Matthew V. Wilson

Partner

Direct: 404.873.8551
Fax: 404.873.8552
Atlanta
171 17th Street NW
Suite 2100
Atlanta, Georgia 30363

Biography

Matt is a partner in the Corporate and Intellectual Property practices, co-chair of the Entertainment & Sports industry team, and member of the Life Sciences industry team. He advises his clients on legal matters related to entertainment, technology, new media, and advertising. He is a trusted ally and strategic counselor on business and personal matters as they relate to the very visible career paths of his clients.

A self-described “music nerd,” Matt is a recovering musician, hopeless fan, and dedicated professional. He has two decades of experience negotiating and drafting agreements for recording artists, songwriters, publishers, producers, business teams, labels, distributors, and concert promoters. He advises on copyright, licensing, and other intellectual property matters and counsels his artist clients in connection with their career decisions. Additionally, he has extensive experience with all aspects of the festival and live event industry and has assisted clients with the production of large-scale “happenings” on the domestic and international stage.

Matt’s film and television experience includes the representation of creative and business-focused clients within the motion picture, television, and media industries. He counsels major and independent film production companies in connection with business and legal matters related to film projects from start to finish, including financing arrangements, talent negotiations and contractual engagements, production requirements, IP protection and licensing, content clearance, advertising and promotions, and various ancillary activities. In addition, Matt has particular expertise with respect to Georgia’s dynamic film tax credit universe.

Matt also counsels participants in the visual art world, including museums, galleries, fine artists, muralists, photographers, and celebrity tattoo artists. His experience in the visual arts arena involves advising clients on matters ranging from contracts, licenses and intellectual property protection, to merchandising and commissioning arrangements, to complex sales, sponsorship, and licensing transactions. Within the publishing and new media space, he represents literary publishers, brand influencers, taste-makers, and content creators on matters such as trademark and intellectual property fair use, licensing, advertising, sponsorship, advertising and promotional campaigns, sweepstakes, skill contests, and other games.

Outside of the entertainment universe, Matt’s practice includes the representation of clients in connection with technology, e-commerce, and life sciences matters. He handles general corporate and commercial projects, web-based commerce and intellectual property matters, content clearance and licensing, electronic advertising, website development, hosting and service agreements, electronic terms-of-use, privacy policies, data use and protection policies, and legal and regulatory compliance concerning such matters, including trade and industry self-regulation guidelines.

Experience

  • Represent a New-York-based record company with the negotiation of various artist deals, music recording and publishing agreements, and synchronization and licensing deals.

  • Assist regional event production company with the drafting and negotiation of staging, audio, lighting and personnel agreements in connection with the production of music, arts, food/wine and other cultural events.

  • Represent a local visual artist in connection with the sale and licensing of artist’s artwork, murals and designs, which includes the negotiation of live performance and work-for-hire engagements, and the licensing of original designs and images for international and national retail campaigns and events.

  • Represent a local commercial real estate property owner in connection with the negotiation of film and tv location agreements.

  • Represent a national-recognized tattoo artist with the licensing of original designs used in connection with the development of an international fashion line.

  • Represented an Atlanta-based tech firm with the acquisition of over $3 million in film tax credits.

  • Represented  Nashville-based artist management agency in connection with the sale of the agency to a national agency.

  • Assisted Grammy Award winning artist with the branding of a national chain of retail merchandise stores.

  • Represent a Canadian-based playwright in connection with the drafting and negotiation of a royalty-pool agreement among the playwright and third party writers.

  • Lead counsel for a merger-transaction that involved the sale of a Georgia-based architecture and design firms to a California-based firm.

  • Represented an Atlanta-based architecture firm with the sale of the firm to a California-based firm.

  • Represented a regional audio and lighting production company with the closing of a $2M financing transaction.

  • Assisted Golden Globe Award winning artist with the incorporation and organization of a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

  • Represented the creators of the award-winning podcast, “Stuff You Should Know,” with the re-negotiation of their talent agreements with the Discovery Channel.

Credentials

  • University of San Diego School of Law, Juris Doctor,
    cum laude
  • Emory University, Bachelor of Arts,
    magna cum laude
  • State of Georgia 2004
    • American Bar Association, Sports and Entertainment Forum, Music and Personal Appearances Committee, Vice Chair
    • Surf ATL, Advisory Board Member
    • Backline, Inc., Board Member
    • Georgia Music Foundation, Legal Advisor
    • National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Associate Member
    • Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Sound Economy Task Force, Member

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America®, Trademark Law, 2024
  • WTR 1000, World Trademark Review, 2023-24

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