34th Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar - August 27 - 29, 2026

https://www.cuttingedgenola.com/entertainment-law-seminar/

A comprehensive Louisiana Bar Association-accredited presentation of HOT TOPICS and CURRENT TRENDS in today's entertainment law.

Founded in 1993, Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar examines the latest in Entertainment Law, including litigation trends, publishing, trademark, current contractual agreement safeguards, as well as film contracts, sports law, and digital agreements. Staffed by some of today’s top practicing entertainment attorneys.

REGISTER

$99 Room Rate - Need a room, click

34th Annual

CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT LAW SEMINAR

August 27, 28, 29, 2026

New Orleans

InterContinental New Orleans Hotel

Hot Topics and Current Trends in Entertainment Law

ABOUT THIS SEMINAR

This immersive three-day program traces the complete legal lifecycle of entertainment assets in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Designed for lawyers and industry professionals alike, each session uses an accessible road-trip metaphor — beginning with the foundational "Rules of the Road," moving through the "Heavy Transport" sectors of Film and Books, accelerating through the "Fast Lane" of Digital Music, and arriving at "Traffic Control" for Ethics, Management, and the Future of Licensing.

Whether you're a practicing entertainment attorney, a music industry executive, a filmmaker, a literary agent, or simply someone fascinated by the collision of creativity and technology, this seminar delivers actionable insights into the most consequential legal frontier of our time.

34th

CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT LAW SEMINAR

SCHEDULE:

"AI The New Superhighway: From Live to Streaming"

August 27 – 29, 2026

InterContinental Hotel, New Orleans

A 3-Day Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Track

Theme: This comprehensive seminar traces the legal lifecycle of entertainment assets in the age of Artificial Intelligence. We begin with the foundational "Rules of the Road" (Professionalism, Entities, Trademarks), travel through the "Heavy Transport" sectors (Film, Books), speed through the "Fast Lane" of Digital Music and Contracts, and conclude with "Traffic Control" (Ethics, Management, and Future Licensing)—all while examining how AI is reshaping the infrastructure of the industry.

This course is approved for a total of 15.75 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.

DAY 1: THURSDAY – THE INTELLIGENT VEHICLE

Focus: Professional standards, entity formation, branding, and major media assets (Film & Books) in an AI-driven world.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Title: Professionalism: Rules of the Road – The AI Negotiator

Credit: Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.

Description: Every journey on the legal superhighway begins with professional conduct — now complicated by non-human tools. This opening session establishes the ethical framework every practitioner needs before deploying AI in client-facing work.

› Negotiation Ethics: Maintaining civility in an era of depersonalized, algorithm-assisted communication.

› The "Hallucinating" Adversary: Handling opposing counsel who relies on unverified AI-generated case law or contract language.

Deal Salvage: Keeping the human element central when technology threatens to derail the negotiation.

Speakers:

• Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• Eugene Radcliff, Esq., Radcliff Law Firm; Zyplear Strategies, LLC Global IP & Business Consultants, Baton Rouge, LA,

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

Title: The Live Entity: Band Names, Holograms, and Touring Algorithms Credit:

Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.

Description: Before a stream can generate a royalty, a creator must exist — physically or virtually. This session addresses the foundational business and legal questions raised by hybrid human-AI performing entities.

› Sorting Out Rights: Ownership of band names when members are replaced by digital avatars or AI simulations.

› Business Formats: Structuring LLCs and operating agreements for hybrid human/AI touring entities.

Touring Contracts: Liability clauses for holographic performances and AI-driven dynamic ticket pricing.

Speakers:

• Wallace Collins, Esq., New York, NY
• John F. Bradley, Esq., Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Mathew V. Wilson, Esq., Arnell Golden Gregory LLP, Atlanta, GA
• Suzette Toledano, Esq., Toledano Entertainment & Arts Law, New Orleans, LA

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Title: The New Chapter: Literary Publishing, Audiobooks, and The Synthetic Pen

Credit: Legal/ CLE 1.00 cr. hr.

Description: The publishing industry faces the direct disruption of text and voice generation. This session decodes what it means to be an "author" and a "narrator" in 2026 and beyond.

