Chris Taylor

Time Magazine recently dubbed Chris Taylor as one of Canada's "movers and shakers who are building the entertainment industry" and Billboard Magazine repeatedly cites him as one of the country's most influential music lawyers.

Chris formed the law firm of Taylor Mitsopulos Klein Oballa (formerly Taylor Mitsopulos Burshtein) in March 2006. Prior to that, he spent nine years working at the entertainment law firm, Sanderson Taylor.

Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and Political Science at the University of Windsor prior to earning his law degree at Osgoode Hall, York University in 1990. Upon graduation he pursued a full time musical career from 1990 to 1996 whereupon he returned to law to complete the bar admission course and was called to the Ontario Bar in February, 1997, after which time he joined Sanderson & Associates (renamed Sanderson Taylor in 1999).

Chris' expertise includes drafting, negotiating and advising clients concerning specialized contracts in the music field. He has counseled clients including recording artists, artist managers, music publishers, independent record companies and producer/songwriters in all legal aspects of the music business including domestic and international contracts. He has developed an extensive list of industry contacts in Canada; the United States; and, throughout Europe and has developed extensive expertise in solicitation; re-negotiating contracts; and, structuring record label/ production agreements for his clients.

Some of Chris' clients include:

• Nelly Furtado (Geffen)
• Avril Lavigne (RCA)
• Sum 41 (Island/Def Jam)
• Drake (Hip Hop Since 1978)
• Billy Talent (Atlantic/Warner)
• Three Days Grace (Jive/Zomba)
• Alexisonfire (Distort/Universal)
• City and Colour (Dine Alone/Universal)
• K-OS (Universal)
• Lights (Warner)
• Lindi Ortega (Interscope)
• Sam Roberts (Universal)
• Swollen Members (Battleaxe)
• Sarah Harmer (Rounder)
• Justin Nozuka (Coalition/Warner)
• Kathleen Edwards (Rounder)
• Skye Sweetnam (EMI)
• The Be Good Tanyas (Nettwerk)
• Jacksoul (Sony/BMG)
• Thornley (604)
• Hawksley Workman (Universal)
• Xavier Rudd (Universal)
• Daniel Powter (Warner)
• Gio Aria (EMI)
• The Black Maria (Victory)

He also works with some of the country's top record producers/writers, including:

• Jason Levine (Sony/ATV)
• Gerald Eaton (Sony/ATV)
• Jon "Rabbi" Levine (Sony/ATV)
• Brian West (Sony/ATV)
• Ben Dunk (Ole)
• Greig Nori (Nettwerk)
• Mike Fraser (mixer - AC/DC)
• Rich Chycki (mixer-  Rush)

He also represents many developing and independent artists, such as:

• Justin Nozuka
• Hot Hot Heat
• Lukas Rossi (Rockstar Supernova)

Chris has written numerous articles on legal and business aspects of the music industry; guest lectures at Trebas Institute for the Recording Arts; and, is a contributing author to the country's leading music law textbook, "Musicians And The Law In Canada". He is counsel to Artists Against Racism (AAR); Songwriter's Association of Canada (SAC); the Urban Music Association of Canada (UMAC); and, The Polaris Prize. He is on the board of directors for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).  He is the co chair of 2009 Canadian Music Week.

He has participated as a panelist at the following conferences:

• Canadian Music Week (Toronto)
• South By Southwest (Austin, TX)
• North By Northeast (Toronto)
• College Music Journal (NYC)
• MIDEM (Cannes, France)
• Can. Org. Of Campus Activities
• Music West (Vancouver)
• American Fed. Of Musicians Conf.
• Northern Exposure (Toronto)
• Intel Music Conf. (NYC)
• Phem Phat (Toronto)
• Songposium 2002 (Canada)
• Hamilton Music Scene
• MARIA
• Pop Montreal
• LSUC Entertainment Law Symposium

He is currently a member of:

• Law Society of Upper Canada
• Canadian Bar Association
• SOCAN
• Urban Music Assoc. of Canada
• Canadian Academy of Recordings Arts & Sciences (CARAS)
• National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS)

From 1990-1995 he performed in the Juno-nominated group, ONE (1994 Reggae Band of the Year as selected by the Canadian Reggae Music Awards). Signed to Virgin Records in 1994 - ONE performed widely throughout North America earning a reputation as one of the country's finest live bands.

Chris the founder of Last Gang Entertainment, an independent recording, publishing and artist management company working with artists such a Metric, Death From Above 1979, The New Pornographers, MSTRKRFT and Crystal Castles.  Recently, Billboard Magazine cited him as one of the Top 10 Indie Label Visionaries.