Brian Caplan is a Partner at Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLP with over 39 years of experience litigating entertainment, intellectual property, and commercial matters. His diverse clientele includes recording artists, producers, songwriters, publishing companies, record labels, personal managers, professional athletes, business owners, and fine art dealers.

Brian regularly handles disputes involving copyright and trademark infringement, contract litigation, defamation, and closely held business disputes. He is also recognized for his expertise in copyright termination, royalty recovery, and the protection of artistic rights.

A sought-after speaker, Brian has lectured at major legal and entertainment industry events, including the North American Entertainment & Sports Law Symposium, the Copyright Society of the USA, and the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers at MIDEM in Cannes. He frequently presents on U.S. copyright law and legal trends in the music and entertainment industries.

Representative matters include:
• Litigating high-profile copyright and co-authorship cases for publishing companies and artists.
• Securing multimillion-dollar recoveries in royalty and catalog disputes.
• Representing prominent music artists in actions against counterfeit merchandisers.
• Litigating royalty disputes against major labels and publishers.
• Defending international music acts against impersonation and unfair competition.
• Representing both artists and managers in management and partnership disputes.
• Leading a class action against Sony BMG, setting a precedent in digital royalty calculations.
• Successfully defending an NBA athlete in a commission dispute with a sports agent.

Notable jury trial victories:
• Victor Willis v. Scorpio Music: Secured a landmark ruling on copyright termination rights for the co-author of “YMCA” and 12 other works.
• Lederman and Snyder v. Popovich: Won a $1.8M jury verdict in a fiduciary duty case.
• Lyubovny v. Rick Ross: Obtained a $300,000 civil assault verdict.