› The Publishing Deal: Defining "Author" in contracts when AI tools substantially assist the writing process.

› Audiobooks: The battle between human narrators and "Voice Clones" — drafting enforceable rights of refusal.

Content Adaptation: Licensing literary works for film and TV while protecting against unauthorized AI derivative works.

• Jessica Kaye, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
• Almeda Beynon, Director of Audio Production, Sourcebooks
• Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA
• Kenneth Plaisance, Esq., New Orleans, LA

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM

LUNCH BREAK

1:15 – 2:30 PM

From Campus to Contract: The Athlete's Legal Journey Through College NIL, Semi-Pro Development & the Professional Arena

Credit: Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr

Description: The modern athlete does not simply "turn pro." They navigate a labyrinth of overlapping legal regimes — NCAA compliance, state NIL statutes, collective bargaining agreements, agent regulations, endorsement exclusivities, and post-career intellectual property planning — often simultaneously and often without adequate legal counsel. This panel follows the athlete's journey across three distinct legal ecosystems, examining where the rules align, where they conflict, and where the most consequential — and lucrative — legal decisions are made.

Designed to engage both seasoned sports attorneys and non-lawyers — including agents, coaches, athletic directors, team executives, brand managers, and athletes themselves — this panel uses real-world scenarios to illuminate the systemic gaps that cost athletes millions and that create both risk and opportunity for every professional in the ecosystem.

Speakers:

• Kimberly Haynes, Esq., Haynes Johnson, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA (Moderator)
• Nik Erramilli, Esq., Atlanta, GA
• Joe Sabin, Esq., Sport Management Program Coordinator
• Martin Fischman, Esq., NFL Agent, KLUTCH Sports Group, LLC

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Title: Visual Media: Generative Cinema, Finance, and Distribution Credit:

Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.

Description: Navigating the complex highway of film production, where AI is the new co-producer.

• The Distribution Deal: How AI analytics are dictating streaming VOD acquisitions and release windows.
• Production Service Agreements: Contracting for "digital human" actors, AI VFX, and script assistance.
• Finance: The impact of AI efficiency on budgets, tax incentives, and deficit financing.

Speakers:

• Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
• Christophe Szapary, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA
• William Ramsey, Esq., Ramsey Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
• Polina Ivko, Esq., Adwar Ivko, New York, NY

4:15 PM – 5:45 PM

Title: Trademark 3.0: Algorithmic Branding and the Metaverse

Credit: Legal/ CLE/Business 1.5 cr. hr.

Description: Protecting an artist's brand has never been harder — generative AI can replicate it in seconds. This session arms attendees with modern trademark strategies for the digital age.

› Merchandising: Protecting logos and likenesses against infinite AI-generated knockoffs.

› Digital Crossover: Trademark rights in NFTs, virtual worlds, and AI training datasets.

› Dispute Resolution: Strategies for policing brand dilution in a global, automated marketplace.

Speakers:

· Gregg R. Zegarelli, Esq., Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC, Pittsburgh, PA (Moderator)

· Peter A. Koziol, Esq., Assouline Bertowe, Boca Raton, FL

· Charlotte Towne, Esq., Charlotte Towne Law, Miami, FL

· Eugene Radcliff, Esq., Radcliff Law Firm; Zyplear Strategies, LLC Global IP & Business Consultants, Baton Rouge, LA,

· Max Hass, Esq. New Orleans, LA

DAY 2: FRIDAY – THE AUTOMATED FAST LANE

Focus: Music Contracts, Publishing, Ethics, and the Generative Revolution.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Title: Ethics: The Black Box – Competence and Bias in Legal Tech

Credit: Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.

Description: A mandatory review of professional conduct rules for lawyers deploying AI tools — and a frank conversation about the societal implications of algorithmic bias in the entertainment industry.

› Duty of Competence: Understanding the real risks of using generative AI for legal drafting and research.

› Confidentiality: Protecting client secrets when using third-party AI platforms and cloud-based tools.

› Social Justice: Addressing algorithmic bias in artist representation, royalty distribution, and content moderation.

