Biography

Wayne Rooks is a senior and founding partner at Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill LLP. His practice is focused on advising clients in the music and entertainment industries with an emphasis on intellectual property, talent negotiations, recording agreements, music and book publishing matters, talent-management relationships and copyright, particularly in the area of copyright terminations.

Mr. Rooks began his legal career in 1971 with the firm Rosen, Seton & Sarbin working with clients such as Dick Clark and Bill Graham. In 1975, Mr. Rooks was hired by CBS as an attorney specializing in the area of recording and music publishing agreements and copyright matters, a job that led to the position of Senior Director of Business Affairs for CBS Records and CBS Music Publishing. In 1992, he joined Joseph L. Serling to establish what would become Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill LLP.

Mr. Rooks has represented numerous recording artists, from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame legends to the most current artists, as well as Grammy and Emmy Award-winning songwriters. Mr. Rooks represents a number of record companies and music publishers, both foreign and domestic, and artist managers.

Practice Areas
Entertainment
Copyright Law
Book Publishing

Bar Admissions
New York, 1971

Education
J.D., Wayne State University, 1970 cum laude