Jeffrey Harleston is General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment with operations in more than 60 countries. UMG’s labels include Capitol, Interscope, Republic, Motown, Island, Def Jam, Decca and Verve, as well as a leading global music publishing company, Universal Music Publishing.
Harleston is a member of UMG’s executive management board and he is responsible for overseeing all business transactions, contracts, and litigation for UMG’s operations worldwide. In addition, he is also responsible for the company’s government relations, trade and anti-piracy activities.
Harleston has been recognized for his many achievements including receiving The Recording Academy’s 2020 Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award and Billboard’s 2018 “Lawyer of the Year.” Harleston is annually recognized by Billboard on the magazine’s “Power 100” list of the most powerful executives in the music industry.
Harleston serves on the Board of the Berkeley Law Alumni Association and he is a Member of the Board of Trustees of Williams College.
Harleston graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Williams College and holds a J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law at U.C. Berkeley.
