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A comprehensive presentation of HOT TOPICS and CURRENT TRENDS in today’s entertainment law.
33rd Annual
CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT LAW SEMINAR
August 14, 15, 16, 2025
New Orleans
InterContinental New Orleans Hotel
Hot Topics and Current Trends in Entertainment Law
Covering
“AI – Publishing – Trademark – Film Agreements – Literary Publishing – Business Consideration – Transactional Issues”
Subject to change
Thursday, August 14, 2025
9:00 AM—10:00 AM Professionalism—Avoiding Gaps, Mishaps, and Traps in Negotiations [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
How do you get the most out of your negotiation? Ensure professional conduct and civility while negotiating with opposing counsel. How do you save a deal from going south?
Speakers:
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Sports Law Updates: NCAA and Amateurism [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
- NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Rules & Agreements
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM Litigation:
- The Drake v UMG
- Copyright Litigation Roundup [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]
This panel will provide an overview of current litigation.
Speakers:
12:45 Break
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM Representing high-value Sports and Entertainment Clients, Agreements, Rights To Publicity [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]
- Protecting Rights is sports memorabilia in the Digital Era
- Protecting Against Deep Fake Voice and Likeness-Generated AI
- Essential deal points when representing artists,
- Re-record clause
- Options vs. Record Release Periods
Speakers:
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM The impact developing technologies have on the consumption and exploitation of Entertainment media. The role of influencers, the Internet, and shortened attention spans. [Legal/ CLE/Business 1.0 cr. hr.]
- Influencers’ impact on traditional movies & TV and visa-versa
- Stars with large online following
- Apps, social media scripted episodes, film short dramas
- Audiobooks
This panel will discuss various forms of content creation, licensing, representation, and marketing of Book Publishing.
Speakers:
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Trademark & Copyrights Essentials: Avoiding and Resolving Disputes, Limitation on Damages (Nealy case) Hot Topics and New Developments Avoiding and Resolving Disputes. What’s in a name? [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hrs.]
Covering
- Trademark Office Updates (filing system, cost, strategy structure)
- How to Protect Trade Dress
- Protecting Rights is sports memorabilia in the Digital Era
- Remedies in Trademark Litigation
Speakers:
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:00 AM—10:00 AM Ethical issues for the Transactional Lawyers – Vernon P. Thomas Ethics Presentation [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
This panel will cover the rules of professional conduct.
Speakers:
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Understanding Narration and Voice Acting Agreements:
- Important Clauses
- Union (SAG-AFTRA) or Non-union
- Creative Contribution
- Professional Representation [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
Speakers:
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM AI Protections – Updates to AI and Generative AI Intellectual Property Issues [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hrs.]
Covering:
- Deepfakes
- Rights to Publicity
- Ownership: Bifurcation of Copyrights Registration
- Licensing Rights for Generative AI
- Neighboring Rights
This panel will cover understanding AI and Data Rights, current legislation, and case law. The discussion will include AI involvement in the Metaverse (Web3), NFTs and art/music generation, and the legal implications of generative AI.
Speakers:
1:15 PM—2:00 PM Conversation on the A&R’s Changing Role in Today’s Entertainment Industry [Legal/Bus CLE .75 hrs.]
Interviewee: Kim Buie, SVP, A&R Consultant
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM Represent Legacy Artists “Where the Money in Music Comes From” Trends in Music Publishing, Assets Management, Estate Planning [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]
3:45 PM – 5:15 PM CONTENT + MONEY + TARIFFS Film Finance and Distribution in the New Global Marketplace [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.]
This panel will cover the impact of incentive financing, tariffs, and essential deal points between parties in the film process. Covering agreements between a production company and a producer, investor, or distributor. These agreements may cover what happens at any stage of the film process, before, during, and post-production.
Speakers:
Saturday, August 16, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Legal Practice Management: Do’s and Don’ts of Court Procedures [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
Court rules and decorum have never been more critical for all parties and their clients.
Speakers:
10:15 AM – 11:45 AM “The Increasingly Complex World of Synch Licensing” [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
Whether it’s an independent, major studio or documentary film, a Netflix special, a broadcast television series like “The Masked Singer” or the Grand Theft Auto VI or Fortnite video games, getting a song or record placed in any audiovisual medium has become a complex negotiation involving upfront fees, multiple options, UGC permissions and “backend royalties.” This panel covers all aspects of the increasingly complex world of “Synch” licensing, where knowing the business and the various types of licensing agreements and fees, as well as industry standards and what you should or should not ask for, is essential for success
Speakers:
2025 Entertainment Law Seminar Speakers (Subject to change)
- Stephanie Adwar, Esq., Adwar Ivko, New York, NY
- Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs, Board member The MLC, co-author “Music, Money, and Success,” Adjunct Professor USC
- Todd Brabec Esq., former ASCAP Executive Vice President, co-author “Music, Money and Success,” Adjunct Professor USC
- John F. Bradley, Esq. Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Rico Brooks, CEO, Adella Thomas Management
- Kim Buie, A&R Expert, Nashville, TN
- Brian Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, LLP
- Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA
- David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA
- Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
- Tom DeSavia, SVP A&R, Concord Music Publishing
- Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq.
- Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA
- Charles Driebe, Esq., Blind Ambition Management, Atlanta, GA
- Kimberly Haynes, Esq. Haynes Johnson, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
- Tate Henshaw, CFP, ARC Business Management, Atlanta, GA
- Tim Kapple, Esq. Well & Mills, Los Angeles
- Jessica Kaye, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
- Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, Atlanta, GA
- Peter A. Koziol, Esq., Assouline Bertowe, Boca Raton, FL
- Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
- Michael Olsen, Esq, Counsel, LLP, San Francisco, CA
- Eugene Radcliff, Esq. Baton Rouge, LA
- Nadine Ramsey, Esq., New Orleans, LA
- William Ramsey, Esq., Ramsey Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
- Stan Soocher, Esq., Editor-in-Chief, Entertainment Law & Finance, Professor Emeritus, College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver
- Christophe Szapary, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA
- Vernon W. Thomas, Esq. Thomas Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
- Charlotte Towne, Esq., Charlotte Towne Law, Miami, FL
- Brittney Trigg, Esq., BTRIGGLAW, PLLC, Miami, FL
- Suzette Toledano, Esq., Toledano Entertainment & Arts Law, New Orleans, LA
- Gregg R. Zegarelli, Esq., Zegarelli Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Firm, Pittsburgh, PA
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