About

As head of legal and business affairs at Warner Music Italy, Filippo Pardini works in a unique and fascinating role combining legal and business aspects of the music group. Refusing to act as a ‘common’ legal office, the recording industry necessitates Pardini and his department play a more active role, with a keen eye on business development. Somewhat encapsulating the intense relationship between legal and business affairs, Pardini’s team operate in the huge world of entertainment that ‘changes and develops really quickly’ and requires expert knowledge in a range of fields. Internet platforms, new way of usages and new forms of infringement of copyright, which Pardini is involved in on a day-to-day basis all straddle the legal and business worlds. The most enjoyable aspect of the role for Pardini is ‘working for a company that creates something’, as he lends support to the creative process. He states that he really needs to have his work ‘linked to a product that finally goes to the market’, preferring this to being a ‘consultant’ on a wide range of matters’. Pardini started in the music industry via an in-house legal role at Media Records where he introduced procedures and the intercompany contracts to link all Media Records companies together across Europe. Having proven himself first in the legal function, he was given the managing director role at Media Records, preparing him for the business aspect of the industry by the time he joined Warner Music Italy in 2008.