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AGENDA
(Speakers, sessions topics and times are subject to change)
All Continuing Legal Education (CLE) sessions and presentations are held in the Conference Center.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025
11:30 AM – 4:30 PM Check-in & Registration ~ Rio Mar Atrium
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Check-in ~ Welcome Reception
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Welcome Reception ~ Vista Verde Gardens (Sponsored by ESPN)
9:00 PM – 12:00 PM Karaoke ~ Lobby Bar Caicu (Sponsored by Sony Music)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2025
7:30 AM – 4:00 PM Check-in & Registration ~ Rio Mar Atrium
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast On Your Own
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Session A1 (Sponsored by Weil, Gotshal, & Manges, LLP)
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SPORTS
Title: The Business of Play: Law, Investment, and Policy in Sports and Entertainment
Moderator: Alvin Carter (Sr. Counsel, Brown Rudnick)
Panelists: David Moreno (Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright), Marcus Sandifer (Counsel, Krevolin), Rick Wade (SVP of Strategic Alliances and Outreach, US Chamber of Commerce)
Description: As sports and entertainment continue to evolve into powerful economic engines, lawyers are playing a central role in guiding investments, structuring partnerships, and shaping the business strategies that define these sectors. This panel will explore the intersection of law, finance, and enterprise through the lens of franchise ownership, private equity, and the growing influence of public-private partnerships, trade associations, and policy-driven initiatives that fuel industry growth. Attendees will hear from legal and business leaders whose clients and partners are integral to advancing investment, innovation, and collaboration within this dynamic ecosystem, offering valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the global sports and entertainment economy.
9:05 AM – 9:15 AM Film Screening I (Sponsored by BET)
9:20 AM – 10:20 AM Session A2 (Sponsored by ABC News and Duane Morris)
GENERAL/BUSINESS & LAW
Title: The Diaspora Means Business - Connecting with Africa Through Sports, Fashion and Entertainment (PART II)
Moderator: Joe West (Partner, Duane Morris)
Panelists: Sandrine Nzeukou, (Co-Founder and CEO Playbook), Julie Wenah (Chairwoman, Digital Civil Rights Coalition), Dave Umeh (CEO, Clouty), Rakiat Gbadamosi (Executive Director, Business Affairs, ABC News)
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Description: In 2024, we examined Africa’s demographic transformation and its implications for global business. One year later, the legal landscape is evolving just as rapidly. With Africa’s population still on track to reach 2.5 billion by 2050—and a median age of just 19 — the continent remains a dynamic frontier for innovation, investment, and legal development. This panel will explore how creatives and legal professionals across the Diaspora are engaging with Africa’s emerging markets. From intellectual property and entertainment law to cross-border transactions and regulatory compliance, our panelists will share firsthand insights into the art of business on the continent. Join us for a forward-looking discussion on:
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Understanding and operating within the diverse African legal landscape
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Building sustainable legal infrastructure for entrepreneurship
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Protecting creative and commercial rights in fashion, sports, and entertainment
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Opportunities for U.S.-based attorneys to collaborate and invest
10:35 AM – 10:45 AM Film Screening II (Sponsored by BET)
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM Session A3 (Sponsored by Morgan Stanley)
FIRESIDE CHAT
Title: Beyond the Game, Beyond the Stage: Securing a Lasting Legacy
Moderator: C. Anthony Mulrain, (Partner, Holland & Knight LLP)
Panelist: Octavius Ted Reid, III (Senior Vice President, Global Sports and Entertainment Director, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)
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Description: This engaging discussion will explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by athletes and entertainers as they navigate the complexities of securing their financial futures and preserving their legacies.
11:45 AM – 11:50 PM Film Screening III (Sponsored by BET)
11:50 PM – 12:20 PM Grab lunch from the food stations outside the Conference Center! (You may bring lunch into the seminar room)
12:20 PM – 1:30 PM Session A4 (Sponsored by Fox Rothschild)
GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT/ ETHICS
Title: BESLA Founders Power Panel
Featuring: Louise West, Joseph E. Porter III, Don Mizell, Gregory Reed, Virgil Roberts
Description: Join us for a historic and insightful conversation with the original founders of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA). This distinguished panel will take us on a journey from the organization's inception, exploring the critical need and driving vision that led to its formation. The Founders will share candid reflections on the early growing pains and the pivotal moments that shaped BESLA into the influential institution it is today.
