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San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2024
BESLA 44th Annual Conference Agenda
(Speakers, sessions topics and times are subject to change)
All Continuing Legal Education (CLE) sessions are held on-site
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024
11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Registration — Puerto I
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Welcome Reception — West Garden
9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Karaoke — Desires
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Registration — Puerto I
8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Session A1 — Ribera
ETHICS, CAREER STRATEGIES, WELLNESS AND COMPETENCE
Title: Mental Health and Wellness for High Performing Lawyers
Moderator: Nyasha Foy, Esq., Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Horizon Media
Panelists
Dr. Greg McClaire, PhD, Professional Athlete Consultant & Executive Coach
Cierra Gross, CEO, Worklution, Inc.
Carena Lemons, Esq., Founding Partner, The Lemons Law Firm, PLLC
Description
Full engagement in corporate America is now under 17%. Wellness and resiliency are major
factors in this underperforming state. Lawyers who are dealing with illness, lack of physical
vitality, anxiety, or depression simply do not have the ability to commit their full energy to their
careers. This panel will cover simple and practical physical vitality best practices and
understanding the effect of stress on our nervous system and how to make and maintain high
resiliency during challenging times.
9:50 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Film Screening I
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Session A2 — Ribera
FILM & TV
Title: Television Under the Microscope: Where the Industry Is Now, How It Got Here and What the Future of Television Will Look Like
Sponsored by Sony
Moderator: Greg Olaniran, Esq., Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP
Panelists
Michelle Sneed, CEO & Founder, A Few Good Women Productions, LLC
Traci Bransford, Esq., Partner, Parker Poe
Joshua Edwards, Esq., Partner, Fox Rothschild
Kai Bowe, Director of Current Programming, Unscripted for OWN
Description
With what seems to be tectonic shifts happening every six months in the TV industry, the panel is an opportunity to discuss the industry's current state. Topics will range from the different strategies companies employ to differentiate themselves in the marketplace to the importance of advertising revenue and products in the streaming landscape and the continued importance of linear distribution in 2024 and beyond. With ad sales being the primary revenue driver for linear cable and now with major streamers creating lower-cost ad tiers, the C-Suite and investors are seeing the wisdom.
11:05 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Film Screening II
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Session A3 — Ribera
MUSIC
Title: Streaming Royalties & The Music Modernization Act
Sponsored by Mechanical Licensing Collective
Moderator: Heather Beverly, Esq., Owner/Attorney at Law, Office of Heather Beverly PC
Panelists
Maurice Russell, Head of Rights Management, The Mechanical Licensing Collective
Miriam Camara, Esq., Principal Attorney, Camara Law Group, PLLC
Lynn Gonzalez, Esq., Partner, Granderson Des Rochers, LLP
Orlando McGhee, Head of Urban Music, ONErpm
Tabetha Plummer, Esq., Founder, Plummer Law Group, PC.
Description
The US Copyright Office recently clarified that songwriters are entitled to collect mechanical royalties generated from streaming platforms after their termination rights have been invoked. This panel will breakdown how the MMA impacts producer agreements and artist recording agreements (i.e., negotiating royalty provisions), strategies to maximize client income and the current landscape for clients seeking to exercise their termination rights.
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:05 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Film Screening III
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Session A4 — Ribera
CAREER STRATEGIES AND COMPETENCE
Title: Is General Counsel/Equity Partner the Pinnacle of an Attorney’s Career?
Sponsored by Fox Rothschild
Moderator: Leron Rogers, Esq., Equity Partner, Fox Rothschild
Panelists
Erica McKinley, Esq., Chief Legal Officer, The Sierra Club
Joe Pierce, Esq., SVP & General Counsel, AMB Sports & Entertainment
Riché McKnight, Esq., General Counsel, Ultimate Fighting Championship
Candisse Williamson, Esq., EVP, General Counsel, HartBeat
Description
A discussion of how to reach the highest levels within a legal organization, but also how have attorneys transcended the law business to become CEO’s of their organizations.
