As a college intern at Def Jam Records, Julian K. Petty saw firsthand how poorly artists were represented, and he vowed that someday, he’d do something about it. Fast-forward 20 years, and Petty now is a top entertainment lawyer who represents some of the biggest names in rap and hip-hop music, including Childish Gambino, A Tribe Called Quest and the estate of the Notorious B.I.G. As head of Nixon Peabody’s entertainment law practice, the Los Angeles-based partner specializes in crafting cross-disciplinary deals that maximize ownership interests and business opportunities that can range from nontraditional record deals and reality shows to concert promotions and clothing lines.

Q. What’s your favorite part of your practice?

A. I love the music and the live performances, but my favorite part is helping young people fulfill their dreams. I enjoy being part of that process, from the point when an artist comes in with an offer to when they hand their mom the keys to her own house. I just watched that happen with a client, and whenever that happens, I always get the chills.

Read more from Jenny B. Davis about Julian Petty.