1:30 PM – 1:40 PM Film Screening IV (Sponsored by BET)
1:40 PM – 2:40 PM Session A5 (Sponsored by NBCUniversal)
FILM (FINANCE/BUSINESS LAW)
Title: How Not To Finance A Film: Legal Pitfalls, Risky Deals, and Lessons from the Trenches
Moderator: Channing Johnson (Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP)
Panelists: Kelly Woolfolk (Founder, Culture Counsel PC), Chiquita Woolfolk Banks (Principal, Bankable Consulting, Inc.), Marjorie Williams (SVP, Head of Business Affairs, Skydance Sports), Brandon Cherry (Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP)
Description: Behind every successful film is a carefully structured financing plan—and behind many failed projects are cautionary tales of what not to do. This panel will explore the legal and financial missteps that can derail a film before it ever hits the screen. From poorly drafted investor agreements to misused tax incentives and unvetted international co-productions, our panel of experienced entertainment attorneys and producers will dissect real-world examples of financing gone wrong.
Topics will include: Common legal and financial mistakes in independent film financing, Red flags in investor agreements and securities compliance, Misunderstandings around pre-sales, gap financing, and soft money, legal consequences of misrepresenting budgets or distribution deals, and best practices for protecting clients and structuring deals that work.
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Session A6 (Sponsored by Barnes & Thornburg, LLP and Ziffren Law and the BESLA Young Lawyers Division)
TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS & ETHICS
Title: Code, Content, and Consequences: The New Challenges AI Presents in Entertainment & Advertising
Moderator: Danielle Bulger (Partner and AI Industry Group Co-Leader, ArentFox Schiff LLP)
Panelists: Marcus Strong (Associate, Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group, Brown Rudnick LLP), Darrick Hooker (Partner, Barnes & Thornberg), Bernie Lawrence (Principal, Bernie Lawrence Watkins APC), Nyanza Shaw (Founder & Principal Attorney, Shaw Esquire)
Description: From the writer’s room to the locker room, artificial intelligence is transforming how creative work is developed, marketed, and monetized across music, film, sports, and advertising. This discussion explores how AI, from rule-based automation to large-scale generative models, is augmenting and, in some cases, replacing human creativity. Panelists will examine how studios, streamers, labels, and leagues are deploying tools like voice cloning, digital doubles, and automated localization while grappling with new questions of authorship, ownership, and accountability. They’ll unpack how copyright, publicity rights, and contract frameworks are evolving to address AI-generated content and training data, and how governance models are emerging to balance innovation with protection. Ultimately, the panel will consider what a sustainable, creator-centric AI ecosystem might look like as technology, law, and culture continue to converge.
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM AFTERNOON BREAK
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Chairwoman & President’s Reception ~ By Invite Only (Sponsored by BMW of North America)
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM Puerto Rico on your own! Enjoy your free time and be safe!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast On Your Own
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Check-in & Registration ~ Rio Mar Atrium
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Session B1 (Sponsored by Empire)
MUSIC PANEL
Title: Representing Creatives in the Latin Music Industry
Moderator: Alicia Ferriabough (Partner, Law Offices of Robert A. Celestin)
Panelists: Isabel Garcia (Legal Affairs, Rimas Entertainment), Jose Alvarez (A&R Executive, Rimas Entertainment), Angela N. Martinez, (Attorney at Law, Angie Law), Boy Wonder (Record Producer), Robert A. Celestin (Owner,Law Offices of Robert A. Celestin)
Description: As streaming continues to dominate the music industry, and Latin music in particular experiences a global boom, artists and their advocates are exploring ways to seize the moment. With such global reach comes complex legal, cultural, and business challenges. This panel will explore the nuances and challenges of representing artists in the Latin music genre and the opportunities that lie therein. Panelists will include entertainment attorneys, artist advocates, and industry insiders who will discuss: common legal issues that Latin artists face, from collecting royalties in different territories to collaborating across borders; language and jurisdictional differences that impact and complicate contract negotiations; current US immigration policies’ impact on the industry; and monetizing an artist’s personal influence in the global market.