Speakers:

· Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA

· David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA

• Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Title: Under the Hood: The "No Training" Clause & Music Contracts Credit:

Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.

Description: A technical deep-dive into the agreements that power the music industry, comprehensively updated for the AI age. Non-lawyers will gain an essential understanding of how deals are actually structured.

› The 360 Deal Evolution: Capturing — or surrendering — revenue streams from digital twins and voice models.

› Essential Clauses: "No AI Training" restrictions, re-record clauses for deepfakes, and defining "human creation."

› Producer Agreements: Who owns the prompt? Work-for-hire doctrine in AI-assisted music production.

Speakers:

• Mathew V. Wilson, Esq., Arnell Golden Gregory LLP, Atlanta, GA
• Brittney Trigg, Esq., BTRIGGLAW, PLLC, Miami, FL

· Max Hass, Esq. New Orleans, LA

· Edgar "Dino" Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

LUNCH BREAK

12:15 – 1:30 PM

Title: Litigation on the Superhighway: Copyrights vs. The Algorithm

Credit: Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.

Description: When the cars crash: A review of current litigation defining the boundaries of AI.

• The Beat Economy: Infringement claims when AI "scrapes" beats and samples.
• Case Law Roundup: Drake v. UMG (Deepfakes), NYT v. OpenAI (Training Data), and Nealy (Damages).
• Infringement Defenses: Is "training" a Fair Use? The current state of the argument.

Speakers:

• Tim Kapple, Esq., Well & Mills, Los Angeles
• Brian Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, LLP
• Stan Soocher, Esq., Editor-in-Chief, Entertainment Law & Finance, Professor Emeritus, College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver

· John Bradley, Esq., Bradley Law, Boca Raton, FL

1:45 – 2:30

Keynote: Conversation

Interviewees:

• Vinny Kumar, Esq., President, EMPIRE Publishing, San Fransico/Atlanta
• Al Mclean, EVP, Global Creative, EMPIRE Publishing, EMPIRE

Interviewer:

• Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, Atlanta, GA

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Title: Writing Original Songs and Scores for Film, Television and Video Games: The Contractual Landscape

Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.

Description: Whether it’s a Best Song Oscar or Emmy Award, a Best Original Score Golden Globe or Game Award or a new song or score for a documentary or low budget independent film, writing original compositions for audio- visual media can encompass multiple types of contractual arrangements depending on the type of product, the distribution platforms involved and the stature of the individuals and entities involved.

This panel will discuss the most important provisions in original song and underscore feature film, episodic television series and video game contracts including similarities and dissimilarities depending on the type of production. Areas covered include songwriter and composer fees, writer-for-hire provisions, “package” deals, copyright ownership, administration, termination rights, songwriter, composer and music publisher “back end” royalties, cue sheets, milestones, production music and much more.

Speakers:

• Tom DeSavia, SVP A&R, Concord Music Publishing
• Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs, BMG Board member The MLC, co-author "Music, Money, and Success," Adjunct Professor USC
• Todd Brabec Esq., former ASCAP Executive Vice President, co-author "Music, Money and Success," Adjunct Professor USC
• Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA

4:15 PM – 5:45 PM

Title: The AI Frontier: Deepfakes, Data Rights, and Generative Media Credit:

Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.

Description: The most consequential stretch of the superhighway: the direct collision of intellectual property rights and generative technology. This session covers the latest statutory and common-law developments.

› Generative AI Training Sets: Negotiating and drafting licensing rights for large language model (LLM) and image-generation datasets.

› Rights of Publicity: The NO FAKES Act and practical strategies for protecting clients against non-consensual digital replicas.

Bifurcated Copyright: Registration strategies for works with mixed human and AI authorship.

Speakers:

• Polina Ivko, Esq., Adwar Ivko, New York, NY
• Wallace Collins, Esq., New York, NY
• Gregg R. Zegarelli, Esq., Zegarelli Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Firm, Pittsburgh, PA
• Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq.
• Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, Atlanta, GA

DAY 3: SATURDAY – DESTINATION & MAINTENANCE

Focus: Practice Management and Complex Licensing.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Title: Legal Practice Management: The AI Associate Credit:

Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.

