Top music lawyer sings Obama tune

By Eriq Gardner

Barack Obama has tapped Tom Perrelli, managing partner of Jenner & Block's Washington office and co-chair of the firm's entertainment & new media practice, to be associate attorney general. 

The Obama administration is getting off to a good start with those in the entertainment community. Perrelli has represented the recording industry in intellectual property, technology and anti-piracy litigation and represented the industry in contentious proceedings before the Copyright Royalty Board. The music industry has long sought more cooperation from federal law enforcement in the battles against copyright pirates and and was instrumental in lobbying for an IP czar. Many view Perrelli's appointment as a good sign.

Perelli has experience working in government, having served as counsel to former attorney general Janet Reno and later becoming Deputy Assistant Attorney General, representing federal agencies in complex civil litigation.