Privileged Communications has rocked the legendary Whisky stage with Law Rocks every year for over a decade. We recently spoke with four of the band’s core members - Lara Dueppen, Oliver Gold, Joe Hamilton, and Michael Wise - about their history, influences, and favorite things about being on stage.
Privileged Communications band members including (from left to right) Joe Hamilton, Lara Dueppen, Michael Wise, Oliver Gold.
The band, featuring legal talent from Perkins Coie, formed after Michael and Joe performed together at previous firm and talked about a battle of bands at partner retreat. Oliver introduced himself and said, “heard about your performance, let’s form a band,” and that’s exactly what they did. They roped in Lara next, who was excited to get back into playing and learn how to play more contemporary piano. Oliver’s friend was added as a bassist, and they were ready to rock.
The band’s energy on stage was matched by their efforts in fundraising, and since 2013, they’ve racked up seven overall wins, a Judges’ Choice Award, and raised an impressive more than $300,000 for charity.
Privileged Communications rocks the Whisky a Go Go at the 2nd Annual Law Rocks Los Angeles (2013).
Oliver, who had toured professionally a drummer in the past, loves being able to get on stage and perform again. For Michael, the atmosphere and being at the iconic Whisky a Go Go is part of the thrill of being on the Law Rocks stage, along with the audience marveling in surprise that lawyers can really rock.
Privileged Communications on The Whisky stage in 2018.
“The Law Rocks crowd is incredible, everyone is into it and having a great time so performing is a blast; You feel the energy from the crowd when performing…and it’s for a great cause.”
— Joe Hamilton, Privileged Communications
Joe Hamilton at the 14th Annual Law Rocks Los Angeles (2024) A family friend gifted Joe his first guitar at the age of 11 or 12, which turned out to be a very valuable 1958 Gibson hollow-body worth “way more than what should’ve been a hand me down to a kid”, he says.
Band member Laura Dueppen rocking the Whisky in 2018.
The band’s classic rock influences led them to perform many inspired covers over the years, with a shared favorite being their rendition of Elton John’s '“Bennie and the Jets”. Lara, whose mother started her on classical piano at the age of 5, finds inspiration in fellow pianist, Billy Joel. Oliver’s roots are in punk rock, with added influences from classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who. From there, his taste has become more eclectic, loving “everything as long as it’s good”.
Oliver once played guitar in a band, but when the drummer flaked, he picked up an old drum kit of his brother’s and the rest was history.
Michael’s first rock concert was Queen’s We Are the Champions tour in Portland, Maine in 1977. “They played 32 songs with 2 encores,” he shared. “It was phenomenal and Freddy Mercury could really work the crowd…The only other entertainer I’ve seen really work the crowd like that was Stevie Wonder.” After taking piano lessons to learn his wedding song to celebrate his 10th Anniversary, Michael began taking voice lessons as a hobby. He found the warm-ups he learned help prep his voice before oral arguments, finding a professional perk in a personal interest.
Paying homage to one of Michael’s favorite musical icons, Freddie Mercury, in 2019
Over the years, the band has chosen to rock in support of the firm’s pro bono clients, raising funds for City of Hope and The Access Project. Going all-in to drum up support, Michael gets the firm partners to pay to choose his hair color for the performance.
Michael gets creative with fundraising, letting firm partners pay to decide his hair color for each performance.
When asked what advice he’d give to someone wondering if they should apply to play a Law Rocks show, Michael’s answer was simple: “Just do it.”
Read more about Privileged Communications in our recap of the 14th Annual Law Rocks Los Angeles.