9:05 AM - 10:05 AM Sessions B2 (Sponsored by Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP)
GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Title: Protecting and Preserving LegacyTM: From First Deal to Beyond the Final Act: Ensuring Long-Term Protection for Entertainment Clientele
Moderator: M Heather Beverly, (Owner/Attorney at Law, Office of Heather Beverly PC)
Panelists: Marissa Crespo (Principal, Crespo Law Office), Tabetha Plummer, (Founding Partner, Plummer Carlyle Williams LLP), Charlene Glover-Hogan (Founder at Charlene Glover-Hogan Attorney at Law PC), Songhai Taylor (Estate Manager, Primary Wave)
Description: As entertainment attorneys, guiding clients from their initial industry engagements to the enduring preservation of their artistic and financial legacies is paramount. This panel convenes seasoned attorneys and other entertainment industry professionals to delve into comprehensive strategies tailored for safeguarding the multifaceted interests of entertainment clientele and best practices for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the broad spectrum of client needs.
10:15 AM – 11:10 AM Session B3 (Sponsored by Sponsored by Mechanical Licensing Collective “MLC”)
MUSIC
Title: Streaming Royalties and the Fight for Fair Pay: Legal Strategies to Protect Artists in the Digital Age
Moderator: Lita Rosario-Richardson (Chair, Entertainment Law Group Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A.)
Panelists: Traci Bransford (Partner, Sports & Entertainment Industry Team Leader, Parker Roe), Maurice Russell (Head of Rights Management, Mechanical Licensing Collective), Lisa Bonner (Managing Attorney, Bonner Law, PC), Corinne Cater (Principal & Owner, The Cater Firm)
Description: As streaming continues to dominate the music industry, artists and their advocates are raising urgent questions about compensation, transparency, and equity. This panel will explore the legal frameworks governing streaming royalties, the disparities between major label deals and independent artist payouts, and the ongoing legislative and contractual efforts to increase artist earnings. Panelists will include entertainment attorneys, artist advocates, and industry insiders who will discuss: the mechanics of streaming royalty distribution, key differences between publishing and master royalties, recent legislative efforts (e.g., the American Music Fairness Act), contractual strategies to negotiate better streaming terms and the role of collective rights organizations and direct licensing.
11:20 AM – 12:20 PM Session B4 (Sponsored by DC Stadium, LLC)
SPORTS
Title: BESLA Presents: Women In Sports - Power Plays: Black Women Leading Legal Strategy in the NFL
Moderator: Charla Claypool, (Partner, Lewis Rice, LLC)
​Panelists: Marissa John (VP, General Counsel, Seattle Seahawks), Valeria Williams (VP, General Counsel, Tennessee Titans), Toks Arowojolu (VP, Deputy General Counsel, Baltimore Ravens), Kaleisha Stuart (Deputy General Counsel, Dallas Cowboys)
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Description: In a league where every move is strategic, the legal minds behind the teams play a pivotal role in shaping the business of football. This panel features Black women serving as General Counsels for NFL franchises — powerhouses navigating contracts, compliance, crises, and culture in one of the most high-profile industries in the world.
This panel will explore evolving issues in sports law including intellectual property, employment law, internal investigations, and player relations — all through the lens of race, gender, and leadership in elite spaces.
12:30 PM – 6:00 PM LUNCH AND THE AFTERNOON ON YOUR OWN
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6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Pre-Gala Cocktail Reception ~ Ocean Terrace (Sponsored by Sheppard Mullin)
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7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Gala & Awards Program (BlackTie Attire) ~ Rio Mar Ballroom (Sponsored by ABC News/The Walt Disney Company Entertainment Sponsored by Guión Partners)
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2025 Film Festival Winner
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2025 BESLA Scholarship Recipients
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2025 Lifetime Achievement - Sports, Carmelo Anthony
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2025 Lifetime Achievement - Entertainment, Vanessa Estelle Williams
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2025 Corporate Impact Award - Perkins Coie
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2025 Hall of Fame Inductee - Matthew J. Middleton
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9:30 PM – 10:00 PM Join us for Desserts and a Post-Gala Toast to 45 Years! ~ Rio Mar Ballroom Corridor
10:00 PM – 12:30 PM AFTER PARTY (MASQUERADE THEME) ~ Caribbean Ballroom 2-3 (Sponsored by Warner Records and Morgan Stanley)
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Check-in & Registration ~ Rio Mar Atrium
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Session C1- Caribbean Ballroom 2-3 (Sponsored by the NFL Players Association [NFLPA], ESPN, & G4GC)
POWER SPORTS BREAKFAST
Title: BESLA Presents: Women in Sports Breakfast (limited capacity, announcement will be made about how to register)
Remarks by: Dr. Monique Couvson
Speakers: Kim Washington, Director of Events at the NBA
Description: This Initiative empowers and advances women professionals across all sectors of the sports
industry by fostering leadership, creating equitable opportunities, and building an inclusive community. It
advocates for women in all aspects of the sports industry including in front of and behind the camera, on
the court and field, in the front office and in the training room, and for those who are veterans in the industry
or just beginning. The breakfast will provide an opportunity to network and hear from a keynote speaker
whose achievements are truly inspirational.
