THOMAS A. BRACKEY II
Mr. Brackey is the Managing Partner of Freund & Brackey LLP. Since its founding in 1993, both the firm and Mr. Brackey have established respected positions in the music, film and digital business environments.
In addition to providing counsel on intellectual property and internet issues to prominent figures and companies in the entertainment world, Mr. Brackey has been influential in setting numerous, significant legal precedents, and has personally secured trial verdicts and judgments in excess of fifty million dollars. Noteworthy published decisions include: Polydoros v. 20th Century Fox; McCall v. Four Star Music; Downing v. Abercrombie & Fitch; Kitty-Anne Music Co. v. Swan; Swirsky v. Mariah Carey; and Richlin v. MGM.
Practicing in venues diverse as Los Angeles Superior Court, The Supreme Court of the United States and international arbitral panels, Mr. Brackey is an accomplished lawyer. Trained as both an arbitrator and mediator of international intellectual property disputes by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Mr. Brackey advocates for content owners around the world. As intellectual property issues are no longer local or even national in scope, much of his work is international, including a robust gTLD and international arbitration practice. He is an active member of intellectual property organizations ranging from the Los Angeles Copyright Society to the International Trademark Association. Mr. Brackey has also assisted many important international brands with their trademark, domain name and brand recognition issues, from Callaway Golf to Omaha Steaks to Quiksilver and Everlast, amongst many others.
Previously, in 1985, Mr. Brackey founded the Silicon Valley consulting group Thyrsus Technologies. Thyrsus pioneered the relationship between personal computers and the music industry. Serving clients ranging from Apple Computer to The Grateful Dead, Thyrsus was instrumental in guiding Apple's original foray into the music business and was influential in establishing standards that catalyzed growth in the sector.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Mr. Brackey attended Harvard-Westlake School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/International Relations from UCLA before earning his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Mr. Brackey has served on numerous corporate, advisory and charitable boards. He presently serves as a Trustee of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and on the Board of Directors of film/music investment fund Resonant Music Group, among other positions. Out of the office, Mr. Brackey coaches AYSO soccer when he is not surfing/snowboarding/skating or… working, mostly working.