At her core, Valerie Ojeda is a storyteller with a Chicago soul. Known for her boundless energy and a voice that can command any room, Valerie has built a career around the magic of human connection. During the week, she is the professional face of Fortune 500 leaders like Dell, 3M, and Microsoft, traveling the country as a corporate presenter and event emcee. But when the weekend arrives, Valerie finds her true home on stage.

As the lead singer and manager of "Anthem Road," she has shared the spotlight with icons like Berlin and Warrant, but her most cherished memories are the moments that move the spirit. From singing the National Anthem for a stadium of fans to her life-changing experience performing for U.S. Troops in Kuwait this past summer, Valerie’s heart is always with her audience. For her, being on stage is more than just entertainment; it is an act of service. Joining Law Rocks is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream: the opportunity to turn her "highest form of consciousness" into a tangible way to give back to the communities she loves.

aTradeShowPresenter.com
AnthemRoadBand.com

LaFrae Sci is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer, and electro-acoustic adventurer. Bedrock to her artistry is the roots and the fruits of the blues from spirituals to afro-diasporic futuristic soundscapes that explore time travel, prayer, meditation, and the African American ecstatic tradition. As a composer, she writes for film, theater, and large and extended jazz and classical orchestras. She writes for all instruments and her creative range spans immersive and ambisonic music, blues, various ethnomusicological traditions, rock, pop, hip-hop, and her own brand of subaquatic deconstructed techno soul. To date, LaFrae has shared her intentional creativity in 40 countries. LaFrae has played drums for The Burnt Sugar Arkestra, The Black Rock Coalition Orchestra, Valerie June, Keziah Jones, Sandra Bernhard, Kelis, Nancy Sinatra (w/ Morrissey), blues greats Jr. Mack and Pinetop Perkins, Irene Cara, Bumblefoot, Cyndi Lauper, Reuben Wilson, Rachel Z, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. LaFrae is also the Executive Director/Dir of Artistic Programming at Willie Mae Future Sounds named after Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton. W.M.F.S. is a STEAM-based, year-round empowerment through music program that includes social justice, Afro Diasporic futurism, critical thinking, and leadership, through the lens of the blues tradition for girls and gender non-conforming youth in New York City. 

As the Founder and CEO of Black Panda PR, Amanda brings over a decade of experience and an undeniable passion to the world of music publicity. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she became known as "Amanda Panda," a radio personality on Z104's popular morning show, Connie & Fish in the Mornings (Top 40 Radio). It was here that her infectious personality first resonated with listeners and where her passion for the music industry truly took root. Since then, Amanda has dedicated herself to promoting indie bands and collaborating with a diverse range of artists—from iconic acts like Frankie Valli, Bob Seger, Vanessa Carlton, Shontelle, The Neighbourhood, Eddie Money, and Sugar Ray, to emerging talents like Isabel LaRosa, Lyrah, Zoe Ko, Adanna Duru, and many more.

VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION, GRAMMY Museum®

Arin Canbolat serves as the Vice President of Education for the GRAMMY Museum®, serving as a key member of the Museum’s senior leadership team. In his role, he leads evaluating, improving and expanding existing programs, as well as designing curricula for new, scalable programming with a focus on music and music industry education for K-12 students to grow the Museum's educational impact across the United States. He oversees the following existing programs: GRAMMY Camp®, Music Educator Award™, mentorship programs, GRAMMY in the Schools® the Museum’s online platform Learning Hub.

Canbolat was formerly associate dean for Education Outreach at Berklee College of Music. In that role, he developed and oversaw teacher training and course facilitation, facilitated broad assessment studies, administered educational planning for college students, implemented strategies for cross-departmental work for college student success, stewarded major gifts for pre-college students entering college, led the City Music College Scholarship awarding committee, maintained data tracking and analyzation systems and cultivated education and corporate partnerships.

In his role, he also oversaw the Berklee City Music Network, a global consortium of over 40 partner organizations reaching more than 65,000 students annually; evaluating and recruiting new members, providing them with resources and guidance in building capacity for fundraising, organizational structure, curriculum, professional development, and scholarship opportunities.

Previously, he was general manager at The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School, responsible for business operations including partnerships, strategic planning, fundraising, budget management, and union faculty management. He co-designed the Take Me To The River music history course with the film’s director, and GRAMMY® Award-Winner, Martin Shore. Before this, Canbolat worked at Concord Music Group in International Sales and Marketing.

Canbolat is a Professional Member of the Recording Academy® and board member of the Take Me To The River Education Initiative, a non-profit organization focused on sharing and teaching the origins of American music. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music from The New School and Master of Music in Music Business and Entertainment Industries from the University of Miami. He is a saxophonist.

