Matthew Gorman

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Matthew Gorman
he/him
Counsel
,
Legal Assistant
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BIO
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Matthew Gorman is Counsel in Cox & Palmer’s Halifax office. Matt has extensive experience within the entertainment, intellectual property, and digital rights space, where he advises performers, songwriters, producers, managers, social media influencers, music publishers, record labels, authors, and dynamic entertainment/digital businesses and disruptors. Matt regularly negotiates and drafts commercial and entertainment contracts of all kinds, and advises clients on international industry standards, rights management issues, and assists in dispute resolution.

Heavily involved in the music community, Matt is a frequent writer, lecturer and speaker on music related legal issues at conferences and events all over the world, is a member of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, and has held board/committee positions with Music NS and ECMA. Matt also owns and operates Ocean Town Music, a management company that manages multi-platinum producer/songwriter, Mike Sonier (Noah Cyrus, Julia Michaels, Maggie Rogers, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Ruth B., etc.).

Matt was very active within the creative arts space long before becoming a lawyer, which helps inform his practice everyday. Outside the office, Matt plays drums, piano, and guitar.

BACKGROUND
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Bar Admission

Nova Scotia (2012)

Law School

  • University of Leeds

Education

  • University of Leeds, England (LLB)
  • Dalhousie University, Bachelor of Arts (Political Science)

Professional Activities & Affiliations

  • International Association of Entertainment Lawyers

Community & Volunteer Activities

  • Music Nova Scotia, Board of Directors
  • Nova Scotia Community College, Music Business Advisory Committee

Lectures & Presentations

  • October 18, 2023, Speaker, “Navigating Entertainment Law”, Music Managers Forum Canada Level Up Series
  • October 12, 2023, Speaker, “Demystifying Music Contracts”, BreakOut West 2023
  • November 8, 2023, Speaker, “Legal Basics for Producers, Beatmakers, and Artists in the Hip Hop Space”, Indie Week 2023
  • April 21, 2023, Speaker, “What about copyright and legal matters in “the new world”?”, hosted by Sørveiv.
  • March 21, 2023, Presenter, “Digital Deals and Licensing (Creative Entrepreneur Summit)”, hosted by SOCAN
  • February 8, 2023, Speaker, “SCREENxSCREEN: The Metaverse & the Law: Understanding Licensing & Revenue Opportunities”, hosted by Indie Week
  • November 5, 2022, Speaker, “The Fine Print…”, hosted by Music Nova Scotia
  • October 27, 2022, Presenter, “Business Skills for Indie Artists”, hosted by Nova Scotia Community College
  • October 12, 2022, Speaker, “Behind the Scenes – Producer Agreements & Best Practices”, hosted by Music Managers Forum Canada
  • September 29, 2022, Speaker, “The Business of Songwriting”, hosted by Breakout West
  • September 28, 2022, Speaker, “MDIIO|U”, hosted by MDIIO
  • September 6, 2022, Speaker, “BE PRESENT EVERYWHERE: Intros & Connections Its still all about relationships!” hosted by Indie Week
  • June 10, 2022, Moderator, “20 Must-Know Legal Concepts In The Music Industry”, hosted by Canadian Music Week
  • May 19, 2022, Speaker, “indie101 – Get your Business in order”, hosted by Indie Week
  • May 7, 2022, Speaker, “Music in Motion: Publishing 2.0 – What’s Next”, hosted by East Cost Music Association
  • March 29, 2022, Speaker, “CMA Virtual Voices – How the Game Has Changed”, hosted by CMA
  • February 10, 2022, Speaker, “Indie Weekly Podcast – Co-Writing a Song: Legal Considerations to Know”, hosted by Indie Week
  • February 2, 2022, Speaker, “Protecting What’s Legally Yours”, hosted by MusicNL and CFM/AFM Local 820
  • November 24, 2021, Speaker, “MusicWorks Rights Management”, Manitoba Music
  • November 12, 2021, Speaker, “Songwriter Splits”, Indie Week
  • November 6, 2021, Presenter, “Songwriter and Producer Deals – Legal Basis”, Nova Scotia Music Week
  • June 24, 2021, Speaker, “Record and Publishing Contracts – ‘In Conversation With’ Series”, Music Nova Scotia
  • May 18-21, 2021, Moderator, “Un-Masking New Music: How an Artist “Breaks Out” in a Locked-Down World”, Canadian Music Week Virtual Series
  • April 20-24, 2021 Speaker, “Music Contracts and Agreements”, Indie 101
  • December 14, 2020, Moderator, “Avoiding Bad Deals – Quick Contract Tips to Avoid Long Term Disaster”, Canadian Music Week Virtual Series
  • January 20, 2020, Presenter, “Band Agreements – What You Need To Know”, January Music Meeting, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • October 26, 2019, Presenter, “Music Law Crash Course”, Festival (506), Music NB, Moncton, New Brunswick
  • May 10, 2019, Speaker, “The Mega-Multi-Tasker: How the Modern Entertainment Lawyer Operates”, Canadian Music Week, Toronto
  • March 30, 2019, Presenter, “Music Law Crash Course”, Music Nova Scotia Orchestrated Neighbors Project
  • November 2, 2018, Presenter, “Emerging Legal Topics in Music”, Nova Scotia Music Week
  • October 18/19, 2018, Presenter, “Legal Guide to Music Publishing Deals”, Halifax Pop Explosion Conference (Publishing Summit)
  • October 12, 2018, Presenter, “Contracts, Specific Deal Points, Negotiating Tips, and Contract Red Flags”, Music Newfoundland Week, Twillingate
  • May 28, 2018, Presenter, “Top 5 Tips for Songwriters”, Halifax Central Library Business Series
  • May 7, 2018, Presenter, “A Guide to Building your Music Biz”, East Coast Music Association (ECMA), Industry Conference
  • October 19, 2017, Presenter, “How we Deal: Lawyers Discuss How and Why We Contract in the Music Industry”, Halifax Pop Explosion Conference
  • September 18, 2017, Presenter, “Creating a Music Business – Legal Considerations”, Halifax Central Library Business Series

Law Society Memberships

  • Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
  • Canadian Bar Association

Languages

  • English
ARTICLES
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