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Adrian J. Perry

Partner

New York +1 212 841 1052

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Adrian Perry's practice focuses on transactional and advisory matters involving emerging and innovative uses of technology, intellectual property, and data. Adrian is a recognized practitioner in the entertainment, music, sports and technology industries, and also has substantial experience in NFT, metaverse and broader web3 matters. He is co-chair of the firm’s Entertainment and Media Industry group, one of the leaders of the firm's Metaverse Initiative and co-chair of the firm's Music Industry practice.

    Adrian is ranked by Chambers and Partners in the Technology - New York category. Chambers' notes "Adrian is business-minded, consistently collaborative and delivers actionable guidance." He has also been selected by Law360 as a Rising Star in Sports and Betting, by Billboard as a Top Music Lawyer, by The Hollywood Reporter as a NY Power Lawyer, and by Variety in its Dealmakers Impact Report and Legal Impact Report. 

    Adrian counsels clients from a wide range of industries on technology, IP, and data transactions, including:

    • content production, licensing and acquisition
    • content platform and app development
    • non-fungible token (NFT) partnerships and NFT platform investments
    • metaverse platform content licensing, brand integration and tech services deals
    • digital marketing and ad tech deals
    • data use and commercialization
    • digital and mobile content distribution
    • software and IT services agreements
    • sponsorship agreements

    Adrian is also part of the firm's Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things initiatives, advising on deals involving AI-powered and internet-connected products. He counsels clients from a wide range of industries on technology transactions, including content platform and app development, NFT and metaverse projects, digital marketing and ad tech deals, data use and commercialization, digital and mobile content distribution, content acquisition, software and IT services agreements, and sponsorship agreements. Adrian also has significant experience in the travel, education, and consumer goods industries.

    In addition to stand-alone intellectual property and technology transactions, Adrian has advised numerous clients on the intellectual property, privacy and technology aspects of private equity, M&A, joint venture, financing, and other corporate transactions. He is also a certified information privacy professional (CIPP/US).

    Adrian's past and current clients include American Airlines, AB InBev, A+E, AMC, the Anaheim Ducks, the Arizona Cardinals, Bacardi, the Black Music Action Coalition, BMI, Disney, Fox, Global Music Rights, the L.A. Clippers, Major League Soccer, MGM, the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, the National Music Publishers’ Association, Ovation, Roblox, the Rock and Soul Forever Foundation, Sony Music Entertainment, Squarespace, Universal Music Group, Univision, ViacomCBS, and WWE.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Represent Universal Music Group on NFT and metaverse matters, including partnerships with Curio, Billboard and Unblocked, LimeWire and Snowcrash, and the launch of the Kingship metaverse band experience, made up of Bored Ape Yacht Club and Mutant Ape NFT characters.
    • Advised Sony Music in its investment in, and commercial agreement with, NFT marketplace MakersPlace.
    • Represented A+E in its content production and business development venture with, and investment in, Range Media Partners, including with respect to A+E’s production agreement with Range Media.
    • Represented the NHL in its agreement with Supponor to develop and deploy virtual advertising technology for dasherboards displayed in game broadcasts.
    • Advised Fox Entertainment and Blockchain Creative Labs in the launch of The Masked Singer "MaskVerse" NFT Digital Collectibles Platform.
    • Represented the family of Bing Crosby in selling a fifty percent stake in Mr. Crosby's music, film, and TV rights, as well as a stake in his name, likeness and publicity rights, to Primary Wave.
    • Advise MGM on NFT strategy and related content licensing and technology transactions.
    • Represented Major League Soccer in a series of complex digital health tech transactions with AthleteRMS, Ambra and Headcheck involving player health data and related services.
    • Advised the Arizona Cardinals in their agreement with BetMGM to establish an online sportsbook and create the first retail sportsbook at an NFL stadium.
    • Advised the NHL on its 10-year global partnership with Sportradar to distribute NHL data and game footage to sportsbooks and media companies in the U.S. and abroad.
    • Advised the Alliance for Lifetime Income in its agreement to become the presenting partner of Elton John's 2022 “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour in North America.
    • Advised AB InBev in the launch of its first-ever line of collectible ‘Key to the Budverse’ NFTs.
    • Represented Tamara Rojo in her agreement to join San Francisco Ballet as Artistic Director, the sixth person, and the first woman, to lead the company in its 89-year history.
    • Advised East West Bank on its NIL agreement with, and sponsorship of, the world’s no. 1 women’s amateur golfer and 2022 NCAA Championship winner Rose Zhang.
    • Advised Betr, a direct-to-consumer sports micro-betting company and new media venture, on $50 million in Preferred equity financings from investors that include Florida Funders, 8vc, Aliya Capital Partners, and Fuel Venture Capital.
    • Advise Fox in various NFT-related matters, including in connection with creating Blockchain Creative Labs, and Fox's launch of an NFT promotion at the 2021 upfronts.
    • Represented WWE in its deals with Endeavor Streaming and Massive Interactive to redesign and relaunch WWE Network. 
    • Represented the Los Angeles Clippers in connection with its agreement with Second Spectrum to create an AI-Enhanced, Augmented Reality Video Streaming Product.

