NSEAL to honor music-industry attorney and artists’ rights advocate Tim Kappel on July 16, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA — There is no shortage of ways to spend a Thursday night in Los Angeles, but few can match an evening of celebrating the year’s biggest legal wins for creatives with comedy, community, and networking at one of Hollywood’s most legendary venues. On July 16, 2026, the National Society of Entertainment and Arts Lawyers (“NSEAL”), an artists’ rights advocacy organization, will host the people who protect creativity for the Third Annual David A. Pierce Award Ceremony at The Comedy Store from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, with an exclusive after-party on the front patio. Expect to network with heavy hitters in the entertainment law space, share big laughs, make meaningful connections, and celebrate those who have stood, and still stand, for artists’ rights.
Event Information
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: The Original Room at The Comedy Store, West Hollywood (8433 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA.)
Tickets:
Early Bird — $50
Students — $30
Last Minute — $60 (After July 10, 2026)
Link: https://events.leapevents.com/event/david-pierce-2026
Every summer, the David A. Pierce Award honors an attorney who has made meaningful contributions to protecting and advancing artists’ rights, carrying forward Mr. Pierce’s legacy of passionate advocacy for creative professionals. Now in its third year, this year’s ceremony will recognize award recipient Tim Kappel and include remarks by NSEAL’s Chairman, Steven T. Lowe, and East Coast Director, Scott Alan Burroughs.
The evening will bring entertainment and arts lawyers, law students, creators, and anyone who shares a commitment to protecting artists’ rights together for a celebration of legal excellence and the entertainment community. Guests will enjoy comedy performances, food, shmoozing, inspiring speeches, and celebration.
This year’s David A. Pierce Award will be presented to Tim Kappel, a nationally recognized music industry attorney, educator, and advocate for artists and songwriters. Kappel is a founding partner of Wells & Kappel LLP and served as lead counsel in Vetter v. Resnik, a significant Fifth Circuit case that recently granted creators worldwide copyright termination rights. He also supported artists through his advocacy in connection with both the NSEAL amicus brief filed in the Salt-N-Pepa v. UMG case and his related article, as well as his work on the Allen Toussaint Legacy Act, a Louisiana law passed in 2022 that establishes a statutory “right of publicity,” which allows individuals to control the commercial use of their identities.
Beyond his legal practice, Kappel serves as Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Music Industry Studies program at Loyola University New Orleans’ School of Music and Theatre Professions and is President of the Recording Academy’s Memphis Chapter Board for 2025-2026.
Tim Kappel, recipient of the 2026 David A. Pierce Award
The evening will be hosted by comedian Bob Wheeler and will feature comic performances by headliners Argus Hamilton and Karen Haber, along with Char Ramtin, Eric Rocha, Faith Ladzinski, Atlas Novack, Ben Brandfon, and Jeffrey Reyes Jr.
Every year, the event gives members of the entertainment and arts law community an opportunity to reconnect, celebrate their successes, talk about future projects, and renew their shared commitment to protecting artists and creators.
Proceeds will support NSEAL’s continuing work on behalf of artists and creators through amicus advocacy, litigation support, educational programs, policy initiatives, scholarly law review articles, and community outreach.
2025 David A. Pierce Award Ceremony
About NSEAL
The National Society of Entertainment and Arts Lawyers (“NSEAL”) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 2013 (originally as the California Society of Entertainment Lawyers). This national organization advocates for artists’ and creator’s rights and is comprised of attorneys across the United States who represent authors, screenwriters, songwriters, musicians, and other creative professionals in the entertainment and arts industries, as well as law professors, law students and artists. Its members have litigated thousands of entertainment and art cases in trial and appellate courts throughout the country, including many of the most important recent copyright and entertainment cases, and have advised scores of creative professionals on litigation, licensing, and intellectual property strategy.
The organization has filed amicus briefs in support of the prevailing party in several significant copyright cases, including Petrella v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (2014), Unicolors, Inc. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz, L.P. (2022), Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith (2023), and Warner Chappell Music, Inc. v. Nealy (2024), all of which involved important issues of copyright law and reached conclusions consistent with the reasoning advanced in NSEAL’s briefs. More recently, NSEAL participated as amicus curiae in Vetter v. Resnik (2025), where the Fifth Circuit cited NSEAL’s amicus brief in its published opinion addressing issues of copyright infringement and substantial similarity.
NSEAL also engages in advocacy for artists outside the courtroom in multiple ways, including but not limited to: (a) drafting and publishing scholarly articles; (b) presenting continuing legal education events; (c) holding the annual David A. Pierce Award Ceremony; (d) hosting on networking events; (e) distributing quarterly newsletters; (f) offering educational videos online; and (f) engaging in outreach to the community. Many more important projects are in the queue!
