While most attorneys may prefer to meet their clients in boardrooms or on Zoom calls, Jason Berger likes to get a little bit more intimate. Not typical for a high-powered lawyer in the industry, Berger says it’s all about being there to support his clients in every way.
Seen on Instagram alongside artists like Fridayy, BNYX, and Ben Thomas, it’s clear that when Jason Berger’s hotline blings, it’s because he means business. Specializing in Entertainment, Media, and Sports practice, he’s a partner at the Lewis Brisbois law firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Recipient of the Super Lawyers award from 2019-2023, Berger built his career not by chasing the biggest names in the business, but by building lasting relationships with his clients that extend outside of the boardroom.
“I think that’s what makes us special and why we have such great relationships with our clients,” he starts off, “is because before you know it, these guys are in my house eating dinner and bouncing my kids onto me. It’s really an amazing little family atmosphere that we built and are continuing to build.”
Drastically different from other lawyers who may prefer to go down a more typical route and work with one big artist and build their practice from there, Berger’s approach prioritizes helping many clients at diverse points of their careers even if that means being there for them around the clock or “a trip to Los Angeles for two days to record a verse.”
Although Berger’s approach may come across as unique, it’s rooted in something much more widespread: treating others how you want to be treated. “It’s about going over and above, regardless of what that may look like,” he says. “It’s what’s needed for my role, especially when I’m helping clients with things that are typically beyond the nine-to-five schedule.”
Being there and answering the calls or texts at whatever time of day or night is important for Berger. “I think it goes a little more into that hands-on approach we take, especially with our bigger talent, where we’re here for whatever they need. It’s important for me to be there with them, and support them in real time,” he continues.
At this point, skeptics may be pondering how this approach could be feasible at a large scale and it is to be said that it does not come without its caveats. Berger said “I’m kicking myself a little bit for starting [this] trend because with the amount of clients we have and the amount of issues we deal with, it’s a little overwhelming at times. But I figured out a way to start scaling that a little bit.”
He highlights that finding the right balance and making time for yourself also should be a priority. But going the extra mile and being there for your clients can have an even bigger impact later down the road. Maintaining tight-knit rapport with them and helping them evolve to higher levels of their career inevitably only leads to more work and glowing referrals.
“I think that has been really pivotal in being able to grow a practice with some really talented, special, unique people that aren’t just clients anymore. Most of them are friends,” he adds.
When he started working with Lewis Brisbois in 2023, Berger shares he “really had to dig in and understand the relationship side of the music industry.” But giving credit to his unique style, in a short amount of time, he’s played an integral role in expanding the company’s reach to at least four other entertainment hotspots including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Nashville.
“I think from there, it just grew. I mean, at the end of the day, I pride ourselves on doing great business, being amazing people, thoughtful, respectful, and of course professional, which I think is missing in the music industry pretty frequently.”
Berger’s primary focus revolves around securing and negotiating agreements in the music, television/film, and digital media industries, but because he’s taken everything he’s learned and applied it day by day to add value wherever possible to a client’s career, he’s now gone on to work in other sectors including technology, art, and fashion.
“At the end of the day, I spend a lot of time on growing this team and making sure that we can expand as our client list expands and we can keep up with the work as our clientele’s status and demand for legal, or anything else for that matter, continues to increase with their stature,” he says.
An attorney who would rather spend time with his clients in the studio instead of “spending all day in a cold office pushing papers,” Jason Berger is doing things that most typical lawyers wouldn’t dare, and it’s one of the reasons that he and Lewis Brisbois stick out in the vast plain of law.
To learn more about Jason Berger or Lewis Brisbois, be sure to visit their website today.
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