05 Nov Karl Braun
Practice Areas
Arbitration and Mediation | Business Litigation | Business Transactions | Construction | Dental | Family Law / Domestic Relations | General Liability | Insurance Coverage | Intellectual Property / Entertainment | International Business | National Trial Counsel Team | Medical Malpractice | Products Liability | Professional Malpractice and Ethics | Transportation
A partner in the HBS Nashville office, Karl Braun specializes in entertainment litigation and a wide array of transactional work. His personal experience in the entertainment industry, including more than 15 years working as a professional musician and songwriter, gives him unique understanding of entertainment law, including intellectual property and international business litigation. Mr. Braun is also highly experienced in insurance coverage, construction, products liability, family law and appellate work. He is admitted to practice in both Tennessee and Georgia.
Mr. Braun launched his litigation practice with HBS in 1995. Early on, he practiced extensively in general liability and medical malpractice litigation, and still practices in those areas to this day. As his practice expanded, he developed distinct expertise in assisting businesses with formation, formalities, dissolution, acquisitions, transactions and related matters. His extensive transactional practice focuses primarily on the entertainment industry, and also encompasses legal malpractice, transportation, business litigation and retail liability cases. Mr. Braun also has significant trial experience in a wide array of areas.
His music career gives Mr. Braun a unique, first-hand understanding of the “real life” dynamics between the entertainment industry and creative professionals. He works with a variety of clients in entertainment-related business litigation and transactional work: publishers, record companies, film and video production companies, entertainment conglomerates, songwriters, artists, administrators, entertainment entrepreneurs/investors, managers, emerging and established businesses, and others.
Mr. Braun regularly speaks at the annual North American Law Summit, and is frequently invited to speak about pressing business and legal issues facing the music and entertainment industries. He also frequently interacts with leaders in the entertainment world on cutting-edge topics like social networking, music and video streaming, downloading and subscription services, and analyzes the impact of these technological advances on the industry. His helps clients effectively utilize social networking and web development for business marketing and promotional purposes to develop sustainable independent careers. Mr. Braun teaches a copyright class for Nashville Community Education and is annually featured in the prestigious Music Row publication “In Charge,” which highlights “Nashville’s Music Industry Decision Makers.” He is a voting member of the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences and the Country Music Association. Mr. Braun also represented one of the nominees for the 2012 Presidential Campaign in a nationally publicized copyright litigation involving music performing rights.
Mr. Braun studied music at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing. He attended Georgia State University College of Law in Atlanta, and received his Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, in 1992. In law school, he was Associate Editor of Notes and Comments, Georgia State University Law Review, and a member of the Outer Barristers Guild. He published reviews of selected 1991 Georgia Legislation in the Georgia State University Law Review, Vol. 8, No. I, Jan. 1992.
ADMITTED
- Georgia, 1993
- Tennessee, 2002
- U.S. Supreme Court
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Northern District of GA
- Eastern District of TX
- Eastern District of TN
- Middle District of TN
EDUCATION
- J.D., magna cum laude, Georgia State University, 1993
- B.A., Eckerd College, 1980
PUBLICATIONS
- Photographs As Protectible Forms Of Expression, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, February 2020
- Will Kanye Single-Handedly Change The Course Of The Entertainment Industry?, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, March 2019
- Music Modernization Act, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, January 2019
- The Ninth Circuit Rules “Google” Is Not A Generic Term, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, August 2017
MEMBERSHIPS
- American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers
- Associate Editor of Notes & Comments, Georgia State Law Review, 1991-92 (1990-92)
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Copyright Society of the South, Board of Directors
- Country Music Association, Voting Member since 2004
- Included in the annual Music Row publication “In Charge: Nashville Music Industry Decision Makers” since 2009
- Nashville Bar Association
- National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences, Voting Member since 1993
- Outer Barristers Guild
- Rotary Club
- State Bar of Georgia (Entertainment & Sports Law Section; Intellectual Property Section)
- Tennessee Bar Association
Recognitions
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Client Champion-Gold- by Martindale Hubbell
- Music Industry Decision Maker, Music Row Magazine (In Charge Issue), 2010-2020
- Tennessee Super Lawyers ®, 2018
- Mid-South Super Lawyers ®, 2014-2017
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Entertainment Law (Motion Pictures and Television, Music), and Litigation (Intellectual Property) 2010-2021
- Tennessee Top Rated Lawyers in Construction Law, Commercial Litigation, and Intellectual Property, ALM and Martindale-Hubbell, 2012
- Outer Barristers Guild Award
Presentations
- Regular speaker at the ABA Annual North American Entertainment, Sports & IP/Law Conference on a wide range of intellectual property litigation and transactional issues.
