Cardozo's Entertainment Law Society and the FAME Center presented the annual Entertainment Law Week with a series of programs covering the intersection of creative executives and entertainment attorneys.
Fireside Chat with Waleed Diab
Waleed Diab, the Director and Global Head of Recorded Music Business Development for YouTube, shared his unique path in the music industry, coming from a family of Egyptian immigrants, and initially after graduation, taking temp positions with MTV to joining YouTube at a formative time when the company was disrupting all corners of the media industry and our web and social media browsing habits at the same time. Waleed also shared valuable knowledge regarding YouTube’s proprietary content and rights management process as well as his personal learnings regarding what it takes to succeed in a changing industry while preserving your unique self.
Press to Start: A Tutorial for Practice in the Video Game Industry
The panelists shared with us the roles and objectives of lawyers in the video game and e-sports industry. Harris Peskin ’15 shared with us his remarkable story of starting ESG Law, the first law firm to focus exclusively on e-sports.
Legal Risks of Docudramas
Moderated by Cardozo Adjunct Professor Alexandra Perlof-Giles, the panelists gave us a master class in legal risk management, particularly concerning defamation claims, when producing content based on actual events. The panelists included multiple NYC Bar Communications & Media Law Committee members, including its Chair, Ravi V. Sitwala, Deputy General Counsel of Hearst Communications.
Celebrating Black Entertainment Attorneys: Visibility, Influence and Empowerment
Panelists shared the challenges of breaking into an industry where they have shared backgrounds with many performers but less so with many of the legal professionals perceived to exercise the power of their careers. They emphasized their sense of community and the challenge of striking the right balance between disruption and legal tradition. This panel was moderated by 1L Gabrielle Hunter.
What You Need to Know About the Music Industry
Panelists, including Cardozo alumni Jason Boyarski and Nicole Della Maggiore, shared their perspectives and experiences working in a rapidly changing industry, including the industry’s movement towards, and then away from, “360 deals” where a record company or other licensor participates in all of an artist’s revenue streams. They also imparted invaluable wisdom regarding how to handle the challenges and obstacles involved in breaking into the music industry as a young lawyer.
