Julie Rappaport Smith
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Counsel
Julie Rappaport Smith (Jules) is a widely respected music industry veteran and counsel in Willkie’s Entertainment & Media and Music practice groups, with over 20 plus years of experience at major and independent record labels (Columbia Records, Epic Records, Warner Music Group and Ultra Records) and premiere law firms (Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman). Based in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Jules’ practice encompasses virtually every type of music agreement including: recording, distribution, and publishing deals to joint venture label and partnership arrangements, touring and live performance agreements, producer and employment contracts, and sponsorship, endorsement, and merchandising deals.
Jules represents parties in connection with music catalog transactions, a cornerstone of today’s music investment market. She also manages audit disputes and other pre-litigation matters, bringing a practical, business-minded approach to resolving conflicts before they escalate.