{
  "id": 8055976,
  "title": "Former UnitedMasters Legal Chief Sasha Safavi Launches New Law Firm Called Syndicate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/former-unitedmasters-legal-chief-sasha-safavi-launches-new-law-firm",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T16:01:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/pro/unitedmasters-sasha-safavi-launches-law-firm-syndicate/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sasha Safavi, who served as UnitedMasters' head of legal and music licensing for the past five years, has departed to establish his own law firm named Syndicate. Upon launching, he secures UnitedMasters, Audiomack, Rebellion Records, and Overtime as his initial clients. Billboard recognizes Safavi among its 2026 Indie Power Players, alongside Duane Keffe D Davis, who issued his first interview after a conviction for the murder of Tupac Shakur.\n\nSafavi's professional journey has predominantly revolved around the distribution sector, having previously worked at TuneCore before joining UnitedMasters. In his time at UnitedMasters, he managed artist contracts and brand partnerships with prominent entities such as the NFL, NBA, TikTok, and the 2022 World Cup. He also spearheaded brand campaigns for AT&T, Meta, and McDonald's, among others. UnitedMasters, founded by Steve Stoute, is linked with Stoute's brand agency Translation; collectively, Safavi oversaw transactions worth approximately $250 million over the past five years.\n\nIn his own words, Safavi expressed his commitment to his clients, stating, \"Our clients become family. We make memories together, and we are right there for the moments that change the trajectory of their lives.\" He added, \"We move with grace and integrity on their behalf, while pushing them towards greatness internally. In a rapidly evolving entertainment industry, we’re building a law firm for the next generation of global leaders.\"\n\nSafavi has organized Syndicate into three divisions — creators, athletics, and corporations — with the vision of positioning the firm as a business partner rather than a traditional law firm. This includes the development of an in-house AI tool called Aaliyah, as well as the hiring of data analysts and engineers to assist clients in navigating the legal landscape.",
  "summary": "The new company will provide legal services to creators, athletes and companies, and includes UnitedMasters and Audiomack among its first clients.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}