Chris Bergson is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, singer and songwriter. “Chris Bergson plays the kind of guitar you can build a house on – it’s B.B. meets Steve Cropper meets John Scofield.” (ROLL Magazine) No Depression writes: “Upon first hearing guitar man Chris Bergson and his gravely southern drawl, which is a combination of Levon Helm and Gregg Allman, you can hardly believe this guy is from New York City… An artist dedicated to bringing blues and classic R&B into the future while honoring the past.” Hailed as "the New York street poet with a blues soul" (MOJO) and "a kind of Edward Hopper of the blues," (Blues MagazIne UK) Bergson is best known as the leader of the Chris Bergson Band who Elmore Magazine calls “one of the most talented bands playing today...From blazing rock to funk to soul to Delta blues and all that's in between.” Bergson was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist in 2015 and is an Associate Professor of Guitar at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Bergson is also an accomplished sideman who's performed with luminaries across a wide range of genres including Norah Jones, Levon Helm of The Band and Howlin' Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin. The Chris Bergson Band's latest album Comforts of Home with special guest Bernard Purdie received Four Stars in MOJO and was named one of Soul Bag magazine's Best Albums of 2024. Bergson's 2026 solo release East River Blues features the singer/guitarist backed by the all-star rhythm section of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Herlin Riley. Blues Matters (UK) calls it "a record steeped in after-hours soul, jazz-club cool and the kind of hard-earned musical maturity you cannot fake. Bergson’s guitar work is masterfully understated throughout, as it is soulful, economical and deeply melodic." Bergson tours regularly internationally and performs in NYC at such venues as The Pocket, The Bitter End and Smalls Jazz Club. Bergson endorses D'Addario Strings, McCurdy Guitars and MONO cases. 

Website: www.chrisbergson.com

Featuring legal talent from McCarter & English
Rocking for Community FoodBank of NJ

Amperband is comprised of legal & musical legends from McCarter & English. Why are we called Amperband? It's our tribute to the mighty '&' symbol, the unsung hero that connects words & phrases, like we connect our Amperfans to chart topping hits from the greatest eras of music.
Amperband was formed in 2023 debuting at Johnny Cash Bar & BBQ in Nashville. Besides Tennessee, Amperband has graced stages in NYC, DC & Florida with our distinctive three guitar sound. Now we’ve taken a page out of Lebron James’ playbook & will be taking our talents to South Beach to play both Miami and NYC Law Rocks this year!

Amperband boasts as much expertise in riffs & rhythms as we do in regulations & rulings. The band includes seven members from five McCarter offices & a whole lot of legal wit & even more musical talent. So, if you are Amperfan material (& we know you are!), welcome to the Amperfamily!

@AmperbandME

Featuring legal talent from Cozen O'Connor
Rocking for Access Justice Brooklyn

The Dirty Scriveners is significantly less than the sum of its parts. The band is comprised of Cozen O'Connor lawyers from multiple disciplines - litigation, intellectual property, real estate, labor & employment, and a badass Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies professional. They have worked on the biggest deals, advised clients on their patent portfolios, worked to make change at City Hall, and have even argued and won cases at the United States Supreme Court! Of course, they still have trouble with those B7 add 13 (no5) chords, but who doesn't? Their musical tastes are so vastly different that they argue and brawl and play hot feet pranks on each other, and they almost didn't make it out of their first rehearsal alive. But they ultimately, reluctantly, and imperfectly meshed, and even if the world is not a significantly better place for it (and it most certainly is not), the Dirty Scriveners will attempt to bring the joy and may just surprise you (and the world).

Featuring legal talent from White & Case; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Rocking for TBD

Winning cases by day and jamming out at night, Mistrial is a hard-rocking ensemble revisiting the best of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s power and pop rock, featuring John Scheibeler (White & Case IP Partner) on guitar, Raj Gandesha (White & Case IP Partner) on bass, Joshua Weedman (White & Case Litigation Partner) on drums, Suzanne Stone (Guggenheim Partners Managing Director) on vocals, Kate Swisher (White & Case alum, Antitrust Of Counsel at Gibson Dunn) on keys, and Grayson Weeks (White & Case alum, Tax Counsel at Innovative Brokers) on guitar. Justice may be blind, but she definitely hears Mistrial coming!

Featuring legal talent from Davis Polk
Rocking for Advocates for Children of New York

“A band whose appeal can never be denied.” Davis Polk’s homegrown firm band, The Objections, is excited to return to Law Rocks this year! Competing in support of Advocates for Children of New York, The Objections are last year’s Law Rocks NYC Champions and several time winners of the Judge’s Choice award, and have been playing in Law Rocks since its inception. On vocals, Executive Compensation Partner Veronica Wissel; On vocals and keyboard, White Collar Defense & Investigations Counsel Jordan Leigh Smith; On drums, Restructuring Partner and Head of Liability Management & Special Opportunities Practice, Brian Resnick; On bass guitar, Administrative Assistant Sharon Benerofe; On guitar, Executive Compensation Counsel Joseph Brown and Computer Support Specialist Patrick Toohey; On guitar and vocals, former M&A Associate Dylan Major; On saxophone, Tax Partner Ethan Goldman; On violin, Structured Products Analyst Kelly Shin; and guest artist on guitar, Professional Responsibility Counsel Jerry Snider.

