Entertainment Lawyer Damien Granderson '03 to Return as Alumni in Residence

Damien Granderson, Esq. ’03 has represented some of music and entertainment’s biggest stars and later this month he will share his insights with Albany Law School’s students.

A founding partner at Granderson Des Rochers, LLP, Granderson has served as counsel and handled transactions for Nicki Minaj, Zendaya, A$AP Rocky, J. Cole, Wizkid, J. Balvin and other notable artists and entertainers.

Granderson is returning to Albany Law as part of the Alumni in Residence program, an honor bestowed upon an alumna/us by the Dean on October 25 and 26, designed to provide opportunities for students to uniquely interact and sit side-by-side with our honoree as they provide real-world experience in a specific area of practice.

“Damien is a terrific example of the possibilities an Albany Law School education offers. We are looking forward to welcoming him back to campus and learning more about his accomplished career,” said President and Dean Alicia Ouellette ’94. “Our students are thrilled to be able to get an inside look at the music and entertainment industry from a legal perspective.”  

During his visit, student will have several opportunities to meet and network with Granderson, including attending his keynote entitled, “How I Got Here” on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. in the DAMC, followed by a meet and greet reception. Additionally, students will have a chance to interact with him at the campus celebration of our 2022 Alumni in Residence at the recognition display, in the West Foyer on Wednesday, October 26 at 12 p.m. To register, click here.

Finally, Granderson will meet with students, faculty, and staff within the Admissions Office, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, and the Career and Professional Development Center and join an Art and Entertainment law class taught by Professor Robert Heverly ’92.

Granderson is consistently recognized as one of the music and entertainment industry’s most prominent attorneys. He has been named to Billboard’s “Top Music Lawyers” and “Change Agents” lists, The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top Music Lawyers” list, and Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report” and “Legal Impact Report.”

Beyond his legal practice, Granderson is an active board member of the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) and is a trustee at The Center for Early Education.

Prior to launching the firm, Granderson was a partner at Davis Shapiro Lewit Grabel Leven Granderson & Blake, LLP. He began his career in Business & Legal Affairs at Entertainment One, LP (formerly, Koch Entertainment). He received his B.S. in Business Management from Stony Brook University and J.D. from Albany Law School. He is licensed in both New York and California.

The Alumni in Residence program, inaugurated in 1992, is designed to bring Albany Law School’s most distinguished alumni into the classroom to share their expertise with students and to raise awareness about the value of an Albany Law School degree. For more information, including previous Alumni In Residence honors, visit our website by clicking here.