MUSIC’S HOTTEST
LAW FIRMS:
THE DAVIS FIRM
Founded by Doug Davis in 2004, The Davis Firm is one of the music business’ top destinations for representation. The firm’s clients range from artists, songwriters and producers to high-profile biz executives and properties. TDF’s roster includes Mike WiLL Made-It, Barry Manilow, DJ Snake, Kandi Burruss, Lil Jon, Rodney Jerkins, Savan Kotecha, Wale, Bishop Briggs, DJ Cassidy, LL Cool J, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dionne Warwick and Columbia Chairman/CEO Ron Perry, Warner Chappell’s Ryan Press and Sire’s Rani Hancock, among others.
The Davis Firm also represented longtime client Swizz Beatz, throughout the groundbreaking rise of Verzuz, the music-event broadcast he founded with Timbaland during the pandemic in 2020. A year later, Verzuz inked a deal with Triller to broadcast the series, while continuing its partnership with Facebook’s Instagram. The series became a cultural phenomenon—flexing its unique ability to unite generations of Black music, while taking over multiple social-media platforms and impacting catalog sales and streams.
Among the other deals and projects Davis and his firm have been involved in during the past year are major catalog acquisitions including Hipgnosis’ deal with Manilow; LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells platform expansion at SiriusXM; the series deal for DJ Cassidy’s groundbreaking BET specials Pass the Mic; and HBO’s music documentary Fandango at the Wall, which was co-produced by Doug and his frequent collaborator Kabir Sehgal. Davis was also honored by the UJA with its Music Visionary Award, one of the most prestigious music business awards an executive can receive.
The longtime Executive Producer of Clive Davis’ annual Pre-Grammy Gala, Doug helped pivot the 2021 ceremony into two virtual productions. Part one, which benefited MusiCares, included special guests Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Rod Stewart, Barry Gibb and Jamie Foxx, while the lineup for the second gala (5/15), to benefit the Grammy Museum, featured Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Oprah, Paul Simon, H.E.R. and DaBaby, among others.
Davis is also a Grammy-winning producer, earning earned a trophy in 2021 for his work on Four Questions by Arturo O’Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring Dr. Cornell West, which won Best Latin Jazz Album.
In March of 2021, it was announced that veteran attorney Kim Youngberg, whom Davis refers to as “the best lawyer I have ever practiced with,” joined The Davis Firm as Partner, while also being anointed Chief Legal Officer for Davis’ DJDTP, a premier custom music house that creates songs for Disney, Netflix, Nickelodeon, WWE and more. Youngberg’s move to TDF marks a full-circle moment for her—she began her career in entertainment as the first associate at Davis Shapiro. Youngberg brings experience as SVP, Biz & Legal at Wind-up Entertainment and as General Counsel of cinema-advertising giant Screenvision Media to the firm.
Davis is also an executive member of the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), which was formed in 2020 to combat systemic racism within the music business.
