The 28th Annual

Entertainment Law Initiative

GRAMMY Week luncheon

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026 | 11 A.M. PST

THE BEVERLY WILSHIRE, A FOUR SEASONS HOTEL
9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

The Entertainment Law Initiative was established by the Recording Academy to encourage discussion and debate around legal affairs in the ever-evolving music industry and how they impact creatives and the greater music community.  In partnership with the nation’s top entertainment law practitioners and schools, the initiative offers year-round networking and career development events for professionals and cultivates the next generation through connection and educational opportunities for students.

This year, we are proud to honor Paul Robinson with the Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the field of entertainment law.

The program will also feature the announcement of the 28th Annual ELI Writing Contest scholarship winner and finalists, spotlighting the next generation of legal leaders shaping the music industry.

Event Highlights

  • Networking Opportunities with top attorneys, executives, and creatives
  • Keynote Program with industry thought leaders
  • Presentation of the Service Award to Paul Robinson
  • Recognition of Writing Contest Finalists & Winner

CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW

Paul Robinson, 2026 ELI Service Award Winner

Paul has been practicing law in the music industry for 35 years and has represented WMG for all those years. 

In January 1988, he joined the boutique music law firm Mayer, Katz, Baker, Leibowitz & Roberts, providing legal advice to corporate clients (including WMG, Warner Music International, Atlantic Records and Elektra Records) and to individual clients (including artists, songwriters and executives) and negotiating and drafting recording, publishing, M&A and employment agreements. He was an associate from 1988-92 and a partner from 1992-94. 

In January 1995, he joined the WMG corporate legal department as Associate General Counsel. In December 2006, I was promoted to EVP & General Counsel, leading WMG’s worldwide legal, business affairs, public policy, compliance and corporate governance functions. 

Paul has served on IFPI’s International Legal Committee since 1999, has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of RIAA since April 2013, and has served as a Board member of SoundExchange from 2003 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2021. 

Paul was a key force behind WMG’s digital breakage policy (2009), equity proceeds sharing policy (2016) and legacy unrecouped advances program (2022). 

In January 2016, Julie Swidler, Jeff Harleston and Paul were honored by Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts New York as Legal Champions of the Arts.