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”
This course is approved for a total of 16.25 hour(s) of credit, including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics, 1.00 hour(s) of professionalism, and 1.00 hour(s) of law office practice by the MCLE Committee of the Louisiana State Bar Association.
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:
- David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA
- Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
- Eugene Radcliff, Esq. Baton Rouge, LA
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Sports Law Updates: NCAA and Amateurism [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
- NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Rules & Agreements
Speakers
- Kimberly Haynes, Esq. Haynes Johnson, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA (Moderator)
- Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA
- Tate Henshaw, CFP, ARC Business Management, Atlanta, GA
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:
- Stan Soocher, Esq., Editor-in-Chief, Entertainment Law & Finance, Professor Emeritus, College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver
- Brian Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, LLP
- John F Bradley, Esq., Bradley Law, Boca Raton, FL
- Tim Kapple, Esq. Well & Mills, Los Angeles
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:
- Brittney Trigg, Esq., BTRIGGLAW, PLLC, Miami, FL (Moderator)
- Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA
- Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA
- Tate Henshaw, CFP, ARC Business Management, Atlanta, GA
- Rico Brooks, CEO, Adella Thomas Management
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:
- Jessica Kaye, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
- Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA (Moderator)
- William Ramsey, Esq., Ramsey Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
- Christoper Szapary, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA
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:
- Gregg R. Zegarelli, Esq., Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC, Pittsburgh, PA (Moderator)
- Peter A. Koziol, Esq., Assouline Bertowe, Boca Raton, FL
- Charlotte Towne, Esq., Charlotte Towne Law, Miami, FL
- Eugene Radcliff, Esq. Baton Rouge, LA
- Stephanie Adwar, Esq., Adwar Ivko, New York, NY
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:
- Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
- Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA
- John F Bradley, Esq., Bradley Law, Boca Raton, FL
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:
- Jessica Kaye, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
- Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
- Tim Kapple, Esq. Well & Mills, Los Angeles
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:
- Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq., General Counsel, Prix Productions
- Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, Atlanta, GA (Moderator)
- Suzette Toledano, Esq., Toledano Entertainment & Arts Law, New Orleans, LA
- Gregg R. Zegarelli, Esq., Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC, Pittsburgh, PA (Moderator)
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, A&R Consultant
- Interviewer: Charles Driebe, Esq., Blind Ambition Management, Atlanta, GA
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.]
Speakers
- Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA
- Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs, BMG, 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
- Tom DeSavia, SVP, A&R, Concord Music Publishing
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:
- William Ramsey, Esq., Ramsey Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
- Christoper Szapary, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA
- Michael Olsen, Esq, Counsel, LLP, San Francisco, CA
- Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
- Stephanie Adwar, Esq., Adwar Ivko, New York, NY
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:
- Vernon W. Thomas, Esq. Thomas Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
- David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA
10:15 AM – 11:45 AM “The Increasingly Complex World of Synch Licensing” [Legal/ CLE 1.5 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:
- Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs, BMG, 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
- Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq, General Counsel, Prix Productions
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, BMG, 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
- Charles Driebe, Esq., Blind Ambition Management, Atlanta, GA
- Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq.
- Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA
- 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