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LSBA Entertainment Law CLE Seminar: Safeguarding the Spotlight

Thursday, April 16, 2026 - Friday, April 17, 2026
Register Online
LSBA Entertainment Law CLE Seminar: Safeguarding the Spotlight 
April 16-17, 2026

Behind every successful public figure—whether on stage, on screen, or on the field—stands a skilled legal team.

This continuing legal education seminar explores the critical role lawyers play in protecting the careers, rights, and reputations of creatives and athletes alike. Featuring highly credentialed speakers, the program will address timely legal issues across the entertainment and sports industries.

Hosted by: Louisiana State Bar Association’s Diversity Committee’s Pipeline to Diversity and Outreach Subcommittee and Art, Entertainment and Sport Law Section

Location: Louisiana State Bar Association, 601 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

Check In: 8:00 a.m.
Schedule(s): 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. each day
Registration Fee: $175
CLE Credit hours: 4.00 CLE Credit Hour(s) each day - Total of 8.00 CLE Credit Hour(s)
Room Capacity: Limited to a maximum of 40 registrants.

Included with registration:
Light Breakfast and Coffee 
A Single-Day Fest Family Pass to French Quarter Festival for Friday ONLY is included with registration.
Enjoy exclusive perks such as hospitality lounges, shaded elevated viewing areas, private bars, private restrooms, and more. https://frenchquarterfest.org

The day before the conference, a logistics email will be sent to your email address on file with the LSBA. If not an LSBA member, the logistics email will be sent to the email address used for the registration process.

To view your LSBA continuing legal education registration history, visit your LSBA membership account. You can manage your LSBA membership account by clicking here. 

Schedule: Thursday, April 16, 2026 

8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. - Session One, Name, Image, and Likeness in College Sports – Legal Basics and Major Cases 1.00 General Credit Hour(s)

In a rapidly evolving world of college athletics, this session will look to describe the playing field from the genesis of amateurism, through the rise of player-led challenges, to today’s world of athlete empowerment. The session will discuss the landmark cases that have shaped the rules of engagement for college athletes over the past century and will look into the future to discuss the challenges that still dot the uniquely American institution of college sports.
  • Justin S. Brashear, Founder and CEO, Brashear Law LLC, Lake Charles, LA

9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. - Session Two, Frying Pan to Fire: The NCAA and Player Compensation in the Wake of the House v. NCAA Settlement 1.00 General Credit Hour(s)

In June 2025, a federal court approved the landmark House v. NCAA class action settlement, authorizing Division 1 schools to share upwards of $20 million in athletic revenue directly with student-athletes. The NCAA, power conferences, and player advocates hoped the new rules and structures ushered in by the settlement would provide stability after a chaotic few years of escalating NIL payments, transfer portal hyperactivity, and persistent angst about the fate of non-revenue "Olympic" revenue. But with the 2025-26 athletic season drawing near its conclusion, the chaos has only intensified.
  • Walter "Fritz" Metzinger III, Associate, Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann LLC, New Orleans, LA

10:25 a.m. - 11:25 a.m. - Session Three, Guarding and Exploiting the Spotlight 1.00 Ethics Credit Hour(s)

Join us for an in-depth discussion on the ethical responsibilities of attorneys advising creatives and athletes on protecting their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This conversation will review key professional conduct standards—such as confidentiality and conflict avoidance—and examine ethical issues surrounding NIL exploitation for commercial purposes. Participants will gain practical strategies for navigating these challenges while upholding the highest standards of integrity.

  • Edgar "Dino" Gankendorff, Co-Managing Partner, Provosty & Gankendorff, LLC, New Orleans, LA

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Session Four, Copyright and Trademark Basics for Emerging Artists in the Entertainment Sector 1.00 General Credit Hour(s)

All artists who are creating content for commercial exploitation are also operating businesses, whether they are sole proprietors, partners in collaborations, or small businesses established as entities with the State. It can be a real challenge for an artist to balance the creative process with best business practices that ensure the artist is operating in ways that build leverage and maximize earning potential while controlling the content they create, Emerging Artists are particularly vulnerable to unfair and even predatory tactics that can strip them of their creative work absent a basic legal education around their intellectual property rights, enforcement and recourse. This session will provide an overview of copyright and trademark rights that every artist should be know in operating within the entertainment sector.

  • Ashlye M. Keaton, Co-Founder, The Ella Project, New Orleans, LA

Schedule: Friday, April 17, 2026

8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. - Session One, A House of Cards: The Unsustainable Business Model of College Athletics 1.00 General Credit Hour(s)

This program will focus on the recent developments surrounding NIL, and how the House settlement has shaped the landscape of college athletics. We will also discuss how the settlement has created an untenable business model with a lack of necessary enforcement to properly regulate the business practices of NIL, particularly with regard to relationships between schools and student athletes.

