David McLaughlin

David McLaughlin is the Principal of McLaughlin Law. He is widely acknowledged as one of the leading entertainment lawyers in Australasia.
He also has a strong background in IT and digital media law as well as all aspects of company and commercial law.
David began his career at one of New Zealand’s top national law firms and subsequently held senior positions in other leading law firms before establishing McLaughlin Law in 2006.
David represents a wide range of clients from all areas of the entertainment industries both in terms of their activities in New Zealand and on the world stage. As well as advising organisations such as the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand David’s services are also retained by emerging and established, musicians, writers, artists and film makers. David’s IT and video game clients include some of the most internationally successful to emerge from New Zealand in their chosen fields.
As well as his legal work, David is a past trustee of the Play It Strange charitable trust which promotes song writing in schools. He is also the co-founder of New Zealand’s ‘Creative People’s Centre’ a charitable organisation which aims to increase the accessibility of arts law resources and advice in New Zealand.
David has regular legal columns in Onfilm, New Zealand Musician Magazine and his own entertainment law focused blog ‘Law Will Tear Us Apart’, as well as lecturing on business and legal issues at universities and other tertiary institutions throughout New Zealand. David is a member of the New Zealand Society of Authors, the New Zealand and the International Video Game Developers Associations, the New Zealand Screen Production and Development Association, the Australasian Performing Right Association and the New Zealand Institute of Directors. David was also a songwriter for and founding member of the band Vauxhall with whom he has recorded 3 EPs and one full length album.