Attorneys: Karl Braun

Overview

Mr. Braun is a partner in Hall Booth Smith's Nashville office, where he specializes in various areas of litigation and transactional work.  Beginning in early 1995, Mr. Braun’s litigation practice with HBS has continued to grow in both Georgia and Tennessee.  Early on in his career with HBS, Mr. Braun practiced extensively in the areas of general liability and medical malpractice litigation, areas in which he continues to practice today.  As his practice has grown, he has developed expertise in assisting businesses with formation, formalities, dissolution, acquisitions, transactions and related matters.  He has also developed an extensive transactional practice focused primarily within the entertainment industry.  His litigation practice has expanded to include intellectual property matters in the entertainment industry and otherwise, legal malpractice, transportation, business litigation and retail liability.  Mr. Braun also has experience in the areas of insurance coverage, construction, products liability, family law and appellate work. 

Mr. Braun's entertainment litigation and transactional specialties were born from personal experience. Having spent more than fifteen years as a professional musician and songwriter, Mr. Braun offers a unique, first-hand understanding of the "real life" dynamics inherent in the relationship between industry and artist/songwriter.  Additionally, Mr. Braun offers a wealth of insight based upon his business experience and transactional work for entertainment industry entities of all types including, publishers, record companies, film and video production companies, entertainment conglomerates, songwriters, artists, administrators, entertainment entrepreneurs/investors and more.  He is a regular speaker at the annual Entertainment, Sports and Intellectual Law Conference and has spoken at other entertainment industry conferences as well on various issues facing the music and entertainment industries.  His practice requires frequent and relevant interaction with all aspects of the entertainment world in areas including, but not limited to, social networking, music and video streaming, downloading, subscription services and analyzing their impact on the industry as a whole.  His expertise includes effective utilization of social networking and website development for business marketing and promotional purposes for clients including emerging and established businesses, publishers, artists, songwriters, producers, agents, managers, record companies and more.  Mr. Braun has been annually included in the Music Row publication, "In Charge" which highlights "Nashville's Music Industry Decision Makers."

Mr. Braun attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida where he studied music and received a B.A. in creative writing. He attended Georgia State University College of Law where he was an Associate Editor of Notes and Comments, Georgia State Law Review and a member of the Outer Barristers Guild. He also published reviews of selected 1991 Georgia Legislation (Georgia State University Law Review, Vol. 8, No. I, Jan. 1992). Mr. Braun received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1992. He is a voting member of the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences, the Country Music Association and is admitted to practice in Georgia and Tennessee. Mr. Braun represented one of the nominees for the 2012 Presidential Campaign, in nationally publicized copyright litigation involving music performing rights.

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property / Entertainment

Having grown up in Nashville, it was a natural transition for Mr. Braun to open the Nashville office of the firm in 2002. Mr. Braun developed the first entertainment practice at the firm and now represents record companies, publishing companies, film and video production companies, entertainment conglomerates, artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, entertainment entrepreneurs and investors in all aspects of the entertainment industry. Having developed a specialty in music catalogue acquisitions, Mr. Braun has advised clients in all aspects of valuation, purchasing and exploiting music catalogues including through bankruptcy proceedings. He offers intellectual property valuation services for estate and gift tax planning purposes as well. Mr. Braun's practice includes advising clients regarding the establishment and maintenance of various entities including corporations, LLC's and partnerships.  He also represents artists in all facets of career development, nurturing and sustainability.  Mr. Braun also has extensive experience in general intellectual property litigation and transactional work in many areas.

Mr. Braun offers a wide array of transactional negotiation experience and intellectual property expertise to clients in Tbilisi. From negotiating complex international agreements to offering copyright and trademark services across a broad spectrum of media, branding and global licensing platforms, Mr. Braun provides client support and effective guidance through intellectual property protection and exploitation for businesses and individuals.  He also assists with intellectual property based investment and entrepreneurial ventures, innovative transactional solutions and maximizing new technologies to help facilitate private sector business development and growth.

