John Branca

John Branca is a partner and head of the music department at Ziffren Brittenham LLP, whose practice centers on entertainment and corporate law. He represents recording artists, music companies, entertainers, estates, and investors on artist representation, re-branding, asset acquisitions and sales, corporate investment strategies, live performance and touring, music publishing, royalty recovery, and copyright matters. His clients have included more than 30 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

John earned an A.A. in Philosophy from Los Angeles City College in 1970, an A.B. in Political Science, cum laude with honors, from Occidental College in 1972, and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1975. His legal and academic training provided a foundation for contract negotiation, corporate transactions, intellectual property strategy, estate representation, and the complex business arrangements that shape careers and valuable entertainment assets.

John has spent decades structuring major music and entertainment transactions and advising artists on long-term business strategy. His work has included representing Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, George Harrison, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Berry Gordy, and other prominent music figures. Since 2009, he has also served as co-executor and manager of the Estate of Michael Jackson, helping oversee projects involving recordings, live entertainment, film, and stage productions connected to Jackson’s legacy.

John Branca has received extensive recognition for his work in entertainment law, including Forbes Top 200 Lawyers honors in 2024 and 2025 and inclusion in Best Lawyers in America from 1987 through 2024. He has also been named Billboard Magazine Lawyer of the Year and received the Grammy Foundation Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award. John serves on several boards connected to education, music, and charitable work and remains active as a lecturer at institutions including Harvard Business School, UCLA Law School, USC, and Occidental College.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Ziffren Brittenham LLP
• Member, State Bar of California

Licensed State

• California

Education

• UCLA School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Occidental College
  AB in Political Science with Cum Laude
• Los Angeles City College
  AA in Philosophy