Title:GEMA Externship: Where Are They Now? Juliette Browne (C’18)

Juliette Browne (C’18) is an associate attorney at the entertainment law firm Ziffren Brittenham LLP. She represents talent in connection with various music industry transactions and matters

What was your first “big break” into your industry? Or, what is the most significant experience you have had that has made your success possible?

In college I had a few music related internships, including being a Brand Ambassador for The Fillmore Silver Spring and a Social Media and Content Intern for Broccoli City. But I did not get my first entertainment law position until the summer after my first year of law school. My first entertainment law internship was at LaPolt Law, P.C., a boutique intellectual property and entertainment law firm. While at LaPolt Law, I was able to gain experience on various talent related agreements and matters especially for musical artists, which was the area of entertainment law I wanted to pursue. I was able to continue my experience at the firm through part of my 2L year and 2L summer. During my 3L year, I interned in the Business and Legal Affairs Department at the record label 10K Projects. My time at 10K Projects gave me in-house music law experience which allowed me to get familiar with even more types of agreements but from a label perspective. 

What was your first job?

The role I’m currently in as an associate attorney in the music department at Ziffren Brittenham LLP, an entertainment law firm in Los Angeles, is my first non-internship job. I started at the firm in 2021, a few months after taking the California bar exam.

What do you do in your job now? What is your favorite part of your current position?

In my current role as an associate attorney in Ziffren Brittenham’s music department, I represent talent such as artists, songwriters, and producers in connection with various music industry transactions ranging from recording agreements and publishing deals to tour related agreements and brand endorsements. I am currently on the legal team for various artists including Beyoncé, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Miguel, Enrique Iglesias, Chicago, and Eryn Allen Kane. My favorite part of my current role is seeing a deal I helped finalize come to life or going to a show on a tour that I worked on like Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour or Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour. Moments like that are a great reminder that the work I put in is contributing in some way to something bigger than myself that may reach millions of people all over the world. 

What was the externship experience like for you? Did it have an influence on your career/help kickstart your career?

I really enjoyed my GEMA Externship experience. Although I already had my heart set on becoming a lawyer, meeting Hoyas in various aspects of the entertainment field was invaluable because it allowed me to learn more about the entertainment industry in general and not just the areas I was already familiar with. Also it was great just seeing how extensive the Hoya network is.

What part(s) of the Externship did you find most valuable?

I was part of the group that visited LA in 2018 and the externship confirmed for me that I was open to moving to LA at some point, especially if I ended up getting into a law school in the area. There was something about traveling to different offices in various parts of the city for meetings that made me feel like I was getting a real look into what it would feel like to work in the industry one day. 

What was your experience like attending Georgetown? Were there any particularly formative experiences that were special to you?

I’m truly grateful to call myself a Hoya. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer since I was in fifth grade, but my time at Georgetown was transformative especially with regard to my career, because it was during my time on the Hilltop that I realized how much I truly loved music. Staying up until midnight with my friends to listen to a new album as soon as it was released or going to several concerts and festivals all throughout the DMV area were moments I cherished (and still do) because they propelled by passion for music and confirmed the career path I wanted to pursue – music law!

What’s your advice for an undergraduate trying to break into your industry? Is there anything you would tell your younger self now?

If you know what you want to do, connect with people that are currently where you want to be. For example, look at the industry trade magazines when they release their annual list of top professionals for the year so you can add those people on LinkedIn and maybe even reach out and introduce yourself. And I would tell my younger self to not stress so much, learn how to manage stress better, always find moments of joy (and if you can’t find a moment, then create one). 

Name someone in your career who has been a valuable mentor or role model to you and why?

One of my mentors is Danielle Price Sanders who is currently the Executive Vice President of Republic Records. While she was an attorney at LaPolt Law, she made the introduction for me to intern at the firm. And then later when she was Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at 10K Projects, she reached out to me about the internship opportunity in their Business and Legal Affairs department. She’s been extremely supportive of my career and offered guidance and advice that has stuck with me over the past several years. Her success has been truly inspiring. Another one of my mentors is Kelly Vallon Ciccotti who is a partner at Ziffren Brittenham. Since I started at the firm, Kelly has helped train me, answered countless questions, gave me the opportunity to join her in representing a client, and shown that she genuinely cares about my success. I’m grateful for her support and I do not take it for granted that I get to work with a great attorney who is also generous with her time.

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