Meet our Alumni: Adam Oppenheim, JD/MBA’12

When you hear someone has taken an unconventional path with his legal career, you often assume that he “just fell into it.” For Adam Oppenheim, JD/MBA’12, president of Stampede Entertainment Inc. (SEI), there was no falling into it. He was promoting concerts and bands across the country during his undergrad studies in Edmonton, and he just has not stopped.

“I entered the music industry working with local bands in small bars and clubs,” says Oppenheim. “But the bar band circuit I came up in doesn’t really exist anymore. All of those venues showcase DJs now, and are not necessarily looking for a band on their weekend dates. There is no question the industry has changed quite a lot, and continues to shift. You need to be able to grow and shift with it.”

Oppenheim joined SEI in 2007, taking the company reins in 2014. During that time, he has promoted some of the biggest names in music, including Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, and his personal favourite, Stevie Wonder. But don’t let the company name fool you; in addition to being extremely busy preparing for Stampede, the group promotes shows in venues all over the province.

While UCalgary Law is not known for courses in entertainment law, it was largely the courses in contracts, administrative law, and negotiation that has helped Oppenheim succeed in the industry.

As Oppenheim points out, “Legal education teaches you a specific way of thinking and evaluating. The analytical skills you hone at law school are extremely important to be successful, no matter what industry you land in.”

This is an important point for future lawyers to remember, since, as Oppenheim points out, there are not a lot of entertainment lawyers in Canada, especially in the music industry.

“I can name all of the practicing lawyers on two hands, and most of them are in Toronto, and most are in film and television.”

Despite bringing big names to the province on a regular basis, Oppenheim has stayed true to his roots, as one of the organizers of The Great Bar Band Battle, an annual event that raises money for access to justice initiatives in Calgary. The fun competition brings together bands made up of practicing lawyers and other legal professionals, judged by members of the Bench, and has raised more than $73,000 since it launched in 2016. The 2019 event takes place at the Palace Theatre on May 30.

“The Great Bar Band Battle is a truly fun event to be involved in,” says Oppenheim. “It’s a great way to give back the legal community and to raise awareness of access to justice projects in the city.”