The FAME Center hosted a series of panels and information sessions throughout the week of March 4 for students interested in pursuing careers in entertainment law. FAME alumni spoke about their experiences and how they got where they are now, while current students were able to ask questions, engage and network with them.
The panels touched on a variety of topics, including art, theatre and breaking into entertainment law.
Mythbusters: Entertainment Law Careers 101
This panel featured Ayana McPherson ’21, an associate at Bruns Brennan Berry Pikulin & Jacobs, and Jesse Bookout ’19, an associate at Franklin Weinrib Rudell + Vassallo, and was moderated by 2L Becca Hine. They led a discussion about the myths within the entertainment law industry, and the alumni offered advice to students. Students brought some of their questions to the panelists, while other topics were offered up by the panelists themselves. Some of the myths that were debunked included lawyers needing a prickly disposition to do their jobs well and students having to choose the entertainment field they'd work in for their entire careers while in law school.
Although some lawyers have a certain way they approach their work, the panelists said not all of them are rude. They also noted that law school was the time for students to explore the many entertainment fields to determine where they may want to pursue a career.
In addition to breaking down myths, panelists and students had conversations about how active a student should be while in law school, how to approach interviews and the best ways to network.
“You'll meet your people, and when you meet those people, you have to cherish that,” Bookout said.
Resale Restrictions in the Art Market
This panel featured Paul Cossu, partner at Pryor Cashman, Art Law group, and Luke Nikas, partner Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, and was moderated by Samantha Anderson ’16. The three discussed new developments in the art market and creative legal tactics that can be used against collectors who buy works, only to sell them at inflated price points. Some of these tactics included essentially loaning, not selling, art to collectors and including stipulations against price gouging in contracts. They also emphasized that lawyers in the industry shouldn't be afraid to get creative when finding ways to protect their clients.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road: Pathways to Enter Entertainment Law
Wednesday night’s panel featured Andrew Hannibal ’12, senior counsel for Sesame Workshop, Maricela Gonzalez ’18, VP, Business and Legal Affairs for FilmNation Entertainment and Molly Rothschild ’18, litigation associate for Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz. Though their paths to getting to where they are today were not linear, the panelists discussed what they learned along the way and how their experiences shaped their careers. It was their interest in entertainment that predated their respective law school journeys that set them up for a future working in the industry.
Diversity in Music
During this panel, panelists discussed their careers in the music industry, touching on their experiences as attorneys of color. In addition to talking about diversity in the music industry, panelists stressed to the students in attendance the importance of networking. The panelists included Karl Fowlkes, The Fowlkes Firm; Tyrone Scott, SoundCloud; Omar Sandoval, Spirit Music Publishing; Kike Aluko Wahutu, Greenberg Traurig; with Kristen Surya '14, Atlantic Records moderating.
“I think representation plays an important part in educating your client,” Fowlkes said. “Where we can come into play is we can help an artist get a bigger piece of the pie, so they can be the next generation of creators who own record labels, educating people and being a part of the next wave of intellectual property ownership.”
Other featured panels that week included Theatre Law 101: How to Make it on Broadway and From Scripts to Streams: The Lawyer’s Role in Digital Streaming. Later in March, The FAME Center will also collaborate with several student groups for further programming about hot topics in the field of entertainment law.
Upcoming Events:
Re-Recording Clauses
Wednesday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m.
Room TBA
AI’s Impact on Copyright Law
Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m.
Fifth Floor Faculty Lounge