2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Film Screening IV
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Session A5 — Ribera
TECHNOLOGY, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS
Title: Practical Implications of Generative AI in Entertainment and Sports
Sponsored by The Walt Disney Company
Moderator: Isa Watson, Founder & CEO, Squad
Panelists
Jamice Oxley, Esq., Partner, Hansen, Jacobson
Maurice Dyson, Esq., DEI & AI Consultant and Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School
Kevin Greene, Esq., Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School
Yemi Adegbonmire, VP, Legal & Associate General , Cineverse
Description
There have been multiple challenges to the implications of AI's consumption of copyrighted material, from New York Times v. OpenAI to the current music label lawsuits against AI companies (Anthropic, Udio, Suno, etc.), which challenge the boundaries of fair use in the digital era. Additionally, after terse negotiations in 2023, the AMPTP attained new agreements with SAG AFTRA and the WGA, culminating in an AI rider that studios include in talent agreements. This panel will explore the implications of the agreement(s) reached by the unions with talent; the legal positions that record labels have taken in their lawsuits and whether generative AI fair use can be used as a defense to copyright infringement.
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Chairman & President’s Reception (By Invite Only)
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. BESLA After Dark
Sponsored by Empire and BMW
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Registration — Puerto I
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Session B1 — Ribera
FILM & TV
Title: We’re Doing it Live: Advising Clients on Legal, Regulatory and Relationship Issues Presented When Producing/Operating Live Events and Activations
Presented by the BESLA Young Lawyers Division
Sponsored by Paramount
Moderator: Aziza Bowser, Esq., Senior Counsel, Production Risk, Business & Legal Affairs, Paramount Global
Panelists
Jemar Daniel, Esq., Vice President & Senior Counsel, Paramount
Michelle Johnson, Esq., Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, BET Media Group
Nyasha Shani Foy, Esq., Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Horizon Media
Chiquita Woolfolk Banks, Esq., Principal, Bankable Consulting, Inc
Description
With fans of popular entertainment franchises yearning for closer engagement with their favorite characters, reality personalities, and musical artists, there’s been a proliferation of fan conventions and award shows operated/produced by entertainment companies and their brand sponsors. This panel will explore the legal and risk mitigation frameworks that are used to mitigate risk and assist in maximizing client bottom line.
10:05 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Session B2 — Ribera
SPORTS
Title: That's a Bet! Understanding the Current and Future Landscape of Sports Betting
Sponsored by Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks
Moderator: Jonathan Goins, Esq., Partner, Lewis Brisbois
Panelists
Aaron Ford, Esq., Attorney General, State of Nevada
Lisa Baker Jones, Esq., Special Counsel, Duane Morris
Angela Ball, Esq., Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, NBCUniversal
Description
Gaming has exploded in the last decade. So too has the flurry of gaming advertisements. From limited access in limited jurisdictions just a few years ago, to 24/7 access today; the opportunity to place bets is now everywhere from sports venues to your smart phone. But with opportunities come challenges. A panel of experts, practitioners and regulators will help navigate the ever changing world of gaming and provide insight into what’s next in this rapidly evolving space.
11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Session B3 — Ribera
GENERAL, CAREER STRATEGIES
Title: Demystifying Serving on Paid Boards
Sponsored by Barnes and Thornburg
Moderator: Shameeka Quallo, Esq, Chief Legal Officer, Washington Spirit
Panelists
Sherry Williams, Esq., Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary & SVP Human Resources,
Strategic Materials, Inc.
Steve Pamon, Chief Executive Officer & President, VERZUZ
David White, Chief Executive Officer, 3CG Ventures
Anthony Mulrain, Esq., Equity Partner, Holland and Knight
Description
What’s really required to earn a position on a paid board? What’s expected once you’re on the board? This panel answers these questions and takes a deep dive into the fiduciary obligations of board members, the consequences for not dispatching those obligations, recent cases involving board members who have breached their fiduciary obligation and board and officer liability insurance.
