James Elam

JAMES ELAM IV, ESQ.

James Elam began his professional career in 1997 as an attorney at the prestigious Dilworth Paxson law firm in Philadelphia. After working for a year as an associate in the litigation department, he moved into the corporate transactional group. Utilizing the strong client base that he had developed in relatively short order, he immediately began the formation of a media law group within the firm. Initially focusing on music-related clients, James developed a strong presence in the blossoming Philadelphia music scene. Thereafter, he began representing clients in the film, television, and theater industries, as well as professional athletes and authors such luminaries as Jill Scott, Musiq and John Legend. In servicing his clients, James has negotiated numerous agreements regarding recording artists, music publishing, music production, licensing, distribution, merchandising and investment, while also serving as general counsel to a number of companies. Recently, James has expanded his areas of expertise to include negotiating commercial and real estate transactions.

Soon to begin an adjunct professorship at Drexel University, James has served as a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, industry-related panel discussions and youth organizations. Understanding that many young people desire careers in the entertainment industry, James feels an ardent desire to educate others on the pitfalls of seeking celebrity and the extensive knowledge required of performing artists to be financially and professionally successful under the intense scrutiny of the media.

EDUCATION

J.D., Widener University School of Law (1997)

B.S., University of Delaware (1992)

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES

· Fund For Philadelphia, Board of Governors, 2005

· Animal Alliance of Philadelphia, Board of Governors, 2005

· Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Board of Governors, 2005

· National Academy or Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS, the Grammy organization) – Board of Governors, Philadelphia Chapter (2003-5)

· Campaign Chair, Joel Johnson for Judge, 2004

· Barristers Association of Philadelphia – President (2003-4)

· Philadelphia Bar Association

o Young Lawyers Division – Chair (2001)

o Board of Governors 2000-1, 2003-4

o Philadelphia Bar Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention
(2001-2, 2003-4)

· Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association

· Voice and Opportunity through Economics (V.O.T.E.) – Co-chair

· University of Delaware – Black Alumni Organization Association Regional Representative

· Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. – Regional Counsel (2001)

· American Bar Association

· Advisory Board for the Friends United in Need Network (1999)

· Young America Political Action Committee

· Urban League of Young Professionals

GUEST PRESENTER (partial listing)

· Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts CLE panelist:
Making Money Making Music: Representing Clients in the New Music Industry

· Philadelphia Bar Association 2005 Bench-Bar Conference CLE panelist
Important Considerations in Developing a New Law Practice

· Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Multicultural Affairs Congress MAC Advantage series panelist: How To Stay Out of Jail: The Event Planner’s Top 10 Legal & Risk Management Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

· National Black MBA Association of America – Speaker – National Conference

· Millennium Music Conference – Speaker

· Tavis Smiley National Youth Leadership Conference – Washington, DC

· ASCAP - Building Your Camp as an Artist

· Black Entertainment & Sports Law Association - Nuts & Bolts of Managing, Maintaining and Growing an Entertainment Legal Practice

· Widener University School of Law – Careers in Entertainment Law

· Dell East Music Business Institute

· Villanova Sports and Entertainment Law Society - A Night of Music and the Law

· Philadelphia Music Conference – Urban Music 102

· MusicDish.com - Crash Course in Entertainment Law

For information on workshop outlines, lesson plans and other programming ideas, click here