Pathways to
Leadership
For more information about
the ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries
visit our website at
http://ambar.org/entertainmentsports
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Contact us
[email protected]
http://ambar.org/entertainmentsports
Join our Team
The Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries is the preeminent forum for the interdisciplinary,
information, resources and discussion of the legal aspects of entertainment and sports. Membership in the
Forum provides its members with an unparalleled opportunity to gain in-depth subject matter knowledge
while networking with peers and clients in a collegial environment that builds long lasting personal and
professional relationships. The Annual Meeting is a great place to begin.
THE ANNUAL MEETING

One full and one to two half days of intensive
programs covering the most recent issues in
ethics, litigation and other legal issues in
entertainment and sports law, including the
Forum’s signature luncheon with a high profile
Keynote Speaker.

Twelve individual panels on current legal and
business topics in art, entertainment and
sports, presented by the most experienced
practitioners, in-house counsel, and other
industry professionals. These panels focus on
each of the Forum’s divisions with networking
opportunities before and after each panel.
Discussions are designed to appeal to our broad
based membership, including in-house and
outside counsel, transactional lawyers and
litigators, small firm or solo practitioners,
paraprofessionals and general industry
professionals.

Three plenary sessions designed to survey key
cases and issues which cross mediums over the
last year are accompanied by a sound discussion
on the topic.
REGIONAL MEETINGS

The Annual International Legal Symposium on
the World of Music, Film, Television and Sports
is held in Miami, Florida each April to review the
most recent events in the international
entertainment and sports arena.

