Creative. Strategic. Proven.
Biography
Richard C. Wolfe has a Juris Doctor and LL.M. from the University of Miami School of Law, and he spent 10 years as a Certified Public Accountant. For the past 25 years, he has been given the highest rating (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell. He is board certified by the Florida Bar in Business Litigation since 2010. For the past 5 years, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer ™ and as an outstanding lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide in the areas of Entertainment Law, Probate litigation and Business Litigation. Richard has lectured or has served as an adjunct professor at the following law schools: Univ of Miami, St Thomas, Nova Southeastern and Florida Coastal. He has been published numerous times in the Florida Bar Journal and has also lectured for the American Bar Association, Florida Bar Association and at the Southeast Regional Conference on Entertainment and Intellectual Property law, for which he has served as the co-chair for the past 5 years.
He practices entertainment law (transaction and litigation), including film, television and music, business planning, intellectual property, probate litigation, royalty disputes, copyright claims and artist/athlete endorsement contracts, probate and trust litigation and business litigation. Richard has tried cases in state and federal courts in Florida, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and California. He has received more than 45 published decisions.
In the area of film, he has represented film and TV producers in over 35 feature films, including acquisition, business structure, production contracts, accounting, and distribution: handling two negative pickup bank financing transactions. Theatrical releases have included: Midnight Crossing; The Unholy; It Had To Be You; Village of the Damned; Hammerhead Jones; The Victims; Scarecrow; South Beach; Night Caller; Summer Job and The New Adventures of Flipper.
In the music industry, he has provided representation to over 40 major and independent record companies, publishing companies, distribution companies, numerous prominent artists and producers on transactions and litigation matters. He has negotiated more than 250 recording and publishing contracts on behalf of or with many artists and record companies, including Plies, Marilyn Manson, Slash (Guns N Roses), Pyramid Records, Latinum Records, Lil' Joe Records, Luke Records, and many others.
Some of the artists and producers he has represented include: The Beatles, 2 Live Crew, MC Shy D, DJ Laz, Willy Chirino, Lissette, Plies, Expose, Nuclear Valdez, Daisy Berkowitz, (Marilyn Manson), Tony Bongiovi, Kymani Marley, Luther Campbell, Crease, Cameo, Blac Haze, Al's Not Well, Rush, Rudy Perez, Paul Trust, PYT, Circle House Studios, Calton Coffie , Inner Circle, Slash, DJ Magic Mike, DJ Madness, Larry Blackmon, DJ Spin, Marco Flores, Adam Duggins, Pilar Montenegro, Scott Storch, Kike Santander, Myriam Hernandez, Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Marilyn Manson.
Mr. Wolfe has been or is a member of the following organizations: Florida Film and Recording Institute (past President), Florida Film Producers Association, Florida Screenwriters Association, Florida Motion Picture & Television Association, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Entertainment law Section of the Florida Bar (past Chairman), . Mr. Wolfe has lectured or taught courses at University of Miami Film School, Master of Fine Arts, on Legal Aspects of Film Production; St. Thomas Law School, Professor of Entertainment Law; and Florida International University, Professor, Entertainment Law & Business. Mr. Wolfe was the Chairman of ARTEC Fundraising Committee Sponsored by Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce which obtained a $450,000 matching grant from the Annenberg Foundation and has served as Executive Producer of the Jam Miami All Star Latin Jazz LP released by Concord Records and was the Executive Producer of the PBS special of the same title.
Richard Wolfe is on the Board of two Not-for-Profits that are near and dear to his heart. The first is Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Miami where he mentored a boy who has exceeded all expectations and who is still considered his little brother. The second is Island Dolphin Care where he takes pride in the work that this exceptional organization does for children with disabilities and military with PTSD.
Education
- University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida
- LL.M. - 1983
- Major: Taxation
- University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida
- Juris Doctor - 1982
- American University
- BS/BA
- Major: Accounting and Finance
Bar Admission
- Florida, 1982
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1983
- U.S. Tax Court, 1982
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
Honors
- A-V Rated (Highest Rating) by Martindale-Hubbell
- South Florida Super lawyer
- Legal Guide top lawyer
Published Works
- International Tax Journal, Panel Publications, May, 1982
- International Tax Journal, Panel Publications, September, 1982
- “Florida’s New Child Performer and Athlete Protection Act,” Florida Bar Journal, Nov. 1995
- “Understanding the Calculations of Music Artists Royalties.” Florida Bar Journal, Feb. 1995
- “Interpreting Record Royalty Provisions.” Entertainment Law & Finance, Oct./Nov. 1994
- “Recording Artists Royalty.” Entertainment Law & Finance, Sept. 1994
- “Proving Disgorgement Damages in a Copyright Infringement Case is a Three – act Play” (with Serona Elton) Florida Bar Journal, Feb. 2010
Representative Cases
- Ting Ji v. Bose (Fed. Court Mass.)
- Tyne v. Time Warner (5th Cir.)
- Estefano v. Gil (11th Cir.)
- Waller v. Opium (11th Cir.)
- Betts v. Allman Brothers (NY Arbitration)
- Slip N Slide Records v. TVT Records
- Isbell v. DM Records
- Rebelution v. Perez (Pitbull)
- Putesky v. Warner (Marilyn Manson)
Classes & Seminars
- Foreign Investment in United States, FICPA, 1983 to 1984
- Legal Aspects of Film Production, University of Miami, 1988
- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, University of Miami Film School, Professor - Master of Fine Arts (2009-2013)
- St. Thomas Law School, Professor (1995 - 1998), lecturer 2010- 2013)
- Florida International University, Professor of Law & Business Professor)
- Nova Southeastern Law School, Professor of Law, (2004 – 2006) (Adjunct facility member) lecturer (2010-2013)
- University of Miami School of Law LLM program on Entertainment law (Professor) (2015)
Pro-Bono Activities
- Florida Film and Recording Institute, President
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters
- Island Dolphin Care
Professional Associations
- Florida Bar Section on Entertainment and Sports Law: Chairman (1995-1996)
- American Arbitration Association: Arbitrator and Mediator
- Florida Film Producers Association
- Florida Screenwriters Association
- Florida Motion Picture & Television Association
- Florida Bar, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Entertainment Law, Chairman
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Public Accountant Florida (1982-1989)
- Board Certified in Business Litigation (Florida Bar)