MUSIC'S HOTTEST LAW FIRMS: LAPOLT LAW, P.C.
Starting with a single client in 2001, Los Angeles-based firm LaPolt Law, P.C. now represents some of the world’s top entertainers and entrepreneurs. The firm is home to a diverse roster of artists from an array of genres and catalogs and a growing number of fashion, beauty and lifestyle influencers.
Through innovative deals, highly personalized service and a passion for doing right by artists, LaPolt Law consistently ranks among the top law firms in the entertainment industry. It is also the only firm of its stature founded and operated by a sole female attorney—Dina LaPolt, Esq. LaPolt’s activism through social-justice initiatives and copyright reform has changed the lives of countless music creators, notably through her work to help pass the 2018 landmark copyright law The Music Modernization Act. Recently, LaPolt has been a pivotal advisor to members of Congress and multiple state legislatures in connection with legislation that limits the use of a creator’s artistic expressions as evidence in legal proceedings against them, a violation of their First Amendment rights and an issue that disproportionally targets Black men.
Last year, LaPolt Law announced the promotion of five attorneys to partner: Mariah Comer, Kristin Wenning, Tom Dean, Dominic Chaklos and Lindsay Arrington. The firm continues to break ground for its clients.
Kristin Wenning, Partner
Achieving partner in 2022, Wenning currently focuses her practice on intellectual-property and asset-sales transactions and music-industry executive-employment matters. She advocates for songwriter and other creator rights in the industry and works toward legislative changes to protect those rights. Wenning’s steadfast representation benefits all her clients, including songwriters, emerging and legacy artists and industry executives.
Mariah Comer, Partner
Trailblazing her way through the music industry, Comer made partner at LaPolt Law at just 28 years old, making her the youngest partner at the firm. She enjoys being a part of the firm’s client development and just this year has brought RIAA multi-platinum artists BlocBoy JB and YK Osiris to the LaPolt Law roster. Comer works primarily with the firm’s hip-hop and rap artists, communicating directly with the artists, management, business management and labels on a daily basis—which made her an excellent panelist on the 2023 Music Business Association panel “The A+ Team: Assembling The Right Professionals to Boost Your Career.”
Tom Dean, Partner
Dean leads the charge for some of the firm’s biggest clients in addition to developing his own client roster. Over the past year, he’s closed numerous blockbuster deals, including a new publishing-administration agreement and a record deal extension for 21 Savage and the talent agreements for Offset’s and Cardi B’s McDonald’s Super Bowl commercial. Dean also handles firm clients Tinashe, iann dior and jxdn; rock band Polyphia and producers Sean Garrett and Linden Jay, in addition to his own client Jenevieve.
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Dominic Chaklos, Partner
A partner since 2022, Chaklos works closely with some of the firm’s biggest clients as they navigate their careers in the 21st century landscape. From catalog sales and acquisitions to negotiating high-profile endorsement and virtual-reality deals for clients including The Kid LAROI, Chaklos employs his keen insight to guide his clients through the ever-changing industry landscape. His work with independent labels like deadmau5’s mau5trap has added to his overall experience.
Lindsay Arrington, Partner
Arrington is a highly skilled music attorney with a passion for staying ahead of the curve in emerging areas of the business including NFTs, Web3 and artificial intelligence. She’s deeply involved in all aspects of client deadmau5’s business, advising on the sale of a majority stake in his music metaverse company Pixelynx, helping launch his new project Kx5 with Kaskade and overseeing the day-to-day business affairs of his label, mau5trap. Arrington is also a trusted counselor on brand-endorsement agreements, having successfully negotiated high-profile deals for clients including Cardi B, Tyga and Jen Atkin.
Sarah Meister
Meister has more than a decade of experience representing music and entertainment creators and professionals, including recording artists, songwriters and producers, as well as music-industry executives. The Berklee College of Music graduate advocates for her roster of clients from legacy artists to emerging talent, using her insight as a fellow musician and songwriter. Meister recently negotiated international brand-endorsement agreements with Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent and an A-list Las Vegas residency, and counseled on complex catalog sales.
Daniela Jones
Leaning on her experience as a skilled negotiator, Jones brings a passion for advocacy to the music legal field. Her practice sits at the intersection of music and brand partnerships in her representation of artists, producers, and influencers. On a given day, Daniela may pivot from agreements for a pop-up performance to a producer agreement to a podcast-appearance release, and her approach is holistic in guiding her clients’ careers. Touring agreements are becoming a cornerstone of her practice as LaPolt Law’s clients return to performing live.
Mariana Alves Ament
A UCLA Law School graduate, Alves Ament started her career in her native Brazil before taking her passion for art and entertainment to the creative industry in Los Angeles. Her background working with the guilds and a top social-media company provides her with a unique perspective on talent representation and negotiation on behalf of her clients. She works closely with content creators and fashion and beauty influencers on endorsements, special appearances and other brand deals, as well as with independent artists on their live performances and business and legal affairs. In her spare time, Alves Ament mentors Latin lawyers who seek to expand their careers internationally, as she did.
