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Gary R. Greenstein
Partner
Technology Transactions
Washington, D.C.

D202-973-8849

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  • Trusted Technology Transactions Practitioner

    Gary focuses on IP, licensing, and commercial transactions, with specialized expertise in the digital exploitation of IP.

  • Represents Digital Media and Entertainment Clients

    He regularly represents companies in transactions with record labels, music publishers, and program suppliers.

  • A Recognized Practitioner

    Gary has been named among Billboard magazine's "Top Music Lawyers” for nine consecutive years (2017-2025).

Gary Greenstein is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where his practice focuses on intellectual property, licensing, and commercial transactions, with specialized expertise in the digital exploitation of intellectual property. He regularly represents companies in transactions with record labels, music publishers, and program suppliers. He advises companies on complex intellectual property matters, initial public offerings, M&A transactions, audits, litigation, arbitration, legislative matters, and before federal agencies. He also frequently assists companies in the development of new business models and disruptive technologies and services. In addition, Gary advises investors on due diligence in the digital media area and companies in all stages of their development cycle.

Prior to joining the firm, Gary served as the first general counsel at SoundExchange, Inc., the sole entity designated by the Copyright Royalty Board to collect and distribute statutory performance royalties for sound recordings. Gary previously was the vice president of business and legal affairs at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In this role, he negotiated and drafted licensing agreements for webcasters and satellite radio services, managed complex arbitrations before Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panels, and prepared proposed legislation, regulations, and congressional testimony.

Before joining the RIAA, Gary was an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Arnold & Porter, where he represented Major League Baseball on numerous matters before the U.S. Copyright Office, with a particular focus on satellite and cable television statutory licensing matters. He also served as outside counsel to the RIAA and Universal Music Group, specializing in statutory and non-statutory licensing matters for the use of sound recordings through new digital media.

Prior to his legal career, Gary was the director of planned giving at The Wilderness Society and a fiduciary real estate asset manager at The Boston Company.

Experience

Gary Greenstein is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where his practice focuses on intellectual property, licensing, and commercial transactions, with specialized expertise in the digital exploitation of intellectual property. He regularly represents companies in transactions with record labels, music publishers, and program suppliers. He advises companies on complex intellectual property matters, initial public offerings, M&A transactions, audits, litigation, arbitration, legislative matters, and before federal agencies. He also frequently assists companies in the development of new business models and disruptive technologies and services. In addition, Gary advises investors on due diligence in the digital media area and companies in all stages of their development cycle.

Prior to joining the firm, Gary served as the first general counsel at SoundExchange, Inc., the sole entity designated by the Copyright Royalty Board to collect and distribute statutory performance royalties for sound recordings. Gary previously was the vice president of business and legal affairs at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In this role, he negotiated and drafted licensing agreements for webcasters and satellite radio services, managed complex arbitrations before Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panels, and prepared proposed legislation, regulations, and congressional testimony.

Before joining the RIAA, Gary was an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Arnold & Porter, where he represented Major League Baseball on numerous matters before the U.S. Copyright Office, with a particular focus on satellite and cable television statutory licensing matters. He also served as outside counsel to the RIAA and Universal Music Group, specializing in statutory and non-statutory licensing matters for the use of sound recordings through new digital media.

Prior to his legal career, Gary was the director of planned giving at The Wilderness Society and a fiduciary real estate asset manager at The Boston Company.

Focus Areas
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Represents Google in Acquisition of ProducerAI
On February 24, 2026, Google announced its acquisition of ProducerAI, a platform that allows users to create and refine music using generative AI. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Google in the transaction.
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Alerts
District Court Finds SoundExchange Lacks Standing to Sue for Unpaid Royalties
On August 7, 2025, a federal district court dismissed the complaint in a lawsuit brought by SoundExchange, Inc., an independent nonprofit representing owners of copyrighted sound recordings that sought underpaid royalties from satellite and internet radio company Sirius XM.1 The court held that the Copyright Act did not confer a private right of action upon SoundExchange to sue, despite its responsibility under the statute for administering the Act's licensing and royalty components.
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Recent Events
Speaking Engagements
Federal Bar Council 2025 Retreat Panel - Making Music: Copyright & AI
Wilson Sonsini Technology Transactions partner Gary Greenstein will present at the Federal Bar Council's 2025 Fall Bench and Bar Retreat on the panel "Making Music: Copyright & AI" on Saturday, October 18th.
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Speaking Engagements
When a Business Uses Music: When are Music Licenses Needed and What Legal Issues Should be Considered?
Wilson Sonsini Technology Transactions partner Gary Greenstein will present during Strafford’s 90-minute CLE webinar “When a Business Uses Music: When are Music Licenses Needed and What Legal Issues Should be Considered?” on Thursday, June 5.
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