A member of a self-described “below-average indie-rock band” in his uni days, Marcus Walkom dreamed of headlining Rod Laver Arena as a rock star. Today, he does work with arena headliners, albeit in a different way as a music lawyer.
Over the years, Walkom has worked with legends like Cat Stevens, and recently, he stepped up to take charge of Media Arts Lawyers’ new Brisbane office following his promotion to partner last year.
In this February interview, Walkom talks the impact of the tech revolution on the entertainment industry, how he discovered music law as a specialisation, and the celeb photo he regrets not asking for.
What made you choose a career in law, and what’s your favourite part of the job?
An entertaining and excellent legal studies teacher at high school helped to develop an interest in the law and its history and characters. A commerce/law degree then followed and whilst my focus was elsewhere during the early days of university – mainly playing in a below-average indie-rock band – I received a sage piece of advice to look for a way to combine your passion with your vocation. A quick Google search and I discovered that lawyers specialising in the music industry existed. Realising the dream of headlining Rod Laver Arena as a rock star was completely beyond my abilities, I turned my focus to a career as a music lawyer.
A few years in various litigation firms, a relocation to London, and countless rejection letters to specialist music law firms later, I finally found myself interning in a London firm specialising in the music industry and I was on my way! A chance encounter in London with David Vodicka provided me with the opportunity to work back home at Media Arts Lawyers and I’ve been grateful ever since to David and Stephen King for taking me on board.
Aside from the “pinch me” moments of working with some actual Rod Laver Arena headliners, becoming part of our clients’ team as a trusted advisor and joining them on the journey from their humble beginnings is incredibly fulfilling. But most of all it’s working with inspiring and hard-working creatives at all levels and stages of their careers.
What is the most memorable case you’ve taken on/been involved in?
In my first few months working within the practice area, I was advising Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens). I still wish I wasn’t so proud and asked for that photo with him!
What is going on at the firm? Are there any new programs and initiatives that you’re particularly interested in?
As the firm continues to grow, it’s been particularly exciting to watch the growth of various other practice areas outside of the music/entertainment space – particularly in the broader creative industries with Yasmin Naghavi spearheading the growth there.
Read the full interview
