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I heard about Jason Shrinsky in the
early 70’s. He is certainly one of the most celebrated
communications attorneys ever!!!! Everyone likes him, and
the manner in which he operated his law firm….clear language
for those of us who were not lawyers. That is the way he is
today!! I watched Jason on CNN many times explain away what
many of us thought was a complicated communications problem.
He always had a sharp answer to a problem. I determined that
quickly when we hired him to do legal projects for
Burkhart/Abrams, our consulting firm. (Jason, if you read
the above please send cash….just kidding!!!)
Jason grew up in Pittsburgh, and graduated from the
University of Pittsburgh…and if memory serves me correctly
he played some college football there. He then went to
George Washington University to get his law degree.
He spent some time at the FCC before opening his shop…and
when he opened it big things happened. For example, Radio
and Records asked him to write a legal column. Everybody
read (and still do) R and R…so Jason’s positive reputation
grew quickly. His client list was a WHO’s WHO including the
following: SJR, Heftel, New City, Newmarket, Intermedia,
Robert Eastman, Wicks Group, Barnstable, Katz, Saga, Holt,
Keymarket, Pyramid, Metroplex, Malrite, DKM, Pourtales
Holdings and many more.
In 1985 he merged into the prestigious law firm Kaye Scholer,
and became their communications partner. Also, he is a
director for Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
Jason loved professional football, thus he became the
spotter for the Washington Redskins televised games. He also
was advisor to several athletes including running back John
Riggens.
When the Arbitron Advisory Board was founded guess who their
attorney was? You got it!!!
My first meeting with Jason was at dinner in Philadelphia
with his clients, SJR. Jason arranged the meeting because he
thought our consulting firm could help SJR. I described how
a music rotation clock worked. On a napkin I drew a circle,
and added the type of music to be played during each hour.
It was just a vanilla music clock, but those guys thought I
was Marconi.
On a pleasure/business meeting at the Sonesta Beach Hotel at
Key Biscayne, Florida, Jason waited impatiently for a Fed-Ex
to arrive….the contents contained a check for $100,000 which
he was to deliver to a third party. We all were somewhat
shocked, and a little panicked when the Fed-Ex did not
arrive. We called security, and after hours of searching, we
found it in a storage room on the floor under twenty cartons
of dog food (props for a dog food management meeting).
Indeed, an employee had signed for the Fed-Ex, but was not
around to help in the check hunt because he had taken the
afternoon off to go fishing. The missing check experience is
the only time I have seen Jason unhappy….very unhappy. I
remember because I WAS THERE!!.
On many occasions I had a DC dinner with Jason and
Congressman Cecil Heftel, another client. The Congressman
always had chicken as I recall.
Other DC lunches with Jason included Morty Bender whose
family owned Blake Construction, owners of DC 101. They also
built the FBI building as I recall it.Very interesting guy.
Jason is one of those guys who can locate anyone at anytime.
He is remarkable!!! He is a guy who can get the impossible
done. He certainly did for me…and I am extremely
grateful!!!!
So, the Shrinsky and Burkhart family have been friends for a
long time, and we still have dinner as frequently as
possible. It is always entertaining. Maybe you will meet him
at an upcoming NAB. Try to spend some time with him. You
will enjoy!!!!!
e-mail Kent
kent@kentburkhart.com
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