Before I became an attorney, I played the saxophone for a living. Over the years, I played with the likes of Grammy-award winners Ray Charles, The Four Tops, and Tom Harrell. I lived in Brooklyn, Manhattan, eventually New Jersey, and oftentimes out of a suitcase. I made the decision to go back to law school, because I felt like I had an incredibly unique perspective to offer to my clients.

When people ask me if I'm an "entertainment lawyer," I never know how to answer, because in reality, there's no such thing. There isn't a special practice area called "entertainment law," and there aren't special courts to hear entertainment-related cases. There's just the law.

My practice revolves around the law of contracts. I negotiate and draft them; I review them; and when all else fails, I litigate them. Don't get me wrong, I love to go to court, but I see litigation as a means to an end, not an end in or of itself. The better the contract is written usually means the less likely it is to end up in court.

Much of what I discuss on this blog is related to contract law—in sports, music, film, broadcasting, media, and other high-profile subjects. Most of the legal issues in the court cases that make it into the news are just as relevant and applicable to everyone else. 

My favorite color happens to be gray, much like the world of law. Ironically, however, I'm a very black-and-white person. I am passionate, convicted, and oftentimes sarcastic, and it usually shows in this blog.

Education

Juris Doctor (with honors), The Ohio State University College of Law

National Moot Court Team; Associate Editor, Ohio State Journal
on Dispute Resolution
Concentrations: Intellectual Property; Internet & Media Law; Sports Law

Master of Arts (high academic honors), Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Concentrations: Etymology in journalism; civil rights movement’s
impact on the music industry
Assistant Director, Rutgers University Jazz Ensemble

Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Professional Associations

American Bar Association, Past-Chair, GP|Solo Division Intellectual Property Committee
New Jersey State Bar Association; Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee
Middlesex County Bar Association

Bar Admissions

Joe is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in New Jersey & Ohio.