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM Session C2 - (Sponsored by the Fanatics Foundation)
POWER FIRESIDE CHAT
Title: Fireside Chat with DeMaurice Smith, Professor in Residence, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Former Executive Director of the NFLPA
Moderator: Vincent Cohen, Global Managing Partner, Dechert, LLP
Description: The discussion will cover Smith’s fourteen years as the head of the NFL Players Association, where he was an advocate for football players through some of the most tumultuous crises in NFL history: Colin Kaepernick’s protests, Deflategate, a lockout, two collective bargaining agreements, and more. During this time, he witnessed the troubling response to discrimination and racial unrest, both within the league and beyond, which became part of the inspiration for his recently published and best-selling book, “Turf Wars”. During this Fireside Chat, the discussion will delve into Smith’s years leading the NFLPA and formulating solutions to address the tension between owners and players, as the NFL worked to grow its now $20-billion-a-year brand—while the players’ battled to receive their fair share and other protections.
10:20 AM – 11:35 AM Session C3 (Sponsored by Perkins Coie LLP)
POWER PANEL - CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Title: The Constitution on Trial: Executive Orders, Immigration Enforcement & the Impact on Entertainment
and Sports
Moderator: Andrea M. O’Neal (Founding Principal, Community Alpha Strategies LLC)
Panelists: Maurice Dyson (Professor of Law, Suffolk University), Audrea Golding (Partner, Fragomen), Wendy Greene (Director of the Center for Law, Policy, Drexel University Kline School of Law):
Description: This panel explores how the expanding scope of executive authority is reshaping legal obligations and strategic decision-making in the entertainment and sports industries. From immigration enforcement to constitutional interpretation, recent executive actions are influencing compliance, content development, and talent mobility.
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM Session C4 (Sponsored by Holland & Knight and NKSFB, LLC)
POWER FIRESIDE CHAT & SIP
Title: Fireside Chat & Sip with Carmelo Anthony & Asani Swann
Moderator: C. Anthony Mulrain (Partner and Co-Chair of Sports and Entertainment Teams, Holland & Knight)
Description: This fireside chat between recent NBA Hall of Fame inductee Carmelo Anthony, his business partner Asani Swann and their legal counsel C. Anthony Mulrain will focus on business pursuits after the ball stops bouncing.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM BREAK ON YOUR OWN
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM BESLA AUTHORS’ SHOWCASE ~ Pavillion
Description: Step Into the Spotlight at BESLA’s Exclusive Authors’ Showcase!
Join us for an unforgettable experience where BESLA’s own authors share the stories behind their groundbreaking works. Dive into personal conversations about what inspired their writing, and get insider insights straight from the source! Come ready to show your support—snag an autographed copy or secure your pre-order before these titles hit the shelves. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind literary event—where ideas meet inspiration!
3:45 PM - 7:30 PM BESLA BBQ - YOU ARE INVITED TO THE COOKOUT! ~ Pavillion (Sponsored by NETFLIX) (Entertainment Sponsored by Guión Partners)
Reconnect with old friends and colleagues and spend time with the next generation of BELSA leaders at the inaugural BESLA Family BBQ! Join us for an afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship as we bring together our seasoned members, our Young Lawyers Division, and law students for a relaxed, family-style gathering.
Bring your competitive spirit for classic games like spades, backgammon, chess, and UNO. Get ready to laugh, share stories, and create new memories. This is a chance to unwind, enjoy some great food, and strengthen the bonds of our BESLA community.
7:30 PM - 11:30 PM LAST NIGHT ON YOUR OWN IN PUERTO RICO - ENJOY!
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025
DEPARTURES
BESLA wishes its members, sponsors, partners and extended family safe travels back home!