Alternative Dispute Resolution/Arbitration

Mr. Braun offers general and family law mediation services.  He is certified as a Rule 31 family law mediator in Tennessee. His practice has included experience in a multitude of mediation settings as an advocate and he offers alternatives to litigation in an environment which facilitates effective compromise and  decision making empowerment as a neutral.  Clients can look forward to being fully engaged and involved in resolving their own disputes and matters using a cost-efficient alternative to litigation. 

Professional Negligence / Medical Malpractice

Mr. Braun's experience litigating and trying medical malpractice cases with HBS began in Georgia in January, 1995.  His professional negligence litigation practice expanded to include legal malpractice shortly thereafter.  Mr. Braun continues this comprehensive practice both in Georgia and Tennessee.  During that time he has represented hospitals, physicians, nurses, and attorneys in all aspects of the professional negligence arena.

International

Mr. Braun's experience and practice includes representing clients and interests on the international stage both in conjunction with, and independently of, the Tbilisi office of the firm.  His international practice includes, among other areas, transactional work in the entertainment and technology industries.

General Liability

During his years with HBS, Mr. Braun has litigated a multitude of general liability cases on behalf of insurance companies and private entities.  He has trial experience in both state and federal courts.  He has experience with cases of all levels of exposure and involving a wide array of allegations and issues.  He also offers consultation services on legal issues concerning customer safety and safety in the workplace for all types of businesses.  His clients have included retail establishments, hospitals, Travel Centers, restaurants, private entities. 

Transportation

Mr. Braun has experience litigating cases involving many aspects of the transportation industry.  In addition to representing over-the-road operators, Mr. Braun has also represented transportation companies and full service Travel Centers in Georgia and Tennessee. 

Business Litigation

Mr. Braun's litigation practice includes experience representing clients involved in business disputes.  Both in the entertainment industry and otherwise, he has offered his expertise and litigation skills to businesses embroiled in unfortunate litigation over a variety of issues. 

Transactional

Mr. Braun's entertainment litigation and transactional specialties were born from personal experience. He offers a wealth of insight based upon his business experience and transactional work for entertainment industry entities of all types including, publishers, record companies, film and video production companies, entertainment conglomerates, songwriters, artists, administrators, entertainment entrepreneurs/investors and more.  He is a regular speaker at the annual Entertainment, Sports and Intellectual Law Conference and has spoken at other entertainment industry conferences as well on various issues facing the music and entertainment industries. In addition to his experience in the entertainment-related transactional realm, Mr. Braun has advised, facilitated and participated in many new business ventures on behalf of transactional clients with a wide variety of business needs. Forming entities, structuring partnerships, facilitating acquisitions and assisting with due diligence have all been integral aspects of Mr. Braun's transactional contribution to clients.

Construction

Whether you are an owner, construction manager, contractor, subcontractor, engineer or architect, your business depends on efficiency, cooperation and timeliness at all stages of the project.  Whether you are responsible as a general or a sub, your work depends upon the work of others both in timely performance that meets or exceeds industry standards and in compliance with contract terms throughout the duration of the project. Whether it involves contract compliance, delay or extra work, payment issues, liens, change orders, unexpected contingencies, human interaction and communication, etc., Mr. Braun aptly participates as a legal member of the team to anticipate, advise and assist in navigating what can be complex rules and regulations, terms and conditions, while facilitating communication during all stages of the project.  Mr. Braun's alternative dispute resolution skills provide resolution of project disputes before they become significantly costly delays.  Should litigation become necessary, Mr. Braun is experienced in litigating construction disputes in both state and federal courts.  Mr. Braun is also experienced in protecting and litigating intellectual property rights associated with architectural plans.  Since passage of the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act (AWCPA), which amended the Copyright Act to specifically include "architectural works" among the list of protected works, architects have enjoyed protection of their intellectual labor.  Since protection of pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works is also established under the Act, architects can secure complete protection for their works. Mr. Braun assists in the protection of not only the design of a building (as embodied in buildings, architectural plans, or drawings) but also of the diagrams, models, and technical drawings themselves.