MICHAEL A. NOVAK

Mike Novak has been counseling clients in the Entertainment Industry for over twenty-five years.

He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the State Bar of California. In addition to extensive civil litigation experience, his practice includes the representation of corporate executives and transactional work on behalf of recording artists, personal managers, concert promoters and facilities, writers, visual artists, producers, and the representation of radio and television personalities and other high-profile individuals.

He is a Founding Board Member of the Purple Rose Theater, Chelsea, Michigan (Executive Director: Jeff Daniels) and a Member of the Detroit Institute of Arts Cinematic Arts Council. Mr. Novak speaks as a guest lecturer at area law schools on various Entertainment Law topics.

Select Cases Include:

• Negotiated the early release of a radio show from its employment agreement resulting in a syndication of the program
• Created a charitable foundation (pro bono, on behalf of a popular radio team) to assist the families of fallen public safety and military personnel
• Litigation settlement of several U.S. District Court copyright law matters
• Drafted production agreements for various independent film and television projects
• Successfully defended a large independent concert promoter in a federal breach of contract action by countersuing Plaintiff rock group for lip-synching their performance
• Obtained a summary judgment in favor of a promoter and facility operator who were sued by a rival enterprise on a federal anti-trust claims. Decision was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court
• Prevailed in separate suits for enforcement of a municipal stadium rental agreement and a college arena rental agreement
• Obtained summary judgment in a federal action on behalf of an established recording artist sued by erstwhile investors
• Negotiated the release of a newscaster from an employment agreement the client sought to terminate
• Prevailed in a federal breach of contract action on behalf of a professional athlete
• Negotiated and drafted a long-term sponsorship and naming rights agreement on behalf of a concert facility
• Negotiated, on behalf of various authors, writer agreements with major print publishers
• Served as technical advisor to a major author in connection with a best-selling novel based on the music recording industry

• New York University, B.F.A
• Wayne State University College of Law, J.D

• Michigan
• California