CLE Schedule

 27^th Annual

CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT LAW SEMINAR

August 22 – 24, 2019

InterContinental Hotel

New Orleans

“A Brave New World in Entertainment Law”

Covering Recording Contracts, Publishing Contracts, Termination of Transfer, Copyrights, Neighboring Rights, Entrepreneur Crowdfunding (JOBS Act), Filmmakers Agreements, VR/Interactive laws,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

9:00 – 10:00 AM         Professionalism – The Ornery Adversary [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

What do you do when the attorney on the other side is being unprofessional, or nasty, or simply impossible? What do you do when you have an adversary who stalls, doesn’t return calls, or simply delays matters? How do you get the most out of your negotiation? How do you save a deal from going south?

Speakers:

• Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA

10:15 – 12:15 PM         Legal and Business Considerations when Advising Clients Creating and Operating Music Labels. [Legal/Business CLE 2.0 cr. hr.]

Part I: Covering the legal considerations in record label management and creation.

Part II: A review of label-artist, label-producer, and label distributor agreements

Entrepreneurs and musicians are among those seeking success by signing artists or self-releasing music. This panel will cover legal issues that arise when organizing and operating an independent record label, including the organization structure, income streams, standard agreements, and organizations that can help with the independent label’s success.

Speakers:

• Marc D. Stollman, Esq., Stollman Law PA, Boca Raton, FL 
• Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA 
• Matthew Wilson, Esq., Greater Thinking Music Group, Atlanta, GA  (Moderator)      
• Peter J Strand, Esq., Partner, Mandell Menkes, Chicago, IL

Noon                  Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 PM                  Ethics after #MeToo [Legal/CLE 1.0 cr. hr.] 

This panel will cover rules of professional conduct when engaged in the discovery process, including best practices for preservation, the collection of electronic documents and protecting client’s information.

Speakers:

• Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• Nadine Ramsey, Esq., New Orleans, LA

2:45 – 3:45 PM                  Damage Control: Dealing with high profile Talent – What happens when an artist, athlete or celebrity has a run in with the law? [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

The discussion will center on the analysis of the legal issues related to representing athletes and entertainer involved in contract negotiations when there is a crisis, and representation is needed with the media and in the courtroom.   The panel will also cover changes in legal business issues under various collective bargaining agreements 

Speakers:

• Brian Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, New York, NY (Moderator)
• Peter J Strand, Esq., Partner, Mandell Menkes, Chicago, IL
• Darryl Cohen, Esq. Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA

4:00 – 5:15 PM                  Trademark: Branding – Considerations in Gaming and Cannibiz [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]

This panel will cover trademarks, piracy, combating counterfeit goods, and strategies for proper licensing and derivatives products.

Speakers:

• Gregg Zegarelli, Esq., Zegarelli Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC, Pittsburgh, GA (Moderator)
• Wallace Collins, Esq., New York, NY     
• Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, LLC, Atlanta, GA 
• Matthew Wilson, Esq., Greater Thinking Music Group, Atlanta, GA        

Friday, August 23, 2019

9:00 – 10:30 AM         Funding Deals and How to Successfully Finance Ventures – Advising entertainment entrepreneurs [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.]

This panel will address various funding methods and deal points entrepreneurs can pursue when seeking financing. Including traditional banking, equity investors, and crowdfunding.

Speakers:

• Gregg Zegarelli, Esq., Zegarelli Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC, Pittsburgh, GA (Moderator)
• Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, LLC, Atlanta, GA 
• Morris L Kahn, Morris L Kahn & Associates

10:45 – 12:15 PM Copyrights Changes in the Age of the Music Modernization Act [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.]

From the impact of the MMA, the latest on the “Mechanical Licensing Collective,” and termination of copyrights. 

Speakers:

• Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Song Research & Recovery Services, LLC (Moderator)
• Jay Rosenthal, Esq., Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Washington, DC
• Wallace Collins, Esq., New York, NY        
• Richard W. Perna, Austin, TX

11:45 AM                           Lunch

12:30 – 1:15 PM         Legislative Updates [Legal/CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

Covering the Music Modernization Act, content distribution, and the new technologies

Speakers:

• Jay Rosenthal, Esq., Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Washington, DC

1:30 – 2:30 PM                  Litigation Updates [Legal/CLE 1.00 cr. hr.]

