What follows are summaries for the CLE sessions being hosted at the conference, which is being presented by the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and the LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law at the University of Miami School of Law.
To register for the event, visit: https://events.miami.edu/event/global_entertainment_sports_law_industry_conference_2982
Day 1: Thursday, April 7th
“Building Stadiums Block-by-Blockchain: The New Wave of Stadium Sponsorships and Fan Engagement”
The emergence of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology has only begun to transform the sports experience. Eager to expand its global reach, crypto companies have stepped into the world of sponsorships, stadium engagement, ticketing, and partnerships. Fans gain opportunities to use crypto to purchase tickets and merchandise, while blockchain ensures authenticity and dependability. This panel will discuss how teams, leagues, and stadiums around the world are taking advantage of such innovations.
Advising the Student-Athlete: A “NIL” Simulation
Nearly one year after the NCAA implemented its interim NIL policy, it is now more imperative than ever that key stakeholders in the sports industry who are involved in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals have a firm understanding of how to properly navigate each critical juncture of the contractual process. In this simulation, attendees will learn about three key touchpoints: (1) Picking the right sports agent; (2) deciding which companies to collaborate with; and (3) navigating key components of the NIL contract. By understanding these critical pillars of the NIL realm, agents, talent, and other key stakeholders will be better equipped to navigate the rapidly changing NIL era and remain compliant with all laws relevant to each respective deal.
Breaking the Subtitle Barrier: Foreign Content in the Domestic Market
After the domestic successes of international movies like Parasite and television shows such as La Casa De Papel and Squid Game, the subtitle barrier has officially been broken. US audiences are eager to watch films from international creators, which will greatly affect the domestic content markets. Discussing these effects, the process it takes to bring foreign content to the US, and the challenges that accompany these processes are lawyers and executives from the international departments of studios, distributors, and creators, both domestic and international. Questions to be answered include: How is foreign content selected by US distributors? Are there any challenges specific to foreign content? Who owns what rights when a foreign film is picked up by US distributors? Are there domestic studios expanding to international spaces? What is the future of international influence on domestic content markets?
E-Sports in South Florida: A Keynote Discussion with Misfits Gaming
Today competitive professional gaming (eSports) is soon to be a one billion dollar industry. With eSports rapidly growing in popularity and lucrativeness, the current number of eSports organizations and teams is likely to rise. This Keynote by E-Sports experts, Co-Founders of Misfits Gaming Laurie Silvers and Ben Spoont, will explain how league organizations, teams, and athletes are building up their franchises and brands while navigating the evolving young territory of eSports team and player management. This conversation will also analyze and explain a multitude of regulatory and legal issues and other practical considerations that the speakers believe are vital to ensuring league, team, and eSports success.
Hot Topics for NBA Counsel
The issues hitting the desks of NBA General Counsels have been far from ordinary in these times of immense societal and technological change. Franchise legal teams have had to navigate a magnitude of contemporary issues, including how to fill a stadium post-pandemic and how to ratify the league to allow for institutional investment in franchises. This panel will discuss NBA General Counsels’ overall responsibilities in overseeing particular franchises, and dive into expected issues in the near future.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Discussion with Women Leaders in Entertainment & Sports
Entertainment and sports have the power to shape and inform society’s values on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and show us what is possible for the future. Discussions surrounding diversity in these industries distinctly lack the perspectives of women that contribute to the success of professional athletes, teams, and creative talent. This panel of women leaders will share their perspectives and experiences on making diversity, equity, and inclusion an important part of the entertainment and sports industries.
The Broadcaster and the Agent
As competition for views continues in sports, networks and programs have repeatedly turned to former athletes to man the broadcasting booth so that they can provide a unique perspective compared to other networks. This panel will discuss sports broadcasting and more specifically the transition from being an athlete to becoming a broadcaster. This panel features three former athletes that made the transition into the broadcasting booth and a leading sports broadcasting agent that has represented several former athletes that have moved into sports broadcasting. The panelists will discuss their transition into sports broadcasting and how agents have played a role in the transition from the field or court to the booth.
Miami 2030: A Keynote with Entertainment and Hospitality Mogul David Grutman
When discussing Miami as a global entertainment hub, there is no one better to talk to than entrepreneur David Grutman. From his restaurants to nightclubs to his hotel, all of Grutman’s business ventures embody the vibrant and unique spirit of Miami. This keynote discussion will focus on the future of Miami hospitality and the next big things in entertainment.
