Attend Cutting Edge's Entertainment Law Program in New Orleans

The 27th Annual Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar is happening on August 22 - 24 at the InterContinental Hotel in New Orleans. The event covers Recording Contracts, Publishing Contracts, Termination of Transfer, Copyrights, Neighboring Rights, Entrepreneur Crowdfunding (JOBS Act), Filmmakers Agreements, VR/Interactive laws

Register here

The course is approved for a total of 17.00 hour(s) of credit, including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics, 1.00 hour(s) of professionalism, and 1.00 hour(s) of law office practice by the MCLE Committee of the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Program (Subject to change)

Thursday, August 22, 2019

9:00 – 10:00 AM
Professionalism – The Ornery Adversary [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
What do you do when the attorney on the other side is being unprofessional, or nasty, or simply impossible? What do you do when you have an adversary who stalls, doesn’t return calls, or simply delays matters? How do you get the most out of your negotiation? How do you save a deal from going south?
Speakers:

10:15 – 12:15 PM
Legal and Business Considerations when Advising Clients Creating and Operating Music Labels. [Legal/Business CLE 2.0 cr. hr.]
Part I: Covering the legal considerations in record label management and creation.
Part II: A review of label-artist, label-producer, and label distributor agreements
Entrepreneurs and musicians are among those seeking success by signing artists or self-releasing music. This panel will cover legal issues that arise when organizing and operating an independent record label, including the organization structure, income streams, standard agreements, and organizations that can help with the independent label's success.
Speakers:

Noon Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 PM
Ethics after #MeToo [Legal/CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
This panel will cover rules of professional conduct when engaged in the discovery process, including best practices for preservation, the collection of electronic documents and protecting client's information.
Speakers:

2:45 – 3:45 PM
Damage Control: Dealing with high profile Talent – What happens when an artist, athlete or celebrity has a run in with the law? [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
The discussion will center on the analysis of the legal issues related to representing athletes and entertainer involved in contract negotiations when there is a crisis, and representation is needed with the media and in the courtroom. The panel will also cover changes in legal business issues under various collective bargaining agreements
Speakers:

4:00 – 5:15 PM
Trademark: Branding – Considerations in Gaming and Cannibiz [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]
This panel will cover trademarks, piracy, combating counterfeit goods, and strategies for proper licensing and derivatives products.
Speakers:

Friday, August 23, 2019

9:00 – 10:30 AM
Funding Deals and How to Successfully Finance Ventures – Advising entertainment entrepreneurs [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.]
This panel will address various funding methods and deal points entrepreneurs can pursue when seeking financing. Including traditional banking, equity investors, and crowdfunding.
Speakers:

10:45 – 12:15 PM
Copyrights Changes is the Age of the Music Modernization Act [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.]
From the impact of the MMA, the latest on the "Mechanical Licensing Collective," and termination of copyrights.
Speakers:

11:45 AM Lunch

12:30 – 1:15 PM
Legislative Updates [Legal/CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]
Covering the Music Modernization Act, content distribution, and the new technologies
Speakers:

1:30 – 2:30 PM
Litigation Updates [Legal/CLE 1.00 cr. hr.]
Latest case law - Current Trends and Hot Topics
Speakers:

2:45 – 3:45 PM
Legal and Business Issues in Independent Films – Financing – Tax Credits – Production – Distribution [Legal/Film CLE 1.00 cr. hr.]
This panel will provide an overview of completing and launching an independent film.
Speakers:

4:00 – 5:15 PM
Music, $$ and Synch Licensing: a Brave New World [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]
This panel, by the authors of the best selling music business book “Music, Money and Success” (8th edition), will explain the ins and outs of what the deals look like, the short and long term money that can be made and where this area is heading in the future.
Speakers:

5:15 – 6:30 PM
Presentation: Honoring Attorney Ellis Jay Pailet – Presentation and reception honoring the career of pioneer entertainment law attorney.

Book Signing - MUSIC, MONEY AND SUCCESS, 8th Edition – Celebrating of the release of Todd and Jeffrey Brabec's best-selling book on the entertainment industry.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

9:00 – 10:00 AM
Legal Practice Management: Do’s and Don’s of Building a Successful Entertainment Law Practice [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

New Orleans has become a hub for music, film and TV industries, but what does that mean for an attorney and their independent music and filmmaking clients. This panel will walk you through the process of maintaining communication with clients, client funds management, making sure the filmmaker/client engagement letters are correct. Review user-generated content rights and procedures with filmmaker clients. Establishing a disbursement system for staff fees payment. Review intellectual property agreements, tax credit financing incentives, and distribution.
Speakers:

10:15 – 11:45 AM
Broadway Musicals: the Contracts, Royalties, and Economics [Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.]
Whether you are a creator, producer or investor, the Broadway Musical is the surest way to "rags or riches" This panel will discuss the many different types of music licensing deals, contracts, and practices that come into play when dealing with the four basic types of musicals.
Speakers:

12:00 - 1:15 PM
Building Music Communities: Public Policy, Non-Profits and Music Businesses in Partnership [Legal/Business CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]
Public/Private partnerships to build, maintain and sustain the important business of music in our communities.
Speakers:

CLE Faculty (more added as confirmed)

Jeffery Brabec, Esq., Vice President, BMG Chrysalis, Los Angeles, CA
Todd Brabec, Esq., Co-Author (w brother Jeff), Music Money and Success: the Insiders Guide to Making Money in the Music Business
John F. Bradley, Esq., Bradley Legal Group, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Brian Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, New York, NY
Darryl Cohen, Esq. Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA
Wallace Collins, Esq., New York, NY
David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA
Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
Peter J. Dekom, Esq. Peter J Dekom, A Law Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Song Research & Recovery Services, LLC
Mark Falgout: Warehouse 515/Blue Moon Saloon and Founder, SOLO Songwriters Festival and Workshop
Rich French, Filmmaker, President, Buddy Holly Foundation
Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA
Paul Insinna, Esq. Las Vegas, NV
Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, LLC, Atlanta, GA
Richard W. Perna, Austin, TX
Nadine Ramsey, Esq., New Orleans, LA
Hon. Joel Robideaux: Mayor of Lafayette, Louisiana
Julia Scott, Esq., LOJS, Los Angeles, CA
Marc D. Stollman, Esq., Stollman Law PA, Boca Raton, FL
Christoper Szapary, Esq, Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA
Vernon W. Thomas, Esq. Law Offices of Vernon P. Thomas, New Orleans, LA
Matthew Wilson, Esq., Greater Thinking Music Group, Atlanta, GA
Gregg Zegarelli, Esq., Zegarelli Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC, Pittsburgh, GA