Robert Celestin, Esq.

With over fifteen (15) years of experience in the entertainment industry as an attorney, manager and record label owner, Robert A. Celestin has represented and worked with a number of talented artists and top music executives within the recording industry.
Mr. Celestin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Philosophy in 1981 from Yale University and his Juris Doctorate from Columbia University School of Law in 1984.
He started his music law career at Arista Records, LLC. (“Arista”) in its legal department. Arista at the time, was the home of superstar “WHITNEY HOUSTON” and rap superstars “WHODINI”. During that time period, Mr. Celestin became friends with ANDRE HARRELL, a former Def Jam Records, Inc. executive and the founder of a fledgling record label named Uptown Records, Inc. (“Uptown”). After spending a year at Arista, Mr. Harrell invited Mr. Celestin to join Uptown as its Vice-President and General Manager.
At Uptown, Mr. Celestin was not only responsible for administrating the operations of Uptown, but he was also actively involved in creative decisions regarding the acquisition of recording artists and administrative decisions regarding the recording of various recording artists' albums. In addition, Mr. Celestin’s duties included handling the negotiations and the actual signing to Uptown of artists such as "JODECI", "GUY", "MARY J. BLIGE", "HEAVY D AND THE BOYZ and others.
After leaving Uptown, Mr. Celestin was hired as the Vice President and General Manager of Untouchables Entertainment, Inc. ("Untouchables"), a record label founded by Heavy D and the Boyz’s member producer Edward “DJ Eddie F” Ferrell. Untouchables had entered into a joint-venture agreement with Laface Records, LLC (a record label founded and owned by L.A. Reid and Kenny “BabyFace” Edmunds) and was responsible for the success of multi-platinum artists such as “DONNELL JONES”, “INTRO” and “PETE ROCK AND CL SMOOTH”. In addition, Mr. Celestin managed producers signed to the Untouchables Producer Management Division ("UPM"). As Vice President and General Manager of UPM, Mr. Celestin was responsible for managing the careers of hit producers such as Dave "Jam" Hall (MADONNA, MARY J. BLIGE & MARIAH CAREY), Edward "DJ Eddie F” Ferrell (HEAVY D & the BOYZ, INTRO & TLC), KENNY "Smoove" KORNEGAY (CASE, CHANGING FACE & MARY J. BLIGE), among others.
After a two (2) year stint at Untouchables, Mr. Celestin went into private practice and joined the law practice of Louise West and assisted her in the representation of superstar recording artists/producers like “MISSY ELLIOTT”, “TIMBALAND” and “GINUWINE”.
In 2000, Mr. Celestin established the Law Offices of Robert A. Celestin representing major platinum-selling recording artists such as “PETEY PABLO”, “3LW”, "SECONDHAND SERENADE", "LAURIE ANN GIBSON" (MAKING THE BAND), "TOCARRA", "MAVADO" as well as other up and coming recording artists, producers, songwriters and record labels.
In addition to running a successful law practice, Mr. Celestin has managed Booga Basement Interscope recording artists “CITY HIGH” and presently manages recording artist “ENEMIGO” whose debut album entitled "Quien Es Enemigo?" was independently released through Intelligent Music (Bob's production company) and scanned over 30,000 units. He is presently developing recording artists such as "NO GOOD PEOPLE", who are also signed to Intelligent Music.
Mr. Celestin has spoken on numerous panels and at “countless” seminars regarding the entertainment and music industry. He is also a member of the following trade groups and associations: American Bar Association (ABA), Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA), American Federation of Independent Music (AFIM), the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and the New York County Lawyers Association.