ABOUT us
Dan Zucker is an experienced independent mediator, with a focus on entertainment business disputes. Prior to becoming a mediator, Dan was an industry leading music executive who ran Business & Legal Affairs departments at major and indie labels, including RCA Records, a division of Sony Music, and the Zomba Label Group, home of Jive Records. He played a pivotal role in the growth and evolution of these labels, combining his business, operational, and legal expertise with a strategic mindset .
Throughout his career, Dan has approached every negotiation as a collaborative process where the goal is to create a positive, win-win situation for all of the parties involved. He is fair minded and favors compromise, problem-solving, and dialogue, over conflict.
Artists signed to deals negotiated by Dan comprise some of the biggest performers in the world, including SZA, Doja Cat, Childish Gambino, Chris Brown, Foo Fighters, P!nk, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, *NSYNC, Kirk Franklin, Pentatonix, Tool, Usher, Outkast, A$AP Rocky, and Dave Matthews Band.
Early in his legal career, Dan was a litigation associate at two major law firms, Shearman & Sterling and Gibson Dunn, and clerked for the Honorable Frank J. Battisti, Chief Judge of the Federal District Court of Northern Ohio.
Dan is a graduate of Oberlin College and NYU School of Law. He received a Certificate in Mediation from Harvard Law School’s Program On Negotiation and has studied at the Advanced Mediation & Advocacy Skills Institute of the American Bar Association.
Click on the LinkedIn link below for additional information.
MEDIATION SERVICES
Mediation is a voluntary process initiated by parties in conflict and led by a neutral third party who guides them toward a mutually acceptable settlement. It provides a unique opportunity for the parties to engage in a confidential dialogue in an attempt to resolve their differences. Mediation eliminates the costs, uncertainty, and length of litigation, and under the direction of a skilled mediator it creates an environment for an enduring solution.
Dan’s mediation practice focuses on music and other entertainment business disputes. In an industry where relationships, collaboration, and reputations are vitally important, mediation can be an invaluable tool.
As a mediator, Dan brings a wealth of skills and tools in addition to his broad industry knowledge. The ability to listen, to understand the details of the conflict and each party’s interests, to maintain confidentiality, and to be fair, impartial, and results oriented are key to a successful mediation. Dan patiently guides the process and facilitates a dialogue, whether directly between the parties or by “shuttle diplomacy”, singularly focused on settling the dispute in a manner satisfactory to all parties.
Dan is available to mediate disputes of any size and in any location. His services are available at any stage of a conflict, from pre-litigation claim to post-judgment appeal. Dan is based in New York City but available to travel. In person mediation sessions are preferred where practical. However, remote sessions via Zoom are also available.