Lawyer

As an entertainment lawyer, professor, concert promoter and professional musician, Buck McKinney has over twenty-five years experience in the music business. McKinney’s current law practice focuses on entertainment matters and litigation with an emphasis on the music industry. His clients include recording artists, independent labels, publishers, concert promoters, film producers and authors.

Before establishing his law practice, McKinney served as Staff Counsel in the Business and Legal Affairs department of A&M Records, a division of PolyGram International. In that capacity, McKinney maintained responsibility for the negotiation of recording, licensing and related agreements for A&M Records and its affiliated labels Polydor Records, 1500 Records, Rocket Records, DV8 Records and Perspective Records.

Prior to serving as staff counsel at A&M, McKinney co-owned and operated Houston live music venue and concert production company Rockefellers. During his tenure at Rockefeller's, McKinney and his business partners produced over 340 concerts by artists including Dave Matthews, Dixie Chicks, Pat Metheny, Buddy Guy and Joe Sartriani, winning numerous critical accolades and awards, including “Best Live Venue” in Houston, Texas.

Prior to operating Rockefeller’s, McKinney was an associate attorney at Houston firm Bell & Murphy, concentrating in the areas of maritime law, commercial litigation and insurance defense.

A frequent lecturer, McKinney has spoken on copyright law and related issues at conventions and seminars around the country, and written several published articles on copyright law. McKinney also serves as adjunct professor of music law at Austin Community College.

McKinney began his career in the music industry as a professional musician, performing with regional acts including The Argyles (Austin, Texas) and Commercial Art (Houston, Texas). While performing full-time, McKinney obtained both his B.A. and his Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Texas. As an undergraduate, McKinney was awarded special honors in History and graduated magna cum laude.

McKinney is a Board Member of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the Texas State Bar, a voting member of NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) and is a published songwriter with BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.). In addition, McKinney continues to perform and record as a guitarist with critically acclaimed alternative jazz group Gnappy (Bean Pie Records). Gnappy’s latest album, “Unloaded,” spent 8 weeks on the CMJ Top 40 Jazz Radio Charts in the summer of 2006, peaking at #20.

Selected Matters:

• Negotiation of one of the first “reality show” contracts with VH-1

• Prosecution of over 75 copyright infringement claims on behalf of various music publishers/composers

• Prosecution of civil rights lawsuit against municipality and city officials for wrongful shut-down of a 3-day outdoor rock concert

• Defended club-owner against a claim of trademark infringement involving an internationally-recognized mark

• Represented concert promoter in hearings regarding mass gathering permits.

• Negotiation of hundreds of recording agreements, management agreements, publishing agreements and related agreements.