YouTube, UMG veteran Jackson Abbeduto joins law firm Reed Smith as counsel in its Global Entertainment and Media Industry Group

Global law firm Reed Smith – known in the music industry as one of the leading firms advising the sale and acquisition of music-related rights and assets – has hired Jackson Abbeduto as counsel in its Global Entertainment and Media Industry Group.

Abbeduto, a veteran of YouTube and Universal Music Publishing Group, will operate out of Reed Smith’s office in Century City, California, the law firm said in a statement.

Abbeduto joins Reed Smith from law firm Granderson Des Rochers, where he negotiated deals on behalf of rights holders and DSPs involving music streaming, AI, fitness, gaming, and web3, among other issues.

Prior to Granderson Des Rochers, Abbeduto worked at YouTube, where he handled licensing agreements with music publishers and performing rights organizations (PROs), and managed strategic relationships for the video platform.

“Jackson’s reputation is sterling in the marketplace, and I knew he would be the perfect fit with our culture, drive and ambition.”

Stephen Sessa, Reed Smith

Prior to that, Abbeduto spent a decade at Universal Music Publishing, where he was instrumental in shaping new media initiatives, negotiating deals with startups and tech companies.

Reed Smith says that, given the fact that its music practice is a core part of its entertainment and media group, hiring Abbeduto was “axiomatic.”

“I was very excited when I heard that Jackson would consider a move to lead our digital practice in the United States. Jackson’s reputation is sterling in the marketplace, and I knew he would be the perfect fit with our culture, drive and ambition,” said Stephen Sessa, co-chair of Reed Smith’s Global Entertainment and Media Industry Group.

“Music is very important to our overall practice strategy, and considering our partner Gregor Pryor is the leading digital music lawyer in Europe, Jackson will have all the resources necessary to help us be on the forefront of advising clients in the US on all cutting-edge digital issues.”

Reed Smith maintains what it calls a “significant” talent practice representing “the biggest music stars in the world.” The law firm says it has “the world’s leading catalog practice,” regularly representing labels, publishers and PE funds in transactions involving music compositions, master recordings, name and likeness rights, revenue streams and other music-related assets and rights.

Among Reed Smith’s higher profile music-related cases in recent years was its successful defense of Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, in a lawsuit accusing the rapper of stealing content from a writer’s autobiography.

“Reed Smith has an incredible platform and all the resources necessary to best serve its clients.”

Jackson Abbeduto

The law firm recently advised private equity firm Flexpoint Ford on its investment into Create Music Group, which valued the record label and distributor at USD $1 billion.

“I’m so excited to join the best music team in the business, at one of the world’s most prominent and respected law firms,” Abbeduto said in a statement.

“When Steve Sessa asked me to join his group and build the digital practice here in the US, I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Reed Smith has an incredible platform and all the resources necessary to best serve its clients. I’m truly honored to be here and thrilled about the prospect of working with clients in this space.”Music Business Worldwide