Latest case law – Current Trends and Hot Topics

Speakers:

• Brian Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, New York, NY (Moderator)
• Robert Besser, Esq. Law Offices of Robert Besser, Los Angeles, CA
• Peter J Strand, Esq., Partner, Mandell Menkes, Chicago, IL

2:45 – 3:45 PM                  Legal and Business Issues in Independent Films – Financing – Tax Credits – Production – Distribution [Legal/Film CLE 1.00 cr. hr.]

This panel will provide an overview of completing and launching an independent film. 

Speakers:

• Darryl Cohen, Esq. Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA (Moderator)
• Peter J. Dekom, Esq. Peter J Dekom, A Law Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
• Richard “Rick” French, CEO, French, West, Vaughan, Filmmaker, Board Member, Buddy Holly Foundation
• Christoper Szapary, Esq, Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA    

4:00 – 5:15 PM                  Music, $$ and Synch Licensing: a Brave New World [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]

This panel, by the authors of the best selling music business book “Music, Money and Success” (8th edition), will explain the ins and outs of what the deals look like, the short and long term money that can be made and where this area is heading in the future.

Speakers:

• Jeffery Brabec, Esq., Vice President, BMG Chrysalis, Los Angeles, CA
• Todd Brabec, Esq., Co-Author (w brother Jeff), Music Money and Success: the Insiders Guide to Making Money in the Music Business

Saturday, August 24, 2019

9:00 – 10:00 AM         Legal Practice Management: Do’s and Don’s of Building a Successful Entertainment Law Practice [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

New Orleans has become a hub for music, film and TV industries, but what does that mean for an attorney and their independent music and filmmaking clients. This panel will walk you through the process of maintaining communication with clients, client funds management, making sure the filmmaker/client engagement letters are correct. Review user-generated content rights and procedures with filmmaker clients. Establishing a disbursement system for staff fees payment. Review intellectual property agreements, tax credit financing incentives, and distribution.

Speakers:

• David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA (Moderator)
• Vernon W. Thomas, Esq. Law Offices of Vernon P. Thomas, New Orleans, LA 
• Paul Insinna, Esq. New York, NY

10:15 – 11:45 AM         Broadway Musicals: the Contracts, Royalties, and Economics [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.] 

Whether you are a creator, producer or investor, the Broadway Musical is the surest way to “rags or riches” This panel will discuss the many different types of music licensing deals, contracts, and practices that come into play when dealing with the four basic types of musicals. 

Speakers:

• Jeffery Brabec, Esq., Vice President, BMG Chrysalis, Los Angeles, CA (Moderator)
• Todd Brabec, Esq., Co-Author (w brother Jeff), Music Money and Success: the Insiders Guide to Making Money in the Music Business
• Marc D. Stollman, Esq., Stollman Law PA, Boca Raton, FL 
• Jay Rosenthal, Esq., Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Washington, DC
• Richard W. Perna, Austin, TX

12:00 – 1:15 PM          Building Music Communities: Public Policy, Non-Profits and Music Businesses in Partnership [Legal/Business CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]

Public/Private partnerships to build, maintain and sustain the important business of music in our communities. 

Speakers:

• Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Song Research & Recovery Services, LLC (Moderator)
• Hon. Joel Robideaux: Mayor of Lafayette, Louisiana  
• Mark Falgout: Warehouse 515/Blue Moon Saloon and Founder, SOLO Songwriters Festival and Workshop 
• Brendon Anthony, Director, Texas Music Office in the Office of the Governor

1:30 – 3:00 PM                   Presentation: Honoring Attorney Ellis Jay Pailet – Presentation and reception honoring the career of pioneer entertainment law attorney.

Book Signing – MUSIC, MONEY AND SUCCESS, 8^th Edition – Celebrating of the release of Todd and Jeffrey Brabec’s best-selling book on the entertainment industry.