St. Thomas Law's Entertainment & Sports Law Society (ESLS) Hosts Symposium

Attorney-Student symposium and networking event a great success due to joint efforts of Entertainment & Sports Law Society (ESLS) and Intellectual Property & Cyberlaw Society (IPCLS)

Keynote Speaker: Herman Russomanno 

The St. Thomas Law Entertainment & Sports Law Society Symposium took place on October 24, 2015 in the university's Convocation Hall.  The well-attended symposium, which was sponsored by the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Section of The Florida Bar, featured three panels comprised of some of the most prominent entertainment, sports, and intellectual property attorneys in the country.  Long-time St. Thomas Law supporter, law professor and attorney Herman Russomanno gave the keynote address, and spoke about professionalism issues in sports and entertainment law.

• Speaking on the Entertainment Law panel was St. Thomas Law alum Pierre Hachar, along with Matt Buser, Leon Margules, and Richard Wolfe, with Marc Stollman as the moderator.  They discussed whether arbitration in entertainment industry disputes is preferable to going to court, and how to get out of a recording contract.  
• The Intellectual Property panel featured Richard Rappaport, Kimberly Kolback, and Jaime Vining.   They used the audience to craft a lively fact pattern involving a zombie movie and a book.  The panel discussed copyright, trademark, and other issues involved in the film industry.  During this discussion, students play the roles of director, producer, writer, and attorney; making for a highly interactive learning experience.
• The final panel focused on Sports Law and was moderated by St. Thomas Law students Tanner Lakey (2L) and Samuel Spina (2L).  Panel members Darren Heitner, Johnny Williams, Steve Werier, and Samuel Sortisio discussed  NFL agent issues and the effect of the FanDuel/DraftKings fantasy leagues on the sporting industry.

Pictured from left to right: Samuel Sortisio, Esq. (general counsel for the Florida Panthers), 

Steven Werier, Esq. (general counsel for the Florida Panthers), Darren Heitner (general counsel for the Florida Panthers), Johnny Williams, 

and St. Thomas Law's Sam Spina and Tanner Lakey

      

      The interaction and attendee participation was a very positive aspect of the event, with guests, panelists and students stating that the symposium was a great success.  

Special thanks to St. Thomas Law's society Presidents Travis Tillery (ESLS) and Alexandra Valdes (IPCLS), as well as Vice Presidents Samuel Spina (ESLS/Entertainment), Tanner Lakey (ESLS/Sports) and Vice President Stephen Koch (IPCLS).  

Faculty advisors Professor Marcia Narine (ESLS), Professor Ira Steven Nathenson (IPCLS), and Outreach Coordinator/Career Counselor Lourdes Fernandez played an integral role in the success of the event,  as did ESLS President Alejandro Fernandez-Lovo, who put the symposium into motion last Spring.  

The symposium was followed by a networking reception for attorneys and students.   

    Law student Sam Spaina, Richard Wolfe, Esq., Marc Stollman, Esq., Pierre Hachar, Esq., 

Matthew Buser, Esq., Leon Margules, Esq. and Tanner Lakey (2L)

Pictured form left to right:  Alexandra Valdes (2L and President of IP & Cyberlaw), Stephen Koch (2L and Vice President of IP & Cyberlaw), Tanner Lakey (2L and Vice President of Sports-Entertainment and Sports Law Society), Samuel Spina (2L and Vice President of Entertainment), Travis Tillery (3L and President of Entertainment and Sports Law Society).