In a dramatic turn of events, a former music executive, Michael Flynn, has taken legal action against renowned law firm Greenberg Traurig and Joel Katz, a prominent figure in the music industry and former shareholder at the firm. Flynn, who previously worked for Sony Music’s Epic Records and Universal Music’s Capitol Records, alleges that Katz and current Greenberg Traurig shareholder Duane Sitar mishandled contract negotiations pertaining to his potential employment with Warner Music Group.
According to Flynn, Katz and Sitar exploited their positions of trust to serve the interests of Warner Music Group, themselves, and others, ultimately resulting in the breakdown of Flynn’s employment prospects with Warner. Flynn’s lawsuit, filed in Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court, contends that Katz and Sitar collaborated with Warner to concoct a pretext for reneging on their promise of employment.
The crux of the matter, as Flynn asserts, lies in Warner’s desire to avoid legal repercussions from a competitor, who faced the prospect of losing a valuable executive should Flynn join Warner’s ranks. This legal saga unfolds against the backdrop of a previous lawsuit initiated by Flynn against Warner and some of its executives, which was settled in January 2023.
Notably, this isn’t the first legal tussle involving Katz. Deborah Dugan, former president and CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, previously accused Katz of misconduct, alleging inappropriate behavior and conflicts of interest within the Academy’s board. Katz vehemently denied these allegations, subsequently resigning from Greenberg Traurig in 2021.
As the legal battle ensues, the music industry braces for potential upheaval, with Flynn’s lawsuit casting a spotlight on the complex interplay between industry insiders and legal representatives. Amidst the allegations and denials, one thing remains certain: the music industry’s legal landscape is anything but harmonious.