The Annual Video Gaming and Digital Media
Conference is held at University of California,
Hastings College of Law in San Francisco,
California in mid-March and is designed to
provide you with the most recent legal issues in
the gaming and digital media fields.
During Annual Meeting social and networking events, our members meet and fully engage with other
practitioners in the industry. These include events for Forum members on Thursday and Friday evenings. In
addition, the Forum presents its well-regarded luncheon with a high profile industry personality. Previous
Keynote speakers have included NBA’s Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, former CEO of Capitol Music Group,
Jason Flom, musician and actor, Steven Van Zandt, actor and producer Keenen Ivory Wayans, and actor John
Lithgow.
If you are a long term member of the Forum, the “why” you should continue to attend the Annual Meeting
or a Regional Meeting is evident. There are no finer educational programs on entertainment, media and
sports law in the U.S. or the world, nor a better opportunity to network with your colleagues and friends.
Be A Star Player
HOW DO I GET PUBLISHED?
Anyone, regardless of length of membership or years
of practice, is encouraged to submit articles for
publication. The Forum’s quarterly newsletter, The
Entertainment and Sports Lawyer welcomes articles
relevant to the entertainment and sports industries.
For more information, or to serve on the Editorial
Board, contact the Forum’s Editor-in-Chief, Brian
Rosenblatt ([email protected]). Brian can also
provide feed-back about proposed article topics and
perhaps provide you with a list of possible article topics
or match you with a co-author. Information regarding
recommended article length and style can also be
found on the Forum’s website. In addition, as a Forum
member, you will receive the newsletter as a benefit of
your membership, free of charge.
WHAT IS THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE
AND HOW DO I GET ON IT?
The Governing Committee, led by the Forum Chair, is
the Forum’s leadership body. Among many other
things, the Governing Committee plans the Annual
Meeting and other programming, oversees
publications, budgeting, technology, member
communications, and long-term planning, and
develops membership and diversity initiatives. It is
comprised of the Forum Chair, the Immediate Past
Chair, the Chair-Elect and six elected members-atlarge, Division Chairs, and Forum Appointed Chairs
(Budget, Membership, Communication, etc.).
Governing Committee members are elected by the
Forum membership. Individuals elected generally have
spent significant amounts of time and energy over the
years on Forum initiatives, including speaking, writing,
attending programming, and other activities beneficial
to the Forum membership.
Specialty Groups
WHAT SPECIALTY GROUPS DOES THE FORUM OFFER?
The Forum offers twelve Divisions for different specialties:
ARTS AND MUSEUMS
LITIGATION
Chair: LeAnn Shelton ([email protected])
Chair: Kenneth Freundlich ([email protected])
The Arts and Museums Division serves those who
practice in the art and architecture law and study
topics affecting artists, galleries and museums both
inside and outside the United States.
The Litigation Division serves the Forum’s
membership through traditional and non-traditional
approaches to resolving legal disputes in the fields of
entertainment and sports.
DIGITAL MEDIA & NEW TECHNOLOGIES
MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, CABLE
AND RADIO
Chair: Dara L. Gelbtuch ([email protected])
The Digital Media and New Technologies Division
focuses on the digital entertainment world including
gaming and interactive entertainment.
ELECTRONIC GAMING
Chair: Seth Steinberg ([email protected])
The Electronic Gaming Division focuses on matters
related to the interactive entertainment space. This
includes information related to the business of the
space and relevant policy and legal considerations.
INTERNATIONAL
Chair: Cynthia Sanchez ([email protected])
The International Division promotes the study of
topics relating to entertainment and sports outside
the United States or special issues related to non-U.S.
artists, athletes, and entertainment and sports
business entering the United States.
LICENSING, MERCHANDISING AND
BRANDING
Chair: David Lessoff ([email protected])
The Licensing, Merchandising and Branding Division
examines legal compliance issues and the revenue
streams for entertainment and sports through
transactional, intellectual property and litigation
issues.
LITERARY PUBLISHING
Co-Chairs: Daniel Black ([email protected]) and
Vernon Chu ([email protected])
The Motion Picture, Television, Cable and Radio
Division serves the needs of broadcasters as well as
other content distributors by educating fellow Forum
members on issues from the perspective of the
artist, broadcasters and content distributors as well
as consumer concerns providing a forum to address
the unique needs of the industries.
MUSIC AND PERSON APPEARANCES
Chair: Judy Tint ([email protected])
The Music and Personal Appearances Division focuses
on issues unique to the music, events and live
performance industries.
SPORTS
Chair: Casey Schwab ([email protected])
The Sports Division examines the legal and business
issues concerning the sports world including those
addressing athletes, leagues, sporting venues and
sports related unions.
THEATER AND PERFORMING ARTS
Chair: M. Graham Coleman ([email protected])
The Theater and Performing Arts Division serves
those legal advocates for the theater and performing
arts industries by providing insight and expertise into
the practice and legal principals affecting their clients.
Chair: Scott Bain ([email protected])
The Literary Publishing Division serves those
practicing in the literary and book publishing world in
any form including digital and its traditional physical
products.
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
Chair: Casey Summar ([email protected])
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Divisions serves
those professions who help our artist and athletic
community through volunteer efforts.
Get Involved
MAKE YOUR CONTACTS TODAY!
ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS LAWER
Editor-in-Chief: Brian Rosenblatt
[email protected]
This scholarly publication is published four times
annually. Each issue features an editorial, articles on
entertainment and sports law issues, and a review and
analysis of recent court decisions of interest to
lawyers in these industries. The Journal is managed
by an editor-in-chief and assisted by associate editors.
Editors are chosen from those who have written for
the Journal. Articles may be co-authored.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Chair: Stephanie Furgang Adwar
[email protected]
The Communications Committee is responsible for
promoting the Forum and its programs, publications,
and events and for communicating key information to
Forum members and non-members.
This committee is also responsible for publishing a
monthly eNewsletter features announcements and
information about upcoming events and hot topic
news stories. There are no articles or footnotes. Like
the quarterly newsletter, participation on this
committee is a particularly good place to get started
writing for the Forum.
Lastly, this committee explores and implements ways
in which technology can support and facilitate the
Forum’s goals and initiatives. It is responsible for
overseeing and developing content for the Forum’s
website, list serves, and social media. The Committee
has three to four members including a law student
and a young lawyer who report to the Forum’s
Technology Chair.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Chair: To Be Appointed
The Program Committee is responsible for developing,
coordinating production of, and presenting Forum
teleconferences, webinars, and similar programs. The
Committee consists of four or five members reporting
to the Forum’s Program Officer.
NEW
SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
Chair: Neeta Ragoowansi
[email protected]
The Sponsorship and Fundraising Committee
develops an annual fundraising plan and identifies
potential sponsorship opportunities. Working under
the direction of a Committee Chair, this committee
implements the Forum’s fundraising initiatives for
the Annual Meeting, International Legal Symposium,
and Forum webinars. The committee is responsible
for initiating discussions with potential sponsors,
confirming sponsorships commitments, and
ensuring that each sponsor receives the full benefit
of their contribution.
MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING
COMMITTEE
Chair: Travis Life
[email protected]
The Membership and Marketing Committee advises
and makes recommendations to the Governing
Committee regarding membership issues, including
growth and retention initiatives, identification of
and outreach to members of underrepresented
groups, and any other issues the Governing
Committee seeks its advice and counsel.
In cooperation with the Communications
Committee, this committee promotes the Forum
and its programs, publications, and events and
communicates key information to Forum members.
The committee is comprised of a three person
advisory board, including the Forum’s
Communication Chair.
Take the path to
personal and
professional success
Join the
ABA Forum on the
Entertainment and Sports
Industries Today!
For more information, contact us
at [email protected]
Opportunities for
Who You Are
CORPORATE COUNSEL
INTEREST GROUP
Chair: LeAnn Shelton
[email protected]
Membership and participation in activities hosted by
this Division are limited to corporate counsel. The
Division is operated by a six member steering
committee and a Director.
NEW
DIVERSITY INTEREST GROUP
Chair: Leslie José Zigel
[email protected]
The goal of the Diversity Caucus is to create an
inviting and welcoming environment within the
Forum for diverse members by addressing their
unique needs and providing quality opportunities for
their increase involvement and pathways to
leadership. The Caucus consists of a six member
steering committee, including one law student and
one young lawyer, under the direction of the
Forum’s Diversity Officer.
NEW
Don’t Delay!
Start Building and Expanding Your
Entertainment and Sports Law Network!
Visit our website today to find out how:
http://ambar.org/entertainmentsports
YOUNG LAWYER INTEREST GROUP
Chair: Tracey Lesetar-Smith
ABA Young Lawyer Division Liaison
[email protected]
The goal of the Young Lawyer’s Group is to create
an inviting and enriching environment within the
Forum for new attorney members by addressing
their unique needs and providing quality
opportunities for their involvement and pathways
to leadership. The Group consists of a six member
young lawyer steering committee, including one
law student, under the direction of the Forum’s
Liaison from the Young Lawyers Division.
LAW STUDENT INTEREST GROUP
Chair: Daniel Shapiro
ABA Law Student Division Liaison
[email protected]
The goal of the Law Student Group is to provide
substantive opportunities and resources within the
Forum for “lawyers in training” with an interest in
this area of the law. This group addresses the
unique needs of students and seeks to provide
quality opportunities and programming in an effort
to enhance their legal education outside the
classroom. This Group consists of a six member
law student steering committee and co-Chaired by
Forum’s Membership Officer and the Forum’s
Liaison from the Law Student Division.
Get involved in our Forum and make a difference for yourself
with the leading organization for Entertainment
and Sports Law!
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Forum
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Division or
Committee
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for a
project
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