Garden, Central Park Summerstage and Irving Plaza.
Dan's career in the music industry started as a performer (mostly as a bass player) in various bands. His combined love of music and understanding of the business world lead him on a path where he now represents numerous Grammy winning producers, mixers, songwriters and artists. In addition to reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts in all areas throughout the entertainment industry, Dan also advises his clients on various projects they have ventured into (e.g., coffee companies, candle companies, bars and restaurants, etc.) where he not only serves as counsel but also assists in establishing collaborations with other artists/performers. Dan's experience includes a wide range of entertainment and business matters including drafting, reviewing and negotiating recording agreements, publishing agreements, management agreements, producer agreements, mixer agreements, songwriter agreements, side artist agreements, sponsorship and endorsement agreements, live performance agreements, merchandise agreements, book publisher agreements, digital and new media licenses, social media influencer agreements and various other agreements and licenses. In addition to contracts, Dan also handles intellectual property matters including applications and related work for trademarks and copyrights as well as tracking down royalties and/or other income streams for which income may be owed to his clients.
Prior to his legal career, Dan booked bands at legendary New York clubs such as Don Hill’s and spent time as a waiter/bartender/manager in the restaurant business. In his free time, Dan enjoys spending time with his family and attending shows/sporting events.
Bar Admissions
New York
Education
J.D. Hofstra University School of Law
B.S. Hofstra University
Michael is an associate at the Zia Firm PLLC and assists with drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and finalizing a wide range of matters for the firm’s clients. Prior to joining the Zia Firm PLLC, Michael clerked for several years in the Commercial Division, New York County, where he gained extensive exposure to various commercial matters through litigation. Michael leverages his background in commercial litigation to spot and identify complex transactional issues that help protect the firm and its clients.
Bar Admissions
New York
California
Education
J.D., Fordham University School of Law
B.A., New York University, College of Arts & Sciences
Shannon is an associate at the Zia Firm PLLC and assists with drafting and reviewing a wide range of matters for the firms’ clients. Prior to joining the Zia Firm PLLC, Shannon clerked for firms in the Latin entertainment industry and gained exposure to the business and legal side of art in Latin America. Shannon grew up in Mexico City, and in law school, focused her curriculum on Spanish contract drafting. She is interested in the intersection of Latin American art in the Anglo market and the exposure of such artists into the global mainstream.
Bar Admission
Florida
Education
B.S., The University of Texas, Moody College of Communication
J.D., University of Miami School of Law
Rachel Feigelson is an associate at the Zia Firm, PLLC and assists with drafting and reviewing a wide range of matters for the firms’ clients. After graduating from Boston University, Rachel was named a Top Entrepreneur of 2020 by Yahoo Finance. At Southwestern Law School, Rachel won first place in her law school’s negotiation competition, was a Dean’s Merit Scholar, received an award of excellence in Trademark Law, and was a Lead Article Editor for law journal. Rachel is excited to help assist the Zia Firm’s incredibly talented clients.
Bar Admission
California
New York (Pending)
Education
B.S. Communications from Boston University
J.D., Southwestern Law School with a concentration in Entertainment and Media Law
Lucas is a legal assistant at the Zia Firm and helps with preparing documents, managing calendars, and various other day to day tasks at the firm. He graduated from Yale University in 2019 with a BA in Political Science and spent most of his studies focusing on the intersection of Music and Law. Prior to his time at the Zia Firm, Lucas worked in artist management handling the day to day needs for various electronic music acts. With both his academic and professional experience in music, Lucas hopes to help artists navigate the industry and see their creative endeavours come to fruition.
Education
B.A., Yale University
Marc Geylman is the Director of Business Affairs for The Zia Firm. A graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Marc has extensive experience in the music industry as a manager and has been at The Zia Firm for 7 years assisting on deals in all aspects of the firm’s matters. Recently, Marc has been leading the firm’s expansion into the area of web3 and blockchain technologies. Marc is a Canadian citizen, and was born in Montreal, Quebec. Marc’s hobbies include hockey, sports cards and NFTs.
Bar Admission
California
Education
J.D., University of Miami School of Law