October 2004

Leslie Zigel recently completed his first year with Greenberg Traurig's Miami office, where he directs one of the largest and most successful entertainment practices in the country. As a partner with Greenberg Traurig, Leslie's expertise is counseling international clients on entertainment-related legal matters. "Entertainment lawyers are really general practitioners of the law because they deal with so many issues. For someone considering a career in the field, I recommend taking courses in employment, copyright, securities, bankruptcy, tax, and immigration law." Prior to Greenberg Traurig, Leslie was with BMG Music for seven years, where he served as the Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for the company's Latin America office.

Originally from Baltimore, Leslie graduated cum laude from the University of Rochester in 1985 with a degree in the Sociological Study of the Music Industry. Before enrolling in law school in 1992, Leslie produced jazz festivals for six years. In law school, Leslie was the Editor-in-Chief of the Inter-American Law Review. The law review article he wrote on U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba and its effects on Cuban musicians is still a timely piece today.

In addition to his educational and professional accomplishments, Leslie's rapport with Hispanic clientele is enhanced by his ability to communicate fluently in Spanish and the fact that he is a former professional bass guitarist. Leslie has published several articles, is frequently a speaker at conferences, and has been a media source for stories on the Latin American entertainment industry.

Leslie and his wife recently celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary. They have two sons and a yellow Labrador retriever.