Hall Booth Smith Adds Two Associates as Tennessee Offices Expand
Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Honored By The Best Lawyers In America© 2021
Ferrari Loses Trademark Fight For World’s Most Expensive Car
USPTO Offers Free Fast Track for Small Businesses on COVID-19 Applications
Supreme Court Sides With Lucky Brand on Defense Preclusion
Photographs As Protectible Forms of Expression
Practice Areas
Arbitration and Mediation | Business Litigation | Business Transactions | Construction | Dental | Family Law / Domestic Relations | General Liability | Insurance Coverage | Intellectual Property / Entertainment | International Business | National Trial Counsel Team | Medical Malpractice | Products Liability | Professional Malpractice and Ethics | Transportation
A partner in the HBS Nashville office, Karl Braun specializes in entertainment litigation and a wide array of transactional work. His personal experience in the entertainment industry, including more than 15 years working as a professional musician and songwriter, gives him unique understanding of entertainment law, including intellectual property and international business litigation. Mr. Braun is also highly experienced in insurance coverage, construction, products liability, family law and appellate work. He is admitted to practice in both Tennessee and Georgia.
Mr. Braun launched his litigation practice with HBS in 1995. Early on, he practiced extensively in general liability and medical malpractice litigation, and still practices in those areas to this day. As his practice expanded, he developed distinct expertise in assisting businesses with formation, formalities, dissolution, acquisitions, transactions and related matters. His extensive transactional practice focuses primarily on the entertainment industry, and also encompasses legal malpractice, transportation, business litigation and retail liability cases. Mr. Braun also has significant trial experience in a wide array of areas.
His music career gives Mr. Braun a unique, first-hand understanding of the “real life” dynamics between the entertainment industry and creative professionals. He works with a variety of clients in entertainment-related business litigation and transactional work: publishers, record companies, film and video production companies, entertainment conglomerates, songwriters, artists, administrators, entertainment entrepreneurs/investors, managers, emerging and established businesses, and others.
Mr. Braun regularly speaks at the annual North American Law Summit, and is frequently invited to speak about pressing business and legal issues facing the music and entertainment industries. He also frequently interacts with leaders in the entertainment world on cutting-edge topics like social networking, music and video streaming, downloading and subscription services, and analyzes the impact of these technological advances on the industry. His helps clients effectively utilize social networking and web development for business marketing and promotional purposes to develop sustainable independent careers. Mr. Braun teaches a copyright class for Nashville Community Education and is annually featured in the prestigious Music Row publication “In Charge,” which highlights “Nashville’s Music Industry Decision Makers.” He is a voting member of the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences and the Country Music Association. Mr. Braun also represented one of the nominees for the 2012 Presidential Campaign in a nationally publicized copyright litigation involving music performing rights.
Mr. Braun studied music at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing. He attended Georgia State University College of Law in Atlanta, and received his Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, in 1992. In law school, he was Associate Editor of Notes and Comments, Georgia State University Law Review, and a member of the Outer Barristers Guild. He published reviews of selected 1991 Georgia Legislation in the Georgia State University Law Review, Vol. 8, No. I, Jan. 1992.
ADMITTED
- Georgia, 1993
- Tennessee, 2002
- U.S. Supreme Court
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Northern District of GA
- Eastern District of TX
- Eastern District of TN
- Middle District of TN
EDUCATION
- J.D., magna cum laude, Georgia State University, 1993
- B.A., Eckerd College, 1980
PUBLICATIONS
- Photographs As Protectible Forms Of Expression, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, February 2020
- Will Kanye Single-Handedly Change The Course Of The Entertainment Industry?, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, March 2019
- Music Modernization Act, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, January 2019
- The Ninth Circuit Rules “Google” Is Not A Generic Term, HBS Intellectual Property Blog, August 2017
MEMBERSHIPS
- American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers
- Associate Editor of Notes & Comments, Georgia State Law Review, 1991-92 (1990-92)
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Copyright Society of the South, Board of Directors
- Country Music Association, Voting Member since 2004
- Included in the annual Music Row publication “In Charge: Nashville Music Industry Decision Makers” since 2009
- Nashville Bar Association
- National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences, Voting Member since 1993
- Outer Barristers Guild
- Rotary Club
- State Bar of Georgia (Entertainment & Sports Law Section; Intellectual Property Section)
- Tennessee Bar Association
Recognitions
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Client Champion-Gold- by Martindale Hubbell
- Music Industry Decision Maker, Music Row Magazine (In Charge Issue), 2010-2020
- Tennessee Super Lawyers ®, 2018
- Mid-South Super Lawyers ®, 2014-2017
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Entertainment Law (Motion Pictures and Television, Music), and Litigation (Intellectual Property) 2010-2021
- Tennessee Top Rated Lawyers in Construction Law, Commercial Litigation, and Intellectual Property, ALM and Martindale-Hubbell, 2012
- Outer Barristers Guild Award
Presentations
- Regular speaker at the ABA Annual North American Entertainment, Sports & IP/Law Conference on a wide range of intellectual property litigation and transactional issues.