    • Represented Stats Perform in an agreement to become the Women's Tennis Association's official data supplier and to power a new range of broadcast, second screen, and betting experiences.
    • Advised American Airlines on the launch of promotional NFTs for its Concierge Key members.
    • Represented Graham Holdings in its $235 million sale to Spotify of Megaphone, a podcasting technology company.
    • Represented Squarespace in a multi-year sponsorship deal with the Madison Square Garden Company, including Squarespace becoming the New York Knicks’ first jersey sponsor.
    • Advised the NBA on the technology and IP aspects of its e-sports venture with Take Two Interactive.
    • Advised the NHL on its partnership with GameOn regarding the launch and operation of an AI-powered NHL Chatbot.
    • Advised the NHL in connection with technology development and services agreements, including with respect to collection and analysis of data.
    • Advised the Alliance for Lifetime Income in its agreements to become the sole sponsor of the Rolling Stones' No Filter US Tour 2019 and No Filter US and Canada Tour 2020.
    • Advised Monumental Sports & Entertainment in connection with its partnership with William Hill to create the first sportsbook at a U.S. professional sports venue.
    • Advised American Airlines in its in-flight Wi-Fi entertainment partnership with Apple Music.
    • Represented American Airlines in connection with its sponsorship of the Jonas Brothers' 2019 Happiness Begins Tour.
    • Advised American Airlines on its license agreement in connection with the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport and related TWA merchandise.
    • Advise Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) on technology matters.
    • Represented Bacardi in its $5.1 billion acquisition of Patrón Tequila.
    • Represented Bacardi in connection with a global marketing alliance with South American rum producer.
    • Advised Ben Silverman and Propagate Content in its acquisitions of Electus and a majority stake in Artists First from IAC.
    • Advised Graham Holdings Company in its Acquisition of Leaf Group, an online content company that operates several lifestyle brands.
    • Represented Adit EdTech in merging bitcoin miner Griid Infrastructure with an Adit Ventures-backed SPAC that will take Griid public at a roughly $3.3 billion enterprise valuation.
    • Advise major movie studio in purchasing metaverse real estate and developing an immersive experience with a metaverse platform in the theme of one of the studio’s content properties.
    • Advise major record label in developing an NFT-based, virtual band and creating a metaverse experience around the band.
    • Advise prominent recording artist on NFT and metaverse partnerships.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2008
        • Sports and Entertainment Law Society, President
    • Stanford University, B.A./M.A., 2003
        • with honors
    Bar Admissions
    • New York
    Pro Bono
    • Represent the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, the Black Music Action Coalition, and other non-profit organizations in the music and entertainment space on various matters.
    Accolades
    • Chambers and Partners, ranked in the Technology - New York category (2021-2022)
    • The Hollywood Reporter, 'NY Power Lawyers" (2020-2021), recognizing "New York’s Top 20 Entertainment Lawyers"
    • Variety, Dealmakers Impact Report (2020-2022), recognizing the "Top Negotiators Behind Mega Deals"
    • Variety, Legal Impact Report (2022), profiling the top business lawyers working in entertainment and media
    • Billboard, "Top Music Lawyers" (2020-2022)
    • Law360, Sports and Betting "Rising Star" (2020)
    • New York Metro Super Lawyers, "Rising Star" (2019)
    • Legal 500 US, Technology: Transactions (2017)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Law360 Media and Entertainment Editorial Advisory Board (2022)
    • American Bar Association, member and member of ABA’s NFT Task Force
    • New York City Bar Association, Member
    • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Member
    • Former Member, The Recording Academy, New York Chapter
    • Steering Committee, Mondo.NYC Music & Tech Law Symposium
    Previous Experience
    • A musician who has toured internationally, Mr. Perry brings to his legal practice significant experience in the entertainment and media industries:
      • Worked as an A&R consultant for Columbia Records and Epic Records.
      • Worked at Saturday Night Live in the film unit and music departments for two seasons.
      • As a musician, played with, or opened shows for, Aerosmith, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Cage the Elephant, Derek Trucks, Dinosaur Jr., Gregg Allman, Jane's Addiction, Modest Mouse, Slash, and Stone Temple Pilots, among others, and played Lollapalooza, Hyde Park Calling, the Download Festival, and other major festivals.
      • Licensed many of his musical compositions for various television shows and films.

    Areas of Expertise

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