Michael S. Anderson

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Direct: 801-257-7983
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Standing photo of Michael S. Anderson Attorney at Parr Brown Gee and Loveless
EDUCATION
  • J.D., Columbia University; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; Parker School Certificate in Foreign and Comparative Law; Articles Editor, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law

  • LL.M., King's College London; With Distinction; Specialism in Public Law and Global Governance (International Media Law)

  • Honors B.S., University of Utah; Magna Cum Laude

  • University of Cambridge (UK)

BAR ADMISSIONS
  • United States Supreme Court

  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

  • Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

  • Utah

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law

  • Vice Chair, Entertainment Law Section of Utah State Bar (Secretary 2018-19, Treasurer 2020-23)

  • Co-chair, Bench-Media Subcommittee of the Utah Judicial Council

  • Member (Legal Media Representative), Utah Judicial Council Standing Committee on Judicial Outreach

  • Board Member, Utah Arts Alliance

  • Steering Committee Member, Meritas Global Entertainment Law Practice Group

  • FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™ Community Council

  • Salt Lake County Community & Economic Development Advisory Council – Chair (2021-2022); Vice Chair (2020-2021); Member (2018-2023)

  • Leadership Utah, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce

  • Board Member, Utah Independent Business Coalition

  • Invited Member, Trusted Advisor

  • ACLU of Utah

  • David K. Watkiss – Sutherland II Inn of Court

  • Media Law Resource Center

  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

  • Beverly Hills Bar Association

  • Federal Bar Association

  • American Bar Association

Michael S. Anderson

Shareholder

Direct: 801-257-7983
Email:

As one of Utah’s top entertainment lawyers, Mike handles complex deals and disputes for clients throughout the entertainment industry, including film, television, music, publishing, radio, fashion, sports, theater, events, art, and media. While specific business and legal issues may vary from one project to the next, he provides clients with comprehensive legal counsel—often concerning contract, tort, securities, insurance, employment, constitutional, and intellectual property law.

Leading Parr Brown’s Entertainment Law group (see lawyersforentertainers.com), Mike represents clients in transactions, litigation, and other projects throughout all sectors and segments of the entertainment industry. His clients range from unknown artists to household names, including directors, screenwriters, actors, producers, record labels, bands, musicians, composers, publishers, authors, sports leagues, teams, athletes, comedians, radio shows, podcasts, networks, newspapers, visual artists, agents, theaters, dance companies, conventions, concerts, festivals, and many others. He has extensive experience with all aspects of entertainment law from basic agreements in early stages to major-label record deals, hit television shows, best-selling novels, award-winning films, and high-stakes lawsuits. He founded the Entertainment Law section of the Utah State Bar, teaches “Arts, Sports, and Entertainment Law” at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, speaks regularly on media and entertainment law issues, and volunteers substantial time with numerous event, community, and art organizations.

With Parr Brown’s Media and First Amendment team, Mike helps businesses, journalists, and individuals with defamation, false light, privacy, and access issues under state and federal law, including the Freedom of Information Act, Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), and Open and Public Meetings Act.

Mike also devotes a significant part of his practice to pro bono work. Through Parr Brown’s Freedom of Information Hotline, he has handled myriad public-access cases. With the ACLU and other Parr Brown attorneys, he challenged the constitutionality of Ogden’s “anti-gang injunction,” which the Utah Supreme Court invalidated as a result of their appeal. On behalf of a coalition of media outlets, he worked to release surveillance footage of a fatal shooting in a federal courtroom. And he has helped refugees seek asylum in the United States.

His accomplishments have been fueled by a tireless work ethic. Prior to joining Parr Brown, Mike won an award at an international film festival, managed political campaigns, was a licensed stockbroker, volunteered at a civil-rights organization to help families displaced by hurricanes, and toured the country as the singer and guitarist for a rock band. During his two years at Columbia Law School, he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar each year, published by the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, elected to multiple governing bodies, awarded recognition in international and comparative law, and selected for Columbia’s national moot court team in constitutional law. Asked to direct that team in his second year, he led four Columbia teams to sweep first through fourth place nationally. In his third year, he moved to England and earned a Master of Laws from King’s College London with distinction, the school’s highest award.

But Mike isn’t particularly interested in fancy pieces of paper. When he’s not just rolling up his sleeves and getting to work, he enjoys movies, music, books, travel, podcasts, and games, whether obsessing over sports analytics or defending his team’s title at “geek trivia” nights around town. He founded a record label in 2013, and the first release reached #1 on Billboard, among other accolades.

Super Lawyers has repeatedly named Mike a “Rising Star,” a recognition awarded to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers each year, for his work in litigation and entertainment law. He has also been recognized by Utah Business Magazine as one of Utah’s Legal Elite and included in The Best Lawyers in America®.

In the News:

Publications & Speaking Engagements:
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Utah Bar Convention, July 2018
  • Utah State Bar: Law Day, May 2019
  • Utah Entertainment Law Section, May 2019
  • Utah Bar Convention, July 2019
  • FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™, September 2019
  • Utah State Bar, December 2019
  • Spy Hop: Art Talk, July 2022
  • Entrada Institute, October 2022
  • FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™, September 2023
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Publications & Speaking Engagements:
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Utah Bar Convention, July 2018
  • Utah State Bar: Law Day, May 2019
  • Utah Entertainment Law Section, May 2019
  • Utah Bar Convention, July 2019
  • FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™, September 2019
  • Utah State Bar, December 2019
  • Spy Hop: Art Talk, July 2022
  • Entrada Institute, October 2022
  • FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™, September 2023

Distinctions

Parr Brown is consistently recognized by peers and clients for its sophisticated legal work.

Utah Legal Elite | Top Lawyers