  • N. Kordell Caldwell, Associate, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, New Orleans, LA

9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. - Session Two, From High School Athlete to the Pros: Protecting Athlete Brands in the NIL Era 1.00 General Credit Hour(s)

Today’s athletes enter the public spotlight earlier than ever, often while still in high school creating unprecedented branding opportunities and legal risk. This CLE session examines the evolving NIL landscape, and the legal, contractual, and reputational challenges athletes face as they transition from amateur status to professional careers. Presented from the perspective of a sports agent and/or attorney, the session explores common NIL pitfalls, enforceability issues involving minors, intellectual property ownership, social media risk management, and contract provisions that can jeopardize future earning potential. Attendees will gain practical strategies for safeguarding athlete brands, structuring NIL agreements, and protecting long-term value in an increasingly commercialized sports and entertainment marketplace.

  • Shane D. Williams, Maven Sports Group, Strategic Partner of Cash Money Records, Alexandria, LA

10:25 a.m. - 11:25 a.m. - Session Three, The Ever-Evolving Landscape of NIL in College Athletics 1.00 General Credit Hour(s)

The development and evolution of college athletics, focusing on how the ability of college athletes to receive revenue for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) has significantly altered the landscape. We'll explore both the historical context and the contemporary implications of NIL, examining its impact on athletes, institutions, and the industry as a whole.

  • Michael B. Victorian, Counsel, Phelps, Baton Rouge, LA

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Session Four, AI, Artistry, and the Law: Protecting Creators in the Age of Synthetic Sound 1.00 Professionalism Credit Hour(s)

This program examines how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming music creation and disrupting traditional intellectual property principles, while emphasizing the broader expectations of professionalism for attorneys. Beyond technical knowledge, professionalism requires lawyers to employ their skills faithfully in service of clients and the public good. This session will address key aspects of professionalism—including attorney competency and sensitivity to cultural and technological differences—within the context of AI-driven innovation. Using high-profile examples of AI-generated music and media, the discussion will explore legal implications surrounding copyright ownership, licensing, and authenticity, and provide guidance on how attorneys can uphold professional standards while advising clients in this rapidly evolving landscape.

  • Brianna M. Spikes, Attorney at Law, Atlanta, GA

 To view the program agenda, please click here. 

Registration Cancellation Policy:
All cancellations must be received in writing and sent to diversity@lsba.org.

Telephone cancellations will not be accepted.

Cancellations received in writing before March 28, 2026, will be fully refunded minus an administrative fee in the amount of $30. If written confirmation of cancellation is not received by March 28, 2026, no refunds or credits will be issued of any kind. Credits will be processed within thirty days of the cancellation request. 

If you prefer not to register online, please click here for the Attorney Registration Form. Submission instructions are on the form. 

If you are an out-of-state attorney, please click here for the Non-Attorney Registration Form.

If you are not an attorney, please click here for the Out-Of-State Attorney registration form. 

The LSBA is not responsible for any expenses associated with travel, lodging, or other costs incurred by the registrant. This also applies if the LSBA must cancel the seminar for any reason.

On-site Registration Policy: It is the policy of the LSBA that NO CASH shall be accepted for any transaction. Payment may be made by personal check or via the LSBA registration portal if open on the day of registration. 

Audio/Video Recording:
Audio or video recording or transcription of any portion of the seminar is prohibited unless express consent is granted by the LSBA.

Parking: The Louisiana State Bar Association cannot provide parking for you. Paid parking, such as metered parking spaces and parking lots, is available in the area.

Special Requirements/Dietary Restrictions:
Please contact the LSBA if you have a disability, dietary restrictions or a food allergy that may require special accommodations at this conference. The LSBA is committed to ensuring full accessibility for all registrants.

Lactation Room:
A lactation room for breastfeeding individuals to express milk while attending the program is available. You are responsible for requesting access to the space and following the guidelines for use.

Lactation Room Guidelines:
Attendee must request use of the room via email at diversity@lsba.org. Please provide your name, LSBRN, phone number, the time the room is needed and the length of time you will need the lactation room is needed.

Pumping Equipment:
Should you choose to leave any items in the room, please note that these are not the responsibility of the LSBA or the host hotel. Please keep the space neat and orderly. If there is a cleaning issue, please report it to LSBA staff at the check-in desk.

OnDemand Viewing:
Sessions will not be recorded for OnDemand viewing.

MCLE Attendance Reporting:
The LSBA Member Outreach and Diversity team will provide attendance records for participating Louisiana attorneys to the MCLE Department within 30 days of the seminar.

Disclaimer:
The LSBA’s inclusion of a program in its CLE programming is not to be deemed a statement or an endorsement of the views expressed therein by the LSBA or any member of the LSBA. Speakers on LSBA programs were carefully selected for their knowledge, but neither the LSBA nor the speaker warrant that the presentations or materials were free of errors or will continue to be accurate. Statements in the presentations and their materials should be verified before relying on them. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect opinions of the LSBA, its sections, or committees. Views expressed are those of the authors and contributors only.

Questions?
Contact the Member Outreach and Diversity team members by email at diversity@lsba.org. 
Louisiana State Bar Association
601 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
 (800) 421-LSBA(5722) / (504) 566-1600