2026 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE
CULTURE IS
THE CASE
WHERE ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS AND LAW SHAPE THE LANDSCAPE
2026 Mid-Year Conference
Program Agenda @ a Glance
*Programming is subject to change
Thursday, May 28
Conference Opening Reception
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Presentation of Beacon of the Industry Award – Clifford “T.I.” Harris
The Culture Lab: Mixology & Networking Experience
Sponsored by Unbridled
Mixologists:
Ray Sampson​ - IG: BAIIRAYBANDZ
Inez Goodwine - IG: FRESHNIQUE
The Loft 289 Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Friday, May 29
Conference Registration for all workshops & panels
8:00am - 2:30pm
The Candler Hotel, enter at: 84 Park Pl., NE Atlanta, GA 30303
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**Note: There are 2 locations for this year’s Mid-Year Conference. Three of the morning workshops will be at the GSU College of Law and all CLE panels, including the Producer and Recording Agreements session, will be at The Candler Hotel Ballroom, across the street from the law school.
WORKSHOPS
GSU College of Law - 85 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA
8:30am - 11:30am
The Bar Blueprint: Bar Exam Writing Workshop for Law Students
Speaker:
Brandy O. Domengeaux, Esq, CEO, The Bar Writing Coach, Sr. Lecturer of Law GSU College of Law
Room 344
The Candler Hotel Ballroom - 84 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA
WELCOME REMARKS
9:00am - 9:05am
Speakers:
Adrienne Williams Esq., Chairwoman, Board of Directors
Allison Hobbs, Esq., Mid-Year Conference Chair, Board of Directors
GSU College of Law - 85 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA
The Writers’ Room: TV & Story Development Masterclass Workshop
9:00am - 11:45am
Speaker:
Deri Tyton, Founder & Lead Instructor of The Film Mechanics
Description:
For new & emerging screenplay & TV series writers to learn structure, story, characters, and outlining.
Room 345
The Candler Hotel Ballroom - 84 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA
The Blueprint: A Breakdown of Producer & Recording Agreements
Presented by the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) (CLE credit eligible)
9:05am - 10:20am
Speakers:
Vincent Phillips Esq., Founding Partner Arrington & Phillips
Aurielle Brooks Esq., Partner Arrington & Phillips
Description:
This workshop is designed to provide law students, attorneys and music industry professionals with an inside look at the key provisions within a Producer Agreement and Recording Agreement. This program focuses on what practitioners should look out for, what terms require particular attention, and how to negotiate the best possible deal for their clients. Through practical, industry-focused instruction, participants will learn the blueprint of producer and recording agreements by reviewing key provisions, common legal and business pitfalls, current industry standards, and effective negotiation strategies through the lens of artist representation.
Attendees will leave with practical considerations, drafting insight, and negotiation techniques that can be immediately applied when reviewing and advising clients on music production and recording transactions.
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BREAK
10:20am - 10:35am​
GSU College of Law - 85 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA
The Casting Room: Actors Masterclass Workshop
9:05am - 11:45am
Speaker:
Dennis L.A. White, Actor/Director/Writer/Producer/Acting Coach​
Description:
For new & emerging actors to learn scene study, auditioning technique and self-tape prep.
Room 346
PANELS
The Candler Hotel Ballroom - 84 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA
12:00 pm - 12:45pm
NETWORKING LUNCH
Location: Candler Hotel
Data Is The Case: Al in Discovery, Litigation and Transactions
10:35am - 11:35am
Moderator:
Bethanie Nomani, Founder, VINify
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Panelists:
Charlie Bingham, Esq., Associate General Counsel, Horizon3.ai
Emerson Bretous, Principal, Sovereign Discovery
Joe Drayton, Esq., Partner & Co-Head, Proskauer Rose LLP
Brittani Ojogho-Fields Esq., Corporate Counsel, Amazon MGM Studios
Description:
Artificial intelligence is no longer a theoretical disruptor — it is reshaping life and work in real time. From AI generated social media posts, music and videos, AI legal work tools, AI cybersecurity, to generated evidence and deepfakes to predictive analytics, automated discovery tools, and evolving standards of professional responsibility, lawyers are navigating a rapidly shifting terrain where technology is advancing faster than the law can respond. This panel brings together seasoned practitioners, technologists, and in house counsel to examine how AI is transforming the lifecycle of work, entrepreneurship, a dispute and what attorneys must understand to competently advise clients in this new era.
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Attendees will explore the emerging legal frameworks governing AI created content, the various uses of AI in the legal workplace and court, admissibility challenges posed by synthetic media, and the ethical obligations surrounding the use of generative tools in drafting, research, and discovery.
The discussion will also address how courts are responding to AI related misconduct, the rise of algorithmic bias claims, and the practical realities of litigating cases where AI is either the tool, the evidence, or the defendant. Participants will leave with a grounded understanding of the risks, opportunities, and strategic considerations that define AI era life and work.
The Mechanical Licensing Collective Remarks
11:45am - 11:50am
LUNCH
12:00pm - 1:15pm
The Business of Athlete Power: Agencies, Capital, and the New Power Structure in Sports
1:20pm - 2:20pm
Moderator:
Marcus Sandifer Esq., Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
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Panelists:
Alain Mathieu Esq., Partner & Co-Chair, Sports and Entertainment Group, Foley Hoag LLP
Edward Fultz Esq., Associate, Reed Smith
Tanisha Pinkins Esq., Corporate Lawyer, Holland & Knight
Description:
The sports agency industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Once defined by relationship-driven representation, it is rapidly evolving into a sophisticated, vertically integrated ecosystem backed by institutional capital. As private equity firms, investment banks, and strategic investors enter the space, agencies are becoming powerful platforms operating at the intersection of sports, media, and culture.
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This panel will explore how these shifts are reshaping athlete representation and influence, including the legal and business implications of consolidation, private equity investment, conflicts of interest, and the expanding role of attorneys in structuring complex, multi-layered deals. The conversation will also examine how athletes are building brands, controlling intellectual property, and influencing culture at scale.
BREAK
2:20pm - 2:35pm
Politics, Platforms, & Playbooks: Federal Pressure on Media & Sports
2:35pm - 3:35pm
Moderator:
Narda Jones Esq., Founder & Principal, Acacia Hill Strategies
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Panelists:
Angela Ball Esq., Sr. Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, NBCUniversal​
CLOSING REMARKS
3:35pm
Mid-Year Conference Committee:
Allison Hobbs Esq., Senior Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs, Samsung TV Plus
Chiquita Woolfolk Banks Esq., Principal, Bankable Consulting, Inc.
Vincent Phillips Esq., Founding Partner, Arrington and Phillips, LLP
The Culture Kickback: Networking Experience
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Thrive Atlanta 101 Marietta St., NW, Atlanta, Ga 30303
*Programming is subject to change
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