​12:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Session B4 — Puerto IV
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FILM & TV
Title: FIRESIDE CHAT WITH MARA BROCK AKIL
Sponsored by Netflix
Description
BESLA’s 2024 Trailblazer Award recipient Mara Brock Akil, sits down with BESLA board member Marjorie Williams, Esq. for an inspiring conversation.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Pre-Gala Cocktail Reception — Ribera Foyer
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Gala & Awards Program — Ribera Ballroom
Sponsored by Merrill (a Bank of America Company)
10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Post-Gala Kickback — TBD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Registration — Puerto I
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. BESLA Women in Sports Breakfast — El Patio Restaurant
Chauntell Bobo, Esq., Deputy General Counsel, Women’s Tennis Association
Sponsored by NFLPA – Remarks by Teri Smith, COO
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Session C1 — Ribera
MUSIC and FILM & TV
Title: Music Agreements for Film and Television: A Deeper Dive
Sponsored by NBC Universal
Moderator: Jakgeem Mays, Esq., CEO & Managing Attorney, Mays Law Group
Panelists
Nadja Webb, Esq., Executive Vice President, Programming Operations & Business & Legal Affairs, BET Networks
Michael Dyson, Esq., Counsel, Music Business & Legal Affairs, NBCUniversal
Tanya Perara, Esq., Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Music, NBCUniversal
Connie Howell, VP Creative Music Strategy, Paramount Global
Description
Music continues to serve as a pivotal and vital element which adds depth to a film or television show in ways words alone cannot. The role of music in television (and consequently, acquiring all of the necessary rights) cannot be understated. This panel will provide a deep dive into the rights required to include music in television and film projects, as well as issues licensees deal with in the process of securing rights, finding rights owners, how rates and fees are determined, and terms unique to these licenses. The panel will also cover agreements for original compositions and current trends/business models.
10:05 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Session C2 — Ribera Foyer
SPORTS
Title: Investing in Professional Sports Franchises
Sponsored by Holland & Knight
Moderator: Anthony Mulrain, Esq., Equity Partner, Holland and Knight
Panelists
T. Derrick Heggans, Esq., CEO, Shepherd Park Sports Properties
Max Siegel, Esq., CEO, USA Track & Field
Kitan Irukera, Investor, Dynasty Equity
Description
With the National Football League joining other professional sports leagues in allowing investments by private equity firms, it gives potential investors another avenue within which to become involved as franchise owners. This panel will evaluate the economic opportunities for team owners and walk through the anatomy of a deal for both primary owners and limited partners.
11:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Session C3 — Ribera
Global Commercial, Entertainment and Sports
Title: The Diaspora Means Business - Connecting with Africa Through Sports, Fashion and Entertainment
Sponsored by BET
Moderator: Joe West, Esq., Equity Partner, Duane Morris
Panelists
Deborah Ababio, Founder and Director at Ad Curated
Rick Wade, SVP, Strategic Alliance and Outreach, US Chamber of Commerce
Amma Mensah, CEO, Reign Rum
Roger Patton, Esq., Co-Founder/General Counsel, Global Head of Strategic Business Development, Africa Creative Agency
Segun Aluko, Esq., Senior Associate, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Walter Baddoo, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 4DX Ventures
Description
By 2050, a quarter of all people on the planet and 1/3 of all people aged 15 to 24 will be African. Between now and then, the population of Africa is projected to double to 2.5 billion. Currently 60% of all French speakers on the planet are in Africa. In India, the most populous country in the world, the median age is 28. In China and the U.S. the median age is 38. The median age of the African Continent is 19. The future of global entrepreneurship is African. This panel of experts from the worlds of sports, entertainment and fashion will share their experiences doing business in the Motherland and will open eyes, ears and doors to opportunity throughout the Diaspora.
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Mixer — Rendezvous
Presented by the BESLA Young Lawyers Division
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Closing Celebration — On-site
Sponsored by ONErpm
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2024
DEPARTURES
BESLA wishes its members, sponsors, partners and extended family safe travels back to the US!
© 2024 Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association. All Rights Reserved.
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