Description: Keeping your own vehicle running smoothly: a practical session on integrating AI tools into an entertainment law practice ethically, efficiently, and profitably.

› Client Management: Leveraging AI for intake, engagement letters, conflict checks, and ongoing communication.

› Court Procedures: Navigating new court rules requiring disclosure of AI usage in filings and briefs.

› The Business of Law: Efficiency vs. Billable Hours — how AI is reshaping the economics of entertainment law practices.

Speakers:

• Vernon W. Thomas, Esq., Thomas Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
• David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA

· Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA

· Charlotte Towne, Esq., Charlotte Towne Law, Miami, FL

10:15 AM – 11:45 AM

Title: The Present State of U.S. Music Royalties: Mechanicals, Performances and Synch:

Legal/ CLE 1.5 cr. hr.

Description: Navigating the rates, fees and royalty structures of the world’s biggest music market can be a daunting task considering the myriad of ways that rates are determined and set. Among the factors that must be taken into account are legislation, litigation, voluntary agreements amongst the parties, Consent Decrees, Rate Courts and Copyright Royalty Boards, multiple performing rights organizations, private equity firms, mandatory arbitration and other dispute resolution and rate setting procedures.

This panel will discuss what you need to know when navigating the increasingly complex world of Performances, Mechanicals and Synch.

Speakers:

• Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs, BMG, Board member The MLC, co-author "Music, Money, and Success," Adjunct Professor USC
• Todd Brabec Esq., former ASCAP Executive Vice President, co-author "Music, Money and Success," Adjunct Professor USC
• Tom DeSavia, SVP A&R, Concord Music Publishing
• Alan Brewers, New Brew Entertainment

2026 Entertainment Law Seminar Speakers (Subject to change)

• Almeda Beynon, Director of Audio Production, Sourcebooks
• Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs, BMG, Board member The MLC, co-author "Music, Money, and Success," Adjunct Professor USC
• Todd Brabec Esq., former ASCAP Executive Vice President, co-author "Music, Money and Success," Adjunct Professor USC
• John F. Bradley, Esq., Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Brian Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, LLP
• 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
• Tom DeSavia, SVP A&R, Concord Music Publishing
• Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq.
• Charles Driebe, Esq., Blind Ambition Management, Atlanta, GA
• Nik Erramilli, Esq., Atlanta, GA
• Martin Fischman, Esq., NFL Agent
• Edgar "Dino" Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA
• Kimberly Haynes, Esq., Haynes Johnson, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
• David Hirshland, Esq., Los Angeles/Nashville
• Polina Ivko, Esq., Adwar Ivko, New York, NY
• Tim Kapple, Esq., Well & Kapple, New Orleans
• Jessica Kaye, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
• Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley Kumar, Atlanta, GA
• Peter A. Koziol, Esq., Assouline Bertowe, Boca Raton, FL
• Vinny Kumar, Esq., President, EMPIRE Publishing, San Fransico/Atlanta
• Al Mclean, EVP, Global Creative, EMPIRE Publishing, EMPIRE
• Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Los Angeles, CA
• Kenneth Plaisance, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• Eugene Radcliff, Esq., Radcliff Law Firm; Zyplear Strategies, LLC Global IP & Business Consultants, Baton Rouge, LA,
• William Ramsey, Esq., Ramsey Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
• Joe Sabin, Esq., Sport Management Program Coordinator
• Stan Soocher, Esq., Editor-in-Chief, Entertainment Law & Finance, Professor Emeritus, College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver
• Christophe Szapary, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA
• Vernon W. Thomas, Esq., Thomas Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
• Charlotte Towne, Esq., Charlotte Towne Law, Miami, FL
• Brittney Trigg, Esq., BTRIGGLAW, PLLC, Miami, FL
• Suzette Toledano, Esq., Toledano Entertainment & Arts Law, New Orleans, LA
• Mathew V. Wilson, Esq., Arnell Golden Gregory LLP, Atlanta, GA
• Gregg R. Zegarelli, Esq., Zegarelli Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Firm, Pittsburgh, PA