On The Merits takes you behind the scenes of the legal world and the inner workings of government. This podcast offers in-depth analysis on the latest trends, c...
A Big Law Music Dealmaker Explores Future of the Business
People are always finding new ways to listen to music, from vinyls and cassettes to stolen downloads and paid streaming services.
So, how is the music business holding up? Who’s making the money today? And what's in store for musicians with the growth of artificial intelligence?
On this episode of our podcast, On the Merits, Bloomberg Law’s Roy Strom dives into those questions and more with Sid Fohrman, chair of the music industry practice at Paul Hastings.
The Los Angeles lawyer, who joined the firm from Willkie Farr & Gallagher last month, has advised on deals involving Lady Gaga, David Bowie's estate, and Taylor Swift. He's also a musician himself who packed his bags early in his legal career and headed from Chicago to Hollywood to take a chance following his passion.
Fohrman has had a seat at the table as the music industry figured out how to make your favorite songs ubiquitous. The real challenge is how to make money—and how to make the money go where it should. That’s where Fohrman thinks the industry can do a better job.
Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
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19:39
KPMG's Move to Practice Law in Arizona May Signal Paradigm Shift
Big Law has long feared that the Big Four accounting firms–Deloitte, PWC, KPMG, and EY–would start practicing law in the US. Now, that may soon be a reality.
Big law's fear is that the Big Four has scale that dwarfs even the largest US law firms, and its dominance in legal technology could lead to a paradigm shift in how legal services are delivered.
But American lawyers have always had a safety net. The ethical rules for lawyers say that non-lawyers can’t own law firms. This has put a fence around US law firms that has kept out the Big Four.
Now, a couple of states, including Arizona, have changed these rules to allow non-lawyer ownership. KPMG has applied to practice law in Arizona.
On this episode of On The Merits, Bloomberg law reporters Justin Henry, Amanda Iacone, and Roy Strom discuss KPMG’s big move and what it could mean for the legal industry.
Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
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16:49
Oligarch Family's $3 Billion Feud Highlights Sanctions Gray Area
When Russian chemicals magnate Oleg Burlakov died of Covid, he left behind a $3 billion fortune that prompted an international legal battle among feuding members of his family.
In one corner stand his sister and brother-in-law, who say they had a secret agreement with Burlakov entitling them to half of what he left behind. In the other: His estranged widow and adult daughters. Their fight over Burlakov’s billions has led to litigation in London, Moscow, Monaco, and Miami.
Now, the Miami case—before a state court judge—has been complicated by the potential involvement of a Russian litigation funder and a Swiss money manager who’s been sanctioned for allegedly facilitating Russian money laundering.
On this episode of our podcast, correspondent Emily Siegel and senior investigative reporter John Holland discuss the wrangling over Burlakov's estate and what it tells us about how judges in the US are grappling with sanctions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690
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19:15
What Big Law’s Top Deals Firm Expects for 2025 Markets
Donald Trump’s presidential election had market commenters rushing to conclude that the new administration would yield a flood of corporate dealmaking.
But the widely anticipated Trump Bump for deals is already facing hurdles. Interest rates have steadily risen as the fear of inflation remains. Markets are buffeted by every piece of news about potential tariffs. And stock prices have faltered from their initial post-election surge.
With Trump now in the White House, has the optimism for a dealmaking surge already withered?
On this episode of On the Merits, Bloomberg Law’s Roy Strom spoke with Jennifer Perkins and David Klein, M&A partners at Kirkland & Ellis, the busiest law firm for corporate transactions last year. Kirkland advised on more than $427 billion in global mergers and acquisitions over the year, surpassing rivals like Latham & Watkins, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, and Freshfields.
Perkins and Klein told Roy the “floodgates” for M&A may not be open right away, but they both expect a strong year for dealmaking ahead. They discussed a backlog of companies private equity funds are looking to offload, how a reinvigorated IPO market could further fuel deals, and how law firms are evolving as private capital markets expand.
Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
Today on 'On the Merits,' we revisit our March 2024 episode that explores California's ongoing battle to keep homeowners insured amidst the persistent threat of wildfires.
On The Merits takes you behind the scenes of the legal world and the inner workings of government. This podcast offers in-depth analysis on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the business of law firms, legal technology, regulations, and the industry overall. You'll gain insights into how government actions, policies, and legal developments are impacting the industry and hear from leading attorneys, legal scholars, industry experts, and government officials as they share their perspectives on the forces driving change in law and government.
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