Hard Techno Star Sara Landry Files Federal Trademark Suit Against Ex-Management

Electronic music producer and DJ Sara Landry has launched federal legal proceedings against her former management company, alleging trademark infringement and the unauthorized commercial exploitation of her personal brand and record label.  

The lawsuit, filed on October 6, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by Landry IP LLC, targets Night Night Ltd (operating as The Night Department) alongside associated firm Prepare to Flash.  

The action follows a fallout over management practices, catalog rights, and label governance.  

Allegations of Unlawful Post-Split Brand Exploitation

The complaint asserts that following Landry's termination of her management agreement in August 2025, her former representatives continued to trade under her name and her imprint, HEKATE Records.  

According to filings submitted by her legal counsel at Pryor Cashman, the defendants engaged in unauthorized commercial representations that harmed her artist ecosystem:

• False Market Representation: The suit claims The Night Department created a false impression across the industry that it remained authorized to represent Landry and handle business for HEKATE Records long after the professional split.  
• Blocking Label Distribution Transfers: When Landry’s new team sought to consolidate administrative control over HEKATE Records' catalog, affiliate firm Prepare to Flash allegedly refused to authorize the account transfer with digital distributor Believe.  
• Misuse of Intellectual Property: The filing accuses the defendants of using protected trademarks to retain influence over booking pipelines and third-party partners without Landry's consent.  

Underlying Ownership Fallout and Financial Claims

The trademark action stems from a dispute over intellectual property stakes and corporate governance.  

Landry alleges that during their partnership, her former managers attempted to secure an unearned 50% ownership stake in her underlying recorded music masters and 50% equity in HEKATE Records without financial compensation.  

"Ownership and artists' rights are deeply important to me," Landry stated regarding the filing. "I look forward to continuing to advocate for artists to have control over their work and their careers."  

Landry is seeking a permanent federal injunction to halt all unauthorized use of her trademarks, alongside an order forcing the disgorgement of all revenues and profits attributable to the alleged infringement.  

The U.S. filing acts as a direct counter-offensive to ongoing litigation in the UK High Court, where The Night Department filed a breach-of-contract suit against Landry in July 2026 challenging her 2025 termination.  

Landry, who has since transitioned her representation to ASK Management & Advisory and The Circuit Group, is proceeding with the release of her sophomore studio album, Divine Intervention.