Michael R Morris

1888 Century Park East, Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90067 | PHONE (310) 277-8011 | FAX (310) 277-1706 | EMAIL mrm@vrmlaw.com | VCard

Michael Morris has blended his tax law expertise with a passion for music and entertainment into a practice that is unique. His practice areas are tax controversy and transactional matters; estate planning; music, entertainment and general business law.

As a former trial lawyer for the IRS and a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law, Michael has the educational background and practical experience that enables him to provide insightful solutions to his clients’ complicated tax, estate and business transaction issues.

The entertainment industry is a niche in which Michael has developed a strong base of loyal clients. His interest in music and years of servicing clients in entertainment has allowed him to build a solid reputation of providing valuable and effective business solutions in such areas as copyright and contractual matters. His clients include a post production house; industry executives of major studios; and Grammy winners, including numerous recording artists.

Although Michael’s core competency is within the tax arena and entertainment, over the past decade he has developed significant expertise and a clientele covering a wide range of businesses.

As with a number of other attorneys at Valensi Rose, Michael has the distinction of being named a “Super Lawyer” among Southern California lawyers for 2006-2011 by Law and Politics Magazine and Los Angeles Magazine. He was also designated by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of “L.A.’s Top 100 Lawyers” in 2009.

Michael writes law-related articles, moderates industry seminars, delivers speeches and has served as the president of the California Copyright Conference.

He received his J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law, where he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Coif and wrote for the Arizona Law Review.

Areas of Practice

Entertainment Group
Tax & Wealth Planning
Transactional Group

Bar Admissions

Arizona, 1978
California, 1981
U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1980
U.S. Tax Court, 1978

Certifications / Specialties

Certified Specialist, Taxation Law, California Board of Legal Specialization

Education

University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson, AZ , 1978 – J.D.

Honors: With Highest Distinction
Honors: Order of the Coif
LR: Arizona Law Review, Case Note Writer, 1976

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1975 – M.A.

Honors: MC

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1975 – B.A.

Honors: MC

Professional Associations and Memberships

State Bar of Arizona – Member
State Bar of California – Member
Los Angeles County Bar Association – Member
Beverly Hills Bar Association – Member
CA CPA Education Foundation Entertainment Industry Conference Planning Committee, 2008-2011
USC Tax Institute Planning Committee, 2011-2012 - Member

Honors & Awards

AV Rating – Martindale Hubbell

Publications

“Songwriters and Music Publishers Continue to Score Tax Breaks,” Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives, June, 2009
“The Tax Man Cometh,” Billboard Magazine, April 18, 2009
“Taxman’s New Tune”, Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 10, 2007
“Songwriters and Publishers Score Tax Breaks in 2006″, California Copyright Conference Newsletter, November, 2006
“Oh Pretty Parody (Look What They Done to Roy’s Song)”, California Copyright Conference Newsletter, May, 2006
“Good News for Artists”, Billboard Magazine, September, 2004
“Supreme Court Saves the Mouse”, California Copyright Conference Newsletter, February, 2003
“The IRS Offers a Road Map to Entertainment Tax Audits”, Los Angeles Lawyer, Annual Entertainment Issue, April, 1997
“Your Backstage Pass to the IRS”, The Score, The Society of Composers & Lyricists, Summer, 1996
“Music Biz: Watch Step Among Tax ’Land Mines’”, Billboard, April 24, 1993
“You and the Personal Manager”, Music Connection, Vol. XVI, No. 5, 3/2 to 3/15, 1992

Seminars / Speeches

Moderator, “Tax Update,” CalCPA Education Foundation Entertainment Industry Conference, June 15, 2011
Co-Moderator, “Use of Music in Film, TV and New Media,” CalCPA Education Foundation Entertainment Industry Conference, June 16, 2010
Moderator, “Monetizing Music Publishing – Show Me The Money!,” California Copyright Conference, March 9, 2010
Moderator, “And The Beat Goes On: The Evolution of the Recording Industry,” CalCPA Education Foundation Entertainment Industry Conference, June 17, 2009
Moderator, “Current and Future Trends of the Music Business,” CalCPA Education Foundation Entertainment Industry Conference, June 18, 2008
Moderator, “Annual Legal Eagles Update”, California Copyright Conference, September 18, 2007
Panelist, “Reversions, Estates and Heirs”, California Copyright Conference, November 21, 2006
Moderator, “Annual Legal Eagles Update”, California Copyright Conference, September 21, 2004
Moderator, “Annual Legal Eagles Update”, California Copyright Conference, September 23, 2003
“5 Essential Facts You Need to Know to Protect Your Assets and Your Estate”, Oppenheimer & Co., May 22, 2003
Moderator, “An Evening with Walter Yetnikoff”, California Copyright Conference, February 11, 2003
Panelist, “The Many Faces of Production Deals, Emerging Artists & Technology in Music” (EAT’M), May 29, 2002
Panelist, “The Business of Bands, Emerging Artists & Technology in Music” (EAT’M), May 29, 2002
Panelist, “A Current Look at Major Label Record Deals and Artist-Owned Labels”, California Copyright Conference, October 15, 2002
Moderator, “Annual Fall Music Review”, California Copyright Conference Panel, 2001
Moderator, “Part II: Nuts and Bolts: Collecting Money on the Internet Today”, California Copyright Conference Panel, 1999
Moderator, “An Evening with the Three Dons”, California Copyright Conference Panel, 1998
Panelist, “Highlights of the 1997 Federal Tax Legislation”, Valensi, Rose & Magaram, 1997
Panelist, “How to Benefit From the 1996 Federal Tax Legislation”, Valensi, Rose & Magaram, 1996
“Music in Films”, Cutting Edge Music Business Conference, 1996
“Licensing of Recording Masters”, Cutting Edge Music Business Conference, 1996
Panelist, “Musical Taxes – Select Issues Affecting the Music Business”, South By Southwest Music Conference Tax Panel, 1996
“Entertainment: Important 1040 Issues A Synopsis of the IRS Market Segment Specialization Program Guide”, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Tax Section, 1996
“Personal, Tax and Financial Planning Considerations for the Alzheimer Family”, Alzheimer’s Association, Los Angeles Chapter, 1995
Panelist, “How the Rich and Famous Avoid Taxes . . . And So Can You”, The Senex Educational Series, 1995
Panelist, “Taking the Bite Out of the 1993 Tax Act”, The Los Angeles Business Journal, 1993