Faculty Profile: Suzanne Kessler

Suzanne Kessler, an entertainment and intellectual property attorney, began her legal career at Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman, LLP, a Beverly Hills entertainment law firm, where she worked in the transactional entertainment and intellectual property department, focusing in the film, music, copyright, and trademark areas.  She serviced major studios and production companies, music companies, and assorted independent film and television producers and talent.

 

During her tenure at Universal Music Group (UMG), she was the Director of Business and Legal Affairs for A&M Records and UMG corporate in Los Angeles and served as Vice President of Business Development for UMG's Nashville operations.  At UMG Nashville, Suzanne led business and legal affairs for the Nashville-based record labels: MCA Records, Mercury Records, and Lost Highway Records.  In addition, while at UMG, both in Los Angeles and Nashville, Suzanne helped develop new media strategies and facilitate intellectual property anti-piracy efforts.

 

Suzanne is the current Co-Chair of the Nashville Bar Association (NBA) Entertainment, Sports & Media Law Committee and was honored with the President's Award from the NBA.  Additionally, Suzanne is an Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University Law School, teaching Entertainment Industry Transactions and Intellectual Property Licensing.

 

Suzanne graduated from Brown University, earned her master's degree in documentary film production from Stanford University, and her law degree from Stanford Law School.