Hard techno artist Sara Landry is involved in a growing legal dispute with her former management company, The Night Department. A new federal lawsuit filed in New York alleges unauthorized use of her artist name and HEKATE Records branding following the end of their professional relationship.

American DJ and producer Sara Landry has taken further legal action against her former management team in a dispute involving artist ownership, trademarks and control over her record label.

On October 6, 2026, Landry IP LLC filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The legal action names Night Night Ltd., which operates as The Night Department, and affiliated company Prepare to Flash Ltd. as defendants.

According to the complaint, the companies allegedly continued using Landry’s professional name and HEKATE Records trademarks after their authorization to represent the artist had ended.

The lawsuit represents the latest development in an ongoing disagreement between Landry and her former representatives, with separate legal proceedings already underway in the United Kingdom.

What Is Sara Landry’s New Lawsuit About?

At the center of the American lawsuit is the question of who has the right to use and control Sara Landry’s professional identity and record label branding.

Landry IP LLC, the company responsible for the artist’s intellectual property, alleges that her former representatives continued using protected trademarks in business activities without authorization.

According to the filing, the alleged activities included music distribution and promotional materials connected to the management company.

The complaint argues that these actions could create the impression that The Night Department remained authorized to represent Landry and HEKATE Records.

The filing also raises concerns about the administration of the label’s distribution arrangements.

When Landry’s representatives attempted to take control of HEKATE’s account with music distributor Believe, Prepare to Flash allegedly refused to authorize the transfer.

These claims form part of the plaintiff’s allegations and have not been established as findings of fact by the court.

Through the lawsuit, Landry IP LLC is seeking legal remedies intended to prevent further unauthorized trademark use, alongside financial compensation and other relief.

A Management Relationship That Ended in Dispute

Sara Landry previously worked with The Night Department as her career expanded across the international hard techno scene.

The management relationship began in 2023, during a period when Landry was becoming increasingly prominent through international touring, festival performances and her growing HEKATE Records brand.

However, disagreements reportedly developed over business arrangements and control of her music-related assets.

Landry moved to terminate the professional relationship in August 2025, with the American complaint stating that it had ended by late October of that year.

The dispute concerns more than the use of her artist name.

According to Landry’s allegations, her former representatives sought a 50% ownership interest in her master recordings and HEKATE Records without providing what she considered appropriate compensation.

These ownership claims are contested and form part of the wider legal disagreement.

The Night Department Has Also Taken Legal Action

The American lawsuit follows separate proceedings initiated by The Night Department in the United Kingdom.

In that case, the former management company claims Landry improperly terminated their agreement and owes more than £200,000 in commissions.

The management company has disputed Landry’s account of the disagreement, maintaining that the relevant contractual ownership arrangements had been disclosed.

Landry, meanwhile, has reportedly filed counterclaims connected to the dispute.

The existence of competing proceedings highlights the complexity of the disagreement, which involves contractual obligations, trademark rights and the ownership of music-related assets.

Neither side’s allegations should be interpreted as legally established wrongdoing while the cases remain unresolved.

Why HEKATE Records Is Important to Sara Landry

HEKATE Records has become an important part of Sara Landry’s professional identity.

The imprint allows the producer to release music under a brand associated with her distinctive approach to hard techno and contemporary rave culture.

For artists working within electronic music, independent record labels can serve several important purposes.

Beyond distributing recordings, they can provide greater control over artistic direction, marketing, collaborations and the development of an independent creative identity.

Ownership of master recordings and control over distribution are particularly significant.

The master recording is the original recorded version of a track, and ownership rights can determine who is permitted to license, distribute and commercially exploit that recording.

When an artist and management company disagree over these rights, the consequences can extend beyond individual releases and affect future business operations.

Landry’s legal dispute therefore raises issues that are relevant to independent musicians and electronic music producers more broadly.

Sara Landry’s Career Continues Amid the Dispute

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Sara Landry remains an established figure in the international hard techno scene.

Known for powerful productions, intense DJ performances and her distinctive artistic identity, she has attracted a large following through international touring and major festival appearances.

Her reputation has also expanded through her releases and activities under HEKATE Records.

The legal dispute arrives during an important period in her career, when her professional activities extend beyond performing and producing music into label ownership and wider brand development.

For artists operating at this level, business structures and intellectual property management can become increasingly complex as their international careers grow.

The dispute highlights the importance of defining contractual responsibilities and ownership rights, particularly when an artist’s name and independent label represent significant commercial assets.

What Happens Next?

The federal lawsuit is currently at an early stage.

Court records confirm that the case was filed on October 6, 2026, and assigned to Judge J. Paul Oetken in the Southern District of New York.

An initial conference has been scheduled for January 7, 2027.

Further legal filings and responses may provide additional information about the positions of the parties involved.

For now, the case remains unresolved, and no final judicial determination has been made regarding the trademark allegations.

The dispute illustrates a wider challenge within the music industry: balancing management relationships, contractual obligations and artists’ control over their own creative work.

For Sara Landry, the proceedings concern the professional identity and record label she has developed throughout her career.

As the legal process continues in the United States and the United Kingdom, the outcome could have significant implications for the contractual relationship between the artist and her former representatives.