Sandra A. Crawshaw-Sparks is a senior partner in the Litigation Department, and Chair of the firm’s Entertainment, Copyright Media Practice Group. Sandy handles a wide variety of litigation and transactional matters in the entertainment industry, with a special focus on music. She maintains a bi-coastal practice (with offices in New York and Los Angeles) and has represented many clients in matters involving recording, publishing, licensing and management contracts, copyrights, trademark rights, unfair competition claims, and the rights of privacy and publicity.
Sandy typically handles copyright infringement, trademark infringement, enforcement of personal services contracts, accounting and royalty disputes, and matters involving the rights of privacy and publicity.
As a regular and substantial part of her practice, Sandy counsels clients in connection with transactions, negotiates pre-litigation resolutions of accounting and royalty disputes, negotiates licensing arrangements, and handles applications for court approval of personal services contracts with minors.
Sandy is ranked by Chambers USA having been described by clients as “brilliant at resolving key points.” She is also the Deputy National Legal Counsel to the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (the GRAMMY® Award organization).
In her 34 years of practice, Sandy's clients have included: Madonna; Lady Gaga; Sting; The Police; Britney Spears; Shania Twain; Luther Vandross; U2; Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails; Amerie; Fiona Apple; Hall & Oates; Matisyahu; Meat Loaf; Debbie Gibson; Sally Hershberger; Judd Hirsch; Living Colour; and Just Blaze. Sandy has also represented numerous entertainment industry leaders, including: Chris Blackwell; Jimmy Iovine; and Russell Simmons. The music industry companies she has represented include: Live Nation; Sony Music Entertainment (including Arista Records, J Records, Jive Records, Provident Music Group, RCA Records, Zomba Recording Corp., and Verity Records); Universal Music Group (including Interscope Records, Def Jam Records, Geffen Records, GRP Records, MCA Music Publishing, MCA Records, Island Pictures, Island Music, Island Records, Mercury Records, Motown Records, and PolyGram Records); Warner Bros. Records; Warner/Chappell Music; BMG Rights Management; Primary Wave Music Publishing; Kobalt Music Publishing; the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; American Recordings; Cash Money Records; EMI-Capitol Music Group; EMI Music Publishing; Gee Street Records; IslandLife; the Island Trading Company; JB Music Publishing; Jellybean Recordings Inc.; Palm Pictures; Maverick Recordings; Rykodisc, Inc Vagrant Records; and Wind-Up Records.
Los Angeles +1.310.284.4525
New York +1.212.969.3915
Education
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Fordham University School of Law, J.D.
cum laude
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Drew University, B.A.
cum laude
Admissions & Qualifications
- California
- New York
- New Jersey
- District of Columbia (Inactive)
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, New York, Eastern District
- U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District
- U.S. District Court, California, Central District
Awards & Recognition
Euromoney Americas Women in Business Law Awards: Copyright Lawyer of the Year 2022
Los Angeles Business Journal Women of Influence: Attorneys 2021
Billboard Top Music Lawyers 2021-2023
The Hollywood Reporter New York Power Lawyer 2021
Chambers USA: New York: Media & Entertainment: Copyright & Contract Disputes 2008-2022
Chambers USA: California: Media & Entertainment: Litigation 2019-2022
Euromoney Americas Women in Business Law Awards 2015, 2018: Media and Entertainment
Euromoney Americas Women in Business Law Awards 2016: Copyright
Daily Journal, Top Women Lawyers 2014, 2017-2019
Benchmark Litigation, Top 250 Women in Litigation 2017-2021
Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Stars 2018-2023
New York Super Lawyers: Top Women Attorneys in New York Metro 2016
New York Super Lawyers 2011-2022
The Legal 500 United States: Intellectual Property: Copyright 2014-2022
The Legal 500 United States: Trademarks Litigation 2016-2019
The Legal 500 United States: Telecoms and Broadcast: Transactions 2022
The Legal 500 United States: Media & Entertainment 2017-2018
The Legal 500 United States: MT & T: Media & Entertainment: Transactional 2019-2022
The Legal 500 United States: MT & T: Media & Entertainment: Litigation 2019-2022
The Legal 500 United States: MT & T: Film, Music & Television: Advice to Corporates 2009
The Legal 500 United States: MT & T: Film, Music & Television: Advice to Talent 2009
“Top 50 Women,” New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2019-2020
Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year 2020
Best Lawyers in America 2020-2023
Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS 2021, 2023