UnitedMasters legal chief Sasha Safavi launches law firm Syndicate
Sasha Safavi has left UnitedMasters after five years leading legal and music licensing to start his own law firm, Syndicate.
Billboard reported the launch on 17 September 2026. Safavi had spent the past five years as head of legal and music licensing at UnitedMasters, the role covering contracts and the clearances that allow songs to be released, distributed and partnered with other businesses, according to Billboard.
Syndicate is opening with work already on its books. Its first clients include four names: UnitedMasters, Audiomack, Rebellion Records and Overtime, the sports media company. The list keeps Safavi connected to his former employer, now as outside counsel rather than in-house staff.
The new firm is organised across three divisions. They cover creators, athletics and corporations. The split puts musicians and other makers alongside athletes and company clients, rather than in a music-only practice.
Syndicate is also building its own technology. The firm is developing an in-house artificial intelligence tool called Aaliyah. No further details on its function have been confirmed.
Safavi arrived at UnitedMasters with independent distribution experience. He worked at TuneCore before joining the company founded by Steve Stoute. His LinkedIn profile lists the UnitedMasters post as vice-president, legal and head of music licensing from June 2021 to July 2026, and founder of Syndicate from August 2026.
The deal sheet behind that period is large. Safavi oversaw about $250 million in transactions over the past five years across UnitedMasters and Translation, the advertising agency, according to Billboard. Billboard also named him as one of its Indie Power Players earlier in 2026.
What makes this stand out is the speed of the switch from employee to adviser. UnitedMasters has kept its former legal chief close, while Audiomack, Rebellion Records and Overtime give the new firm a footing in streaming, records and sport from day one.