Day 2: Friday, April 8th
Game Time: A Keynote Discussion with Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza
This keynote will discuss Stephen Espinoza’s career path, how he came to be the President of Showtime Sports, and lead Showtime to becoming the world’s leading outlet for live boxing. Espinoza will discuss his role at Showtime Sports in overseeing the production of the network’s original sports series and documentaries, managing the network’s relationships with distributors and talent, and leading the acquisition of licensing of all Showtime pay-per-view sports and event programming. Showtime’s biggest acquisition under Espinoza was signing the boxer Floyd Mayweather. Espinoza plays a critical role at the crossroads of entertainment and sports law and will discuss Showtime Sports’ innovative approaches to integrate media and sports broadcasting.
Art Coffee Talk – The Underline & Efforts to Radically Reshape Miami’s Public Art Space
This Art Coffee Talk will spotlight healthy and connective city design through green space reuse and artistic vision. Through the example of The Underline, the conversation will detail ways in which lawyers, architects, artists, and communities can reimagine public spaces and incorporate thoughtful, responsive design. Art Coffee Talk – The Underline & Efforts to Radically Reshape Miami’s Public Art Space will be moderated by Allison Friedin, Co-Founder and General Counsel of the Museum of Graffiti and feature Daniel Balmori, Senior Associate at Hogan Lovells and pro bono counsel to Friends of the Underline, Inc. and The Underline Conservancy and Steven Wernick, Managing Partner at Wernick & Co. and Adjunct Professor of UM’s School of Architecture.
Entertainment Coffee Talk – Music Catalog Sales and Acquisitions
Music assets are selling for extraordinarily high valuations. Over the past few years, songwriting catalogs have sold for about eight to twelve times the net publisher’s share. Music investment start-ups are heavily disrupting the way the industry operates, snatching up rights related to major artists like Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, and Shakira. To protect their traditional industry power, music industry giants have spent hundreds of millions of dollars acquiring ownership of major artists’ catalogs. Artists seeking to leave legacies for their estates have greatly benefited from these unusually high sales. Smith Entertainment Law Group music attorneys Mike Olson and Henry Root discuss the tensions between start-ups and industry powerhouses and how lawyers can use these tensions to accomplish their clients’ goals.
Formula 1: Racing Towards the Miami Grand Prix
This panel will cover the life cycle of bringing the Grand Prix and Formula 1 to Miami, from its inception to a mere month out from the Grand Prix. The conversation will discuss negotiations between Formula 1 and Hard Rock Stadium, construction and clearances for building the race track, and a discussion of gathering vendors, sponsors, and city approvals. F1: Racing Towards the Grand Prix will feature a conversation with Myles Pistorius, Senior VP and General Counsel for the Miami Dolphins, Brandon Peck, the Manager of Legal Affairs for South Florida Motorsports, and Marcus Bach-Armas, the Senior Director of Legal and Government Affairs for the Miami Dolphins & Hard Rock Stadium.
Influential Insights: How Influencers are Keeping up with Social Media
A novel yet ever-growing profession, social media influencers have drastically transformed the modern business and digital landscapes. Following pandemic shutdowns and the increased importance of community connectivity, social platforms like Tik Tok have become invaluable business tools through which influencers could sustain professional engagement with followers and counterparts. However, as a result, these applications have faced rising governance, most notably FCC regulation and enforcement of #ad and sponsor disclosures. Given this growing scrutiny, influencers must navigate their status as businesswomen and continually adapt to this evolving business environment
We Won’t “Shut Up & Dribble”: Athletes Fostering Social Change
In light of the recent worldwide demand for social justice and reform, this keynote will delve into athlete leadership in fostering that change. These champions have made a name for themselves on and off the court and have used their platform to address key social issues and promote justice, all while inspiring millions of others to do the same. Specifically, this keynote will address female athlete’s fight to bring awareness to equality, social reform, and mental health.
Streaming Wars
We are in the midst of the unstoppable streaming era with more content available at our fingertips than ever before. With seemingly countless platforms to choose from, the future of streaming is exciting and unfolding right before our eyes. As the competition for subscribers heats up amongst streaming companies, these service providers are tasked with the challenge of pushing the boundaries, extending past the realms of film and television, into the land of video games, music, audio-visual synchronization and beyond! So, how will streaming service providers and content creators ultimately fulfill the goal of gaining a subscriber base that sticks? In this discussion, our panel of attorneys and industry executives will discuss how the streaming business is working through these problems and seeking out solutions. By the end of this discussion, lawyers and students alike will have a better understanding of the inner workings of the streaming business, the critical legal issues that arise, and forecasts for the future.
The Leadership Gameplan- Live Podcast with Coach and Lawyer Marc Trestman
A podcast from the University of Miami School of Law, The Leadership Gameplan goes beyond the X’s and O’s to examine leadership through the lens of our accomplished guests from the worlds of sports, business, journalism, and the law. We will be joined by a special guest to discuss how leadership in this accelerating and interconnected world determines our present and our future, and why how we lead today matters more than ever.
