Carlos Linares

Luis Carlos Linares Jr. is an intellectual property attorney and partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, where he leads the firm’s entertainment law practice and provides strategic counsel to rights holders seeking to protect, commercialize, and enforce their valuable intellectual property assets worldwide. After earning a degree in Music Performance from Louisiana State University and a law degree from the University of Florida, Carlos dedicated over two decades to serving as Content Protection Counsel at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In this role, he worked to safeguard the rights of U.S. music... companies and recording artists, combining legal expertise with a deep understanding of the music industry to combat infringement and support the creative community.

As an experienced entertainment attorney, he provides comprehensive legal counsel to clients in the music and live events industries, offering practical and strategic guidance across a wide range of matters. He has drafted, reviewed, and negotiated recording and production agreements for both emerging and established artists, as well as publishing administration deals, band operating agreements, and artist management contracts. His work includes negotiating licenses for performance rights, merchandise, sponsorships, and endorsements, along with venue, touring, and festival performance agreements. He also assists with dispute resolution and the negotiation of contracts in the film, television, literary, visual arts, and influencer environments.

Carlos has extensive experience directing the protection of intellectual property portfolios, including the registration of trademarks and the administration of copyright assets. He has led efforts to combat digital piracy of entertainment content, directing online investigations teams in the development of cases for both criminal and civil litigation. He has created and implemented strategic enforcement initiatives aimed at disrupting infringing activity on illicit websites and removing counterfeit goods from e-commerce platforms.

Parallel to his legal career, Carlos is an active working musician – a classically trained trumpet player performing a distinctive blend of soul, rock, and reggae in venues across the D.C. region and beyond. He has collaborated with platinum selling recording artists, lending his talents to both studio sessions and live performances. His ongoing involvement in music keeps him grounded and deeply connected to the creative arts, bringing a unique rhythm and perspective to both his personal and professional life.