Ira Abrams

Ira Abrams
Adjunct Instructor

Areas of Expertise:
Legal Issues

Email: iabrams@fau.edu
Office Phone: 561.297.0600
Office: AH 111

Born May 1, 1942, New York City, New York. Attended Music & Art High School in New York City, Manhattan School of Music (trumpet and music theory). Studied trumpet with renowned teacher Carmine Caruso (NYC). Attended University of Miami (Coral Gables, Florida) on music scholarship. Mr. Abrams received his B.A. degree in Philosophy in 1964 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1967 from the University Of Miami School Of Law. He has worked with creative artists and entities in the entertainment, music, high fashion and publishing industries for many years, including Ralph Lauren/Polo; Gianni Versace; Emilio and Gloria Estefan (for 12 years); Jon Secada; Miami City Ballet; Glen Kolotkin (Producer/Engineer: Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Miles Davis, Rolling Stones, et al); Matchbox 20 (mediator); Sony Music Entertainment (mediator); Sony Music Publishing/ATV, Inc. (mediator); Universal Music & Video Distribution Corp. (mediator); Atlantic Recording Corp. (mediator); TV star Cristina Saralegui; members of the Bob Marley family; Irene Cara; Jerry Heller (of Ruthless Records, Dr. Dre fame); salseros Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz; Raul di Blasio; Larry Harlow & Latin Legends; Enrique Iglesias (mediator); Jerry Greenberg; Jordan Knight (New Kids On The Block) (mediator); Led Zeppelin (mediator); Major League Baseball player/manager Warren Cromartie; composer/conductor Alfred Reed; the Conductors Guild (member of Board of Directors); and other entertainment industry entities, artists, producers, independent record labels, songwriters, managers, publishers, radio and record company executives, high tech companies, photographers and authors.

Mr. Abrams is a frequent lecturer for the Florida Bar (Continuing Legal Education), and has presented numerous lectures to law students and undergraduates at the University of Miami, Florida State University and the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). Mr. Abrams is an adjunct faculty member of Florida Atlantic University, where he teaches Advanced Legal Issues For The Musician (Spring semester) and is an adjunct faculty member of Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, where he teaches Copyright Law, Advanced Music Industry Practices and Arts Management and Promotion classes (Fall semester). Additionally, Mr. Abrams has lectured at the American Bar Association Forum on Mass Communications and is the author of a work entitled "Has the Digital Revolution Killed the Music Business? Problems and Possible Solutions" published in April, 2004. Mr. Abrams has also presented lectures on issues concerning the effect of media consolidation on the music, film and journalism industries.

Mr. Abrams has taught mediation skills to lawyers and others and mediates disputes and cases in the intellectual property and entertainment industries. Mr. Abrams has been called upon to testify as an expert witness in federal copyright and record industry cases on issues of liability, damages and standard industry practices.

Mr. Abrams has served as an elected member of the prestigious American Law Institute (ALI) and served as a member of the Executive Council of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section of the Florida Bar. He has been chosen by his peers for listing in the publication "Leading Lawyers of America."