O+Z Named Leading Copyright Firm by Legal 500 for 2024

Washington, D.C. (June 24, 2024) — Oppenheim + Zebrak, LLP, has been recognized by independent rankings agency The Legal 500 as a leading copyright firm in the United States for 2024.

In evaluating O+Z, The Legal 500 noted that the firm, with offices in Washington, D.C., and New York City, “leverages the bench strength of its team to represent major book and music publishers and record companies (including Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Harper Collins, and Penguin Random House), involved in high-value infringement litigation.”

Legal industry insiders consulted by The Legal 500 are quoted as saying of O+Z:

‘Very polished and strong in copyright law and trial law. Exceptional lawyers with an incredible background and successful track record. Responsive, efficient, pragmatic.’

‘Matt, Scott, Michelle, and Nick are all smart, trustworthy, experienced, resourceful, polished, and respected.’

‘Very learned and pragmatic counsel.’

In particular, The Legal 500 cited the firm’s involvement in the music industry’s suit “against Anthropic over the use of copyrighted material to train its generative AI system Claude” and O+Z’s representation of the “major music publishing companies in a case against social media giant Twitter (now “X”) for willful copyright infringement.”

The Legal 500 also identified managing partner Matt Oppenheim as a “music industry expert” and said co-founding partner Scott Zebrak “brings longstanding copyright and litigation experience to matters involving digital media and disruptive technologies.”

The Legal 500 noted that partner Alex Kaplan is skilled “in mass litigation brought by clients against social media companies and ISPs.” Partners Michele Harrington Murphy and Jeff Gould were also singled out as notable practitioners at the firm, with the agency remarking that Michele “acts in complex federal litigation involving counterfeiting, digital rights enforcement, licensing, and royalties disputes,” while Jeff “acts in high-value matters for clients in the recording industry.”

The agency also highlighted the firm’s recent partner additions, including Jenny Pariser, who joined in September 2023 from the Motion Picture Association, and “experienced copyright and trademark litigators” Nick Hailey and Corey Miller, who were elevated to partner in December 2023.