Opening Reception
Date
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Time
6:00pm EST - 9:00pm EST
Location
Blue Martini Atlanta
3402 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
Website: https://www.bluemartinievents.com/
Parking: Valet-Only @ $10 pp (Cash, CashApp or Venmo)
HOTEL DETAILS
Mid-Year Conference
HOTEL INFORMATION
The Candler Hotel Atlanta,
Curio Collection by Hilton
127 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
We have a room block reserved at The Candler Hotel Atlanta, Curio Collection by Hilton for April 4, 2024 through April 5, 2024. Booking our room is simple, just select "Book a Room" to receive your group's preferred rate at $439 per room, per night.
Reception Only • April 4, 2024
Member Cost: $75 (Processing Fee: $3.22)
Non-Member Cost: $100 (Processing Fee: $4.12)
On-Site Registration
Practicing Professional Registration
CLE Panels
Member Cost: $175 (Processing Fee: $6.84)
Non-Member Cost: $200 (Processing Fee: $7.74)
On-Site Registration
Student Registration
CLE Panels
Member Cost: $50 (Processing Fee: $2.32)
Non-Member Cost: $75 (Processing Fee: $3.22)
Agenda
THURSDAY, APRIL 4
Blue Martini Atlanta
3402 Piedmont Rd NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Conference Opening Reception
​
Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award
Keith Sweat
Singer, Songwriter and Philanthropist
Fireside Chat with Keith Sweat
Moderator:
Jamaal Castang, Esq.
The Law Offices of Jamaal A. Castang, PLLC
FRIDAY, APRIL 5
Georgia State University College of Law
85 Park Place NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
8:30am – 11:00am
Location: Room 342
Bar Exam Writing Workshop for Law Students
Presenter: Brandy O. Domengeaux, Esq.
The Bar Writing Coach
Senior Lecturer of Law, Georgia State Univ. College of Law
Hosted by: BESLA Young Lawyers Division, in conjunction with the Black Law Students Association Chapters at Georgia State Univ. College of Law, Emory University School of Law and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School
11:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Room 342
Networking & Welcome Remarks
Leron Rogers, Esq.
Chairman, BESLA Board of Directors
Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP
Moraima "Mo" Ivory
Professor of Practice and Director of Entertainment, Sports and Media Law Initiative Georgia State Univ. College of Law
Presentation of Beacon of Industry Award
Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III
Former NBA Player, On-air Analyst, Author
12:45pm – 1:30pm
Location: Room 342
Moderator:
Panel A-
By God’s Grace: Fireside Chat with Chris Webber
Adell Henderson
Chief Culture Officer, Cinema Project, Georgia State Univ. Publisher, AcknowledgeMINT
1:45pm – 2:45pm
Location: Room 342
Moderator:
Panelists:
Panel B-
For the Culture: Elevating Black-Owned Storytelling
Joshua A. Edwards, Esq.
Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP
Darcell Lawrence
President, Visionary Ideas
Milan Selassie
CEO/Producer, Intelligent Media Productions
Tressa Azarel Smallwood
CEO/Producer, MegaMind Media
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Room 342
Panel C- Presented by the BESLA Young Lawyers Division
1st Amendment in the Crosshairs: Dealing with Defamation in 2024
Moderator:
Marissa Crespo, Esq.
Principal, Crespo Law
Panelists:
Carolyn Forrest, Esq.
EVP General Counsel, Tubi Inc.
Nancy Prager, Esq.
Principal, Prager Law LLC
​
David C. Vigilante, Esq.
Exec. Vice President and General Counsel
CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery Sport
4:15pm – 5:15pm
Location: Room 342
Moderator:
Panel D-
Lyrics As Evidence: Examining the 2022 Rap Act
John Rose, Esq.
Associate, Fox Rothschild LLP
Panelists:
Congressman Hank Johnson
U.S. House of Representatives, 4th District of Georgia
Shay M. Lawson, Esq.
Law Firm of Lawson McKinley
​
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Mid-Year Conference Conclusion & Kick-Back
Location:
Vanity Restaurant
138 Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Mid-Year Conference Hotel Accommodations
The Candler Hotel
127 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(Entrance & Valet on Park Place- Across from Georgia State Univ. College of Law)
Mid-Year Conference Speakers
(Moderator)
Panel C: 1st Amendment in the Crosshairs: Dealing with
Defamation in 2024
(Panelist)
Panel C: 1st Amendment in the Crosshairs: Dealing with
Defamation in 2024
(Panelist)
Panel C: 1st Amendment in the Crosshairs: Dealing with
Defamation in 2024
(Panelist)
Panel C: 1st Amendment in the Crosshairs: Dealing with
Defamation in 2024
Mid-Year Committee Members
Chiquita W. Banks, Esq.
Immediate Past President
MYC Co-Chair
Tony Mulrain, Esq.
MYC Co-Chair
Allison Hobbs, Esq.
MYC Co-Chair
Jamaal A. Castang, Esq.
BESLA Member-at-Large
Keimani Harvey
President, GSU COL BLSA
MYC Law Student Coordinator
Malik Curry
President, GSU COL SELS
MYC Law Student Coordinator
Brittany Guyre-Powell
GSU COL SELS & BLSA
MYC Law Student Coordinator
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