On July 20, 2026, Billboard named Venable partners Douglas Baldridge and William Briggs as top music lawyers for 2026. This recognition honors the most prominent attorneys in the entertainment world.
"Lawyers to superstar clients must not only assess legal issues but also consider the PR angle of any move they make," wrote Billboard. "Baldridge, who likely knows that better than anyone, says matters involving major artists can easily be 'misunderstood' by the public in an era of social media and viral headlines."
"Every decision requires exacting focus not only on the legal strategy but also on how that strategy will be perceived," Baldridge told Billboard. "It calls for an arduous and challenging process to respect not only the law but also the expectations of those who are the foundation and support for the art itself, the fans. Neither can yield to the other."
Mr. Baldridge draws from his decades of experience as a trial lawyer and in-house counsel to manage the most complex and significant cases on the docket. Before serving as general counsel to a high-profile client in the entertainment industry, he spent 19 years at Venable, returning to the firm in 2024. His experience in-house handling both legal and business matters gives him a better understanding of the intricate and delicate challenges internal stakeholders are facing. Mr. Baldridge anticipates issues, gets ahead of them, and provides crisis management counsel so minor complications do not become major problems.
Mr. Briggs is a trial lawyer and civil litigator with broad experience in the entertainment industry. He represents some of the top talent in film, television, music, and sports. Mr. Briggs has experience in state, federal, and appellate courts, and with arbitrations, involving intellectual property disputes, complex entertainment contract disputes, partnership disputes, rights of publicity and First Amendment issues, and employment matters.
Click here to learn more about Venable's Billboard recognition.