SONIC CONSULTING GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Legal Director, Liquid State ( Sony / Tencent JV )
Damian's pragmatic approach in sometimes difficult situations, fosters results while maintaining positive relationships. He keeps his eye on the legal aspects without losing sight of the nuances associated with the practical commercial outcomes required. Damian is highly regarded in the highly complex entertainment industry and is an asset to our business as we grow into international markets.
Cherith is a Senior Associate with Sonic Lawyers.
Admitted to practise in 1991, Cherith has since gained a breadth of legal and related experience across a range of industries and sectors. Her legal experience spans both litigious and non-litigious practice, gained within private practice, government organisations and the courts system.
Of particular note has been Cherith's GLAM sector experience gained in-house at the renowned Art Gallery of New South Wales, in which Cherith managed the rights and responsibilities of the Gallery whilst also maintaining excellent relations with the all-important artists on which the Gallery relies.
Cherith has also previously served as Associate to the former President of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia.
Outside of law, Cherith's interest in creative industries and enterpreneurial nous saw her establish the womenswear label Maison d'Être in late 2018, which offers sustainable clothing all locally designed and made.
Cherith holds Bachelor of Jurisprudence and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Western Australia, and a Bachelor of Arts (first class honours) degree majoring in philosophy from the University of Sydney.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Principal
- Principal of Sonic Rights Management
Damian is the Principal of Sonic Lawyers and Sonic Rights Management.
Through his extensive international experience and pragmatic approach, Damian has become known as one of Australia's most trusted and connected music industry legal executives.
Prior to establishing Sonic Lawyers, Damian was most recently the Head of Legal & Business Affairs at the iconic Australian music rights management company J. Albert & Son. In this role, Damian oversaw the management and exploitation of the company's copyrights globally (including the catalogues of AC/DC and Vanda & Young), the representation of third party catalogues regionally in Australasia, and the transaction for the sale of the company itself in 2016. Damian continues to serve the company's former owner Alberts in the management of the AC/DC and Vanda & Young catalogues.
As principal of Sonic Rights Management, Damian manages the estate of the late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott.
Admitted to practise in 1994, Damian has also held various in-house legal and management roles both locally and overseas, including with Sony Music, US IT giant Oracle Corporation, and leading Australian telco Telstra. Prior to moving in-house, Damian worked as a solicitor with Banki Haddock Fiora in Sydney and, before that, Phillips Fox (now DLA Piper/Lavan) in Perth.
Damian currently serves on the boards of AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited) and CSA (Copyright Society of Australia, of which he is also a past President). He has previously served on the boards of PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia) and WAM (Western Australian Music Industry Association), the Copyright Committee of ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) and the Legal Sub-Committee of BPI (British Phonographic Industry). Damian volunteers as a panel lawyer for the Arts Law Centre of Australia.
Damian holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Laws degree (specialising in Media, Communications & Information Technology Law) from the University of New South Wales.
Job Titles:
- CEO, Top Dog Group Pty Ltd
Troy Barrott is an Associate with Sonic Lawyers.
Troy is an experienced music industry professional, having held senior positions at major record label BMG, managed ARIA and APRA Award-winning artists, launched successful music start-ups and led APAC for leading multinational music/tech businesses.
Prior to joining Sonic Lawyers, Troy led the APAC region for UK production music company Audio Network, which included opening their first China office; and was instrumental in establishing a market-leading presence for French music distribution company Believe Digital. The Hub Music Group was founded by Troy in 2001 and was instrumental in establishing international careers for Australian artists and producers such as Megan Washington, Old Man River, John Castle and Gold Fields in collaboration with companies such as Sony Music, Republic Records, Kobalt, Universal and Alberts.
Troy has lectured at the Australian Institute of Music, JMC and Berklee College of Music, as well as establishing the Unisounds brand which delivered live performances and music programs to over 80 tertiary education institutions across Australia. Troy has acted as a peer assessor for the Australia Council for the Arts and sat on the Advisory Board of the inaugural APRA Songhubs programme and the Board of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association.
Troy has a passion for deal-making and bringing people together to make opportunities happen. Troy's recent legal studies have focussed on important new technology issues facing the music industry, including legal innovation in blockchain technology, NFTs and smart contracts. Troy's commercial expertise and broad experience offer a unique perspective on contemporary legal issues.
Troy holds a Bachelor of Business degree in Marketing from Charles Sturt University, a Juris Doctor degree from the Australian National University, and was admitted to practise in 2023.