The Michael Jackson Sony/AEG middleman - Joel Katz
In an email written on June 24, 2008, Randy Phillips of AEG explained that Joel Katz, an attorney at Greenberg Traurig , was an old friend of his and on retainer for AEG. Joel was apparently meeting with Tohme around that time as well, according to the email.
Tohme, as Richard Nanula from Colony Capital stated, was a broker. Tohme brokers deals and apparently Joel Katz "negotiates" them.
Email thread from Richard Nanula/Randy Phillips - AEG:
Michael Jackson's real attorney was Peter Lopez. There was no "New Peter Lopez" as of June 24, 2008. Peter was still acting as Michael Jackson's attorney as far as Michael was concerned. Perhaps AEG's Randy Phillips had other plans.
Here is footage of Peter and Michael shopping together in February, 2009:
Katz not only has a long history of "negotiating" deals, he has a seat on the board for Sony Corporation and as Phillips stated, is a good friend of the boys at AEG.
Just a few of the highlights from his career are listed below:
- Board Member, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC, Appointed by Michael Jackson and confirmed by the Michael Jackson Estate, Board of Representatives, 2009-Present
- Negotiated with John Branca of Ziffren Brittenham LLP, on behalf of the estate of Michael Jackson, the affiliation agreement between the estate and the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) for representation of the public performances of Jackson’s music catalogue.
- • Negotiated and concluded on behalf of Randy Phillips in the establishment of the Global USA
- • Negotiated with Rovio Entertainment Ltd. and Sony Pictures for an extension of the Angry Birds franchise for film
You'll see one of his most recent negotiations in theaters soon. The negotiations with Rovio and Sony regarding the Angry Birds film included the use of Michael Jackson's song "Bad". Which also must be just another "negotiation" between Sony and The Michael Jackson Estate?
When "Phillips was concerned that the company could be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars –productions costs, guarantees, ticket sales and more — if the fragile Jackson were unable to perform his 50-date London run, according to the music industry leader. Phillips was said to be worried that a court might void AEG’s contract with the singer due to a conflict of interest — Jackson and AEG were sharing the same lawyer, Joel Katz, a well-known music attorney, and his gobal firm Greenburg Taurig"
"In an interview, Katz said that he first heard the idea of luring Branca back from DiLeo, who took on the role of intermediary between the lawyer and Jackson"
If Katz was Michael's lawyer, he shouldn't have needed DiLeo to be an intermediary, but DiLeo of course was on AEG's payment schedule as well, and also sat on the board for Sony. In that case, yes he probably was an intermediary. I didn't find any footage of Michael shopping with Katz or DiLeo in 2009.
When Michael passed Katz questioned:
“Does anyone have a will,” Katz wondered?
“I have one,” he says Branca answered. “If it’s valid.”
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