Featuring legal talent from Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard
Rocking for New York Stem Cell Foundation

REDACTED makes its triumphant return to Law Rocks NYC with its signature nostalgic flair! CDAS once again brings the rock heat, but from what decade? Originally focused on 90s alt and grunge, over the years the band expanded further into decades past, adding neon trim to their flannel shirts and Doc Martens. Which direction this year? Maybe it's time to break out the mascara. Warning: some songs may cause emotional reactions. We're looking forward to once again rocking for our favorite charity, the New York Stem Cell Foundation. See you on stage!

Featuring legal talent from WilmerHale; Steptoe; Kirkland & Ellis
Rocking for Sanctuary for Families

Willy C. Picker cut his teeth playing country and blues in small clubs along the banks of the Potomac. He had a loyal following, but was never able to break into the big time until he joined up with a brash band of Boston rockers—the Halestormers. Together, Willy & the Halestormers are back once again to deliver an energetic and eclectic mix of rock and pop hits. They are excited to return to the Law Rocks stage, and equally excited to raise money for the Sanctuary for Families—New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence.

Featuring legal talent from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Rocking for The Church Street School for Music and Art

Force Majeure is an irresistible force of classic rock crashing onto the Law Rocks NYC stage for the first time – and no contractual provision can excuse you from attending. Comprised of attorneys from Skadden's ranks, this band delivers a setlist spanning the best of late '70s new wave, '80s power pop, and iconic '60s rock – from The Cars to Pat Benatar to the Rolling Stones. With blistering riffs, vocals, and enough stage energy to blow past any limitation of liability, Force Majeure is here to prove that when Skadden lawyers take the stage, performance is anything but excused. Consider this your notice: attendance is mandatory, dancing is unavoidable, and a great time is beyond anyone's reasonable control.

Featuring legal talent from Greenberg Traurig
Rocking for TBD

Get ready to turn up the volume—The Meltones are back at the legendary Bowery Ballroom for the 11th Annual Law Rocks NYC! Named in honor of founding partner Mel Greenberg, the original Meltones got together in Miami in the 1980’s. In the decades since then, The Meltones have refreshed their line-up with succeeding generations of lawyers and staff from GT locations across the globe. One firm, one band.

The Meltones have cemented their status as Law Rocks NYC ten-time defending champions, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities. This year, The Meltones are ready to turn it up to 11!

This all-star, ten-member lineup brings together legal talent from coast to coast:
• Vocals: Michael Hogue (Las Vegas Litigation Shareholder), Tracy Newirth (Chief Shareholder Recruiting and Integration Officer), and Ashley LeBlanc (New York Litigation Of Counsel), Jennifer Hall (New York Real Estate Associate—also shredding on guitar), and Armand Akbari (Senior Marketing and Business Development Coordinator)
• Keyboards: Christopher A. Cernik (Albany Government Law & Policy Shareholder)
• Guitar: Burt Bruton (Miami Real Estate Shareholder) and Gideon Helf (GT friend and Direct Support Professional at Job Path NYC)
• Bass: Daniel Blumberg (Former GT Attorney, current VP of Business & Legal Affairs, Global Digital Business at Sony Music Entertainment)
• Drums: Tom Helf (GT friend and Bethesda Maryland’s own from Shaner & Helf)

Featuring legal talent from Wolf Greenfield
Rocking for TBD

Get ready for some seriously fun, high-energy tunes with Prior Art! The band brings together law professionals and veteran Law Rocks musicians who have played in bands together going back to the earliest days of the New York show. We're returning to the stage as a new lineup and ready for a night that's all about having a blast while giving back. We're bringing big hooks, great vibes, and energy cranked up to eleven. Best of all, the show helps raise critical funds for amazing charities in support of important causes. Come for the music, stay for the causes, and help us make this Law Rocks celebration truly unforgettable.

Featuring legal talent from Proskauer; Ares Management
Rocking for Kaufman Music Center

Soop is a rock band bringing original music and high-energy covers to the stage, blending classic and modern rock influences.

Featuring legal talent from Pryor Cashman
Rocking for The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium

By attending this show, you, the Audience Member, agree that Specific Performance shall be held fully responsible for awesome solos, sick beats, head banging, sudden break dancing, dueling air guitar, and spontaneous crowd surfing, and that your sole remedy, in the event you want to rock, is Specific Performance.