3rd David A. Pierce Award Ceremony

Each summer, the David A. Pierce Award honors an attorney who has made meaningful contributions to protecting and advancing artists’ rights.
About this Event

Time: Thursday, July 16, 2026, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: The Comedy Store (the original room)

Ticket Price:

Early-Bird Ticket — $50
Student Ticket — $30
Last-Minute Ticket — $60 (After July 10, 2026)

About the Event:

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of comedy, food, networking, and celebration of artists’ rights at the National Society of Entertainment and Art Law’s David A. Pierce Award Ceremony and Gala! This year’s celebration will take place at the legendary Comedy Store in West Hollywood on July 16, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, with an after-party in the front outdoor patio, melding the spirit of advocacy, celebration, community, and entertainment in one iconic venue.

Each 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. This year’s gala will celebrate legal excellence while embracing the joy and humor of the entertainment world, featuring performances by multiple comedians and speeches by NSEAL’s leaders, Steven T. Lowe (Chairman) and Scott Alan Burroughs (East Coast Director), as well as the winner of the award this year, Tim Kappel.

About the David A. Pierce Award Recipient:

Tim Kappel is a nationally recognized music industry attorney, educator, and advocate for the rights of artists and songwriters.

He is a founding partner of Wells & Kappel LLP and a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He has recently gained national recognition as lead counsel in Vetter v. Resnik, a landmark Fifth Circuit case that affirmed worldwide copyright termination rights for creators.

Kappel also authored an amicus brief in the closely watched Salt-N-Pepa v. UMG case and spearheaded advocacy efforts for the Allen Toussaint Legacy Act, a Louisiana law passed in 2022 that establishes a statutory “right of publicity,” allowing 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.

About NSEAL:

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, art, and entertainment cases, and have advised scores of creative professionals on litigation, licensing, and intellectual property strategy. Its members have also argued for and obtained crucial decisions at the appellate court level in cases involving artists’ rights and entertainment law.

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 in multiple ways, including but not limited to: (a) preparing and publishing scholarly articles; (b) putting on continuing legal education events; (c) holding the annual David A. Pierce Award Ceremony; (d) putting on networking events; (e) distributing quarterly newsletters (f) posting educational videos on social media; and (f) engaging in outreach to the community. Many more important projects are in queue.

Website: https://nseal.org/

About The Original Room:

This is where it all started. April 7th, 1972. This is the room where The Store became the home of American Comedy. Known for its intimate shows and late nights, The Original Room is the favorite space for superstar comedians and after midnight heroes to test material, find their voices, and riff with the piano player.

Meet Our MC: Bob Wheeler

Buckle up and get ready for a laughter-filled journey with Bob Wheeler, the everyman comedian who finds the funny in life's most awkward and relatable moments. With a knack for turning cringe-worthy experiences into hilarious tales, Bob's comedy will have you nodding in recognition and giggling with discomfort.

IG: @thebobwheeler

Join us for a night filled with inspiration, laughter, and connection. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with peers, celebrate the power of legal advocacy in the arts, and enjoy comedy at one of the industry's most historic venues.

This is an evening you won’t want to miss! Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details!