Website: https://nseal.org/
Meet Our MC: Bob Wheeler
Buckle up and prepare for a laughter-filled journey with Bob Wheeler, the everyman comedian who finds the funny in life’s most awkward moments. With a knack for turning cringe-worthy experiences into hilarious tales, Bob’s comedy will have you nodding in recognition and giggling at relatable discomfort.
IG: @thebobwheeler
About the Comedians:
| Karen Haber (headliner) “I paused my career for almost twenty years because I adopted two babies and had no idea what I was getting into. I stayed home with them so I wouldn’t screw them up, but surprise! I screwed them up anyway!” Under the wings of Mitzi Shore, Karen did late night TV, Vegas showrooms, cable specials and movies. She also performed at the Just For Laughs festival and was a guest on the iconic Arsenio Hall Show. She returned to her comedy career three years ago, and is so happy to be doing comedy again. Her name is on the wall of the Comedy Store. Nobody knows who put it there. IG: @karenhabercomic | |
| Argus Hamilton (headliner) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and host of The Comedy Store Tonight starring Argus Hamilton. Hamilton began performing stand-up in the 1970s and is one of the original comics associated with the iconic Comedy Store. Over his career, he has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show, written for shows including The Richard Pryor Show and Laugh-In, and built a national audience through his syndicated humor column. Robin Williams famously called him “the Will Rogers of the Baby Boom” for his quick wit and commentary-driven style. IG: @argushamilton | |
| Char Ramtin is a San Diego based stand-up comic known for her playful, candid style and bold crowd work. She regularly headlines venues like The Comedy Store, Madhouse Comedy Club, Mic Drop Comedy, and The Laugh Factory. IG: @char.ramtin | |
| Eric Rocha is a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian known for his raw, unapologetic, storytelling and sharp wit. Rocha brings a unique voice to the stage, blending personal experiences with biting humor and emotional depth. He is a regular at the Comedy Store and has appeared on popular podcasts like The Church of What’s Happening Now. IG: @ericrochacomedy | |
| Faith Ladzinski is a comedian based in Los Angeles. She performs all over the country, has been featured in the Netflix Is A Joke festival, and recently taped a set with LMAOF. She is a Door Guy at The Comedy Store and recently opened for Joel Kim Booster on tour. IG:@faithladzinski | |
| Atlas Novack is a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian, podcast host and writer, known for his relatable storytelling and observational humor. He frequently performs at major comedy clubs in the LA area, including the Hollywood Improv. Atlas is the creator and co-host of Nexus at Night and the Generation DAN podcasts. IG: @atlasnovack | |
| Ben Brandfon is a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian. Ben has performed all over the LA area, including the Improv Comedy Clubs, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Hollywood, the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica and the Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena. Ben has also performed at venues all over the country, such as the Alamo Drafthouse Theater in San Francisco, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy in Phoenix, Wiseguys Las Vegas, Zanies Comedy Night Club in Chicago and numerous theaters and casinos. Ben had a featured set for Don’t Tell Comedy in 2023 and can be seen regularly at the Comedy Store in Hollywood, California. IG: @benbrandfon | |
| Jeffrey Reyes Jr is a Los Angeles based comedian, who performs at major comedy venues and is affiliated with the Door Guy program at The Comedy Store—a well known group of comedians who frequently perform at The Comedy Store. Jeffrey regularly appears in showcases while developing new material and growing an audience online. IG: @jeff_gotdajuice |
About NSEAL Leaders
Scott Alan Burroughs (left) and Steven T. Lowe (right) at a May 2026 NSEAL event in New York City
Steven T. Lowe, Chairman
A proud founding member of NSEAL, Steven T. Lowe serves as Senior Attorney and Managing Partner of Lowe & Associates and is widely respected for his leadership, vision, and enduring contributions to the legal and creative communities. He has published many articles, including a law review article that was recently published by the University of San Francisco School of Law in their IP and Tech Journal, entitled “Beware The Black List: Obstacles to Establishing Screenplay Infringement in the Ninth Circuit“.
Scott Alan Burroughs, East Coast Director
Scott Alan Burroughs is a partner at the powerhouse entertainment firm Doniger / Burroughs and is widely respected for his exceptional work on behalf of artists and creators. He has been recognized as a New York Super Lawyer for each of the past four years, and named by Billboard Magazine in 2024 as one of the nation’s leading music attorneys.
