Entertainment Law Conference
Presented by the Entertainment Law Society and the FAME Center
Panel 1: All the World’s a Stage (and it Needs Lawyers)
Doug Nevin
Klaris
Doug Nevin is a partner and the head of theater/ live events at Klaris. Prior to joining Klaris, he was the founder and managing partner of Nevin Law Group, a preeminent theater law practice.
Since founding his prior firm in 2014, Doug has emerged as a leading practitioner and thought leader in theater and live arts, known for his passionate advocacy of his clients and projects and for the creative prowess and deep industry knowledge he brings to his clients’ work.
His client list includes many of today’s most prominent producers and producing organizations, internationally renowned creative artists, as well as some of the industry’s most-valued service providers. Doug serves as production counsel to a wide array of Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, musicals and live experiences. He works closely with clients on the development, financing, production and rollout of live stage production, including the commissioning, development, optioning, and acquisition of rights for the stage. In addition, Doug works in tandem with local counsel to coordinate international productions of his clients’ projects. His client list also includes award-winning composers, lyricists, playwrights, performers, authors, directors, choreographers, designers, casting directors, music staff, and some of the world’s pre eminent cultural institutions.
Doug has been honored as a Distinguished Leader at the 2025 New York Legal Awards presented by the New York Law Journal. He is a five-time New York Super Lawyer and an eight-time New York Super Lawyer Rising Star. He has published articles on topics in transactional and entertainment law, frequently lectures on various elements of his practice, and has appeared on news channels such as MSNBC and multiple podcasts discussing theater law. He also previously served as the General Editor of the Matthew Bender Entertainment Industry Contracts, published by Lexis Nexis.
As a theatrical producer, Doug is a two-time Tony Award nominee and Lucille Lortel Award winner. He is a co-founder of Pride Plays.
Emily Lawson
Speaker Title
Emily Lawson is a seasoned entertainment attorney focusing her practice on the commercial theatre industry. Before practicing law, Emily spent more than 10 years working in the entertainment business, both in theatre and TV/film. She gained substantial experience in production and general management, with leading entertainment organizations such as The Jim Henson Company, Juniper Street Productions, and 101 Productions, Ltd. Emily began her legal career at Lazarus & Harris LLP, where she was named Partner in 2022. At the firm, she represented clients in all facets of the theatrical and performing arts industries. In 2024, Emily joined William Morris Endeavor, where she serves as a business affairs executive, representing Tony, Olivier, and Pulitzer Prize-winning clients in the theatre industry. Emily holds a BA in Theatrical Costume Design from The Ohio State University, an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business, and graduated magna cum laude from New York Law School.
Emily Erstling
Partner
Emily Erstling represents clients across the firm's practice areas, with a particular emphasis on the theater industry, including non-profit and commercial producers. She brings a unique perspective to her legal practice, combining extensive entertainment law expertise with firsthand experience in theater producing and management for Broadway, off-Broadway, and international productions.
Prior to joining Levine Plotkin in 2016, Emily spent over three years as an associate at Proskauer Rose LLP, where she represented public, private, and 501(c)(3) organizations—including performing arts clients and major New York cultural institutions—in executive compensation and employee benefits matters. Emily has been recognized by Super Lawyers on the New York Metro Rising Star List in Entertainment and Sports for four consecutive years (2020-2023).
Emily earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2012, her M.A. in Theatre from Hunter College in 2010, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Columbia University in 2002. Her areas of focus include theater and other live entertainment, executive employment, other media and entertainment, and intellectual property.
Jenny Waxman
Waxman Legal
Jenny Waxman is the founder and principal of Waxman Legal, a boutique entertainment law practice built on the foundation of industry insight and flexible solutions. After leaving the traditional law firm structure, Jenny created Waxman Legal to offer the customized approach and adaptable billing that creatives and entrepreneurs need to thrive in today's dynamic entertainment landscape.
With over a decade of entertainment industry experience before practicing law, Jenny brings an empathetic approach that empowers clients to protect their creative endeavors and make informed decisions. Her firm provides tailored legal services for creatives and executives across film, television, theater, and media, covering everything from talent contracts and intellectual property to rights management and dispute resolution through strategic, practical counsel informed by firsthand industry knowledge.
Waxman Legal's impressive client roster includes television and film producers who have collaborated with HBO and Apple TV and showcased work at major festivals; award-winning musicians and composers; Tony Award-winning Broadway and Off-Broadway producers, production companies, actors, directors, and writers; technology and video game executives; and numerous other creative professionals across the entertainment spectrum.
Before founding Waxman Legal, Jenny developed her legal expertise at prominent firms including Reed Smith and Jayaram Law, where she built and expanded entertainment practices, drafted and negotiated complex production agreements, and consistently brought new clients through her industry relationships. Her experience spans the full spectrum of entertainment and corporate law, from sophisticated production deals to corporate transactions and dispute resolution.
Jenny's educational background combines prestigious creative and legal training. She completed her law degree (JD) at Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as Director of Entertainment Events for the Georgetown Entertainment & Media Alliance. Her Ivy League Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Columbia University's School of the Arts concentrated in Theatre Management and Production, and she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she graduated with honors.
In her creative life, Jenny achieved notable success as a producer and playwright. Her musical "Leaving Eden" won the final New York Musical Festival (NYMF), marking a significant Off-Broadway achievement. As a producer, she managed complex financial and marketing strategies, including overseeing productions during Tony Award-winning seasons, giving her unique insight into the business challenges her legal clients face.
Jenny currently holds the prestigious position of the Editor of the Theater Section of The Matthew Bender Entertainment Law Contracts Treatise, the comprehensive authority on legal contracting for Broadway.
Dan Haley
Speaker Title
Speaker Description
Panel 2: CREATOR DEALS 101:
TERM SHEETS, ROYALTIES, AND THE "GOTCHAS"
An anatomy of creator-brand agreements, from outreach to execution.
Nicole Dolgon
ESCA Legal
Abe Lichy
The Advisory Legal
Kameron Buckner
The Social Docket
Frank Poe
Poe Law PLLC
Panel 3: Casebooks to Credits:
Building an
Entertainment
Law Career
Jacqui Bordeaux
Television Business Affairs Executive, CAA
Jacqui Bordeaux is currently a Television Business Affairs Executive at CAA. She joined CAA from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, where she was previously a Music and Entertainment Associate. Prior to Wilkie, Jacqui worked at ICM Partners as a Business Affairs Executive. Jacqui holds a B.A. in Psychology from Cal State Northridge, a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School, and is a member of the California Bar Association.
Kalani Doyle
ABC News Disney
Kalani Doyle is Senior Manager of Business Affairs at ABC News/Disney, where she plays a key role in shaping the network’s expansive business, programming, and talent landscape. Since joining ABC News in December 2021, Kalani has been instrumental in supporting the success of ABC News Studios, negotiating and executing high-impact deals for critically acclaimed programs including Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, Scamanda, Mr. and Mrs. Murder, Hurricane Katrina: 20 years after the Storm with Robin Roberts, and Grand Knighthawk: Infiltrating the KKK—the latter earning an Emmy for Outstanding Crime and Justice Coverage. In addition to her work with ABC News Studios, Kalani structures and negotiates deals for on-air broadcast and editorial talent across ABC News programs, including for Good Morning America, Nightline, 20/20, ABC News Live, This Week, The Tamron Hall Show, and The View. Prior to joining ABC News, Kalani spent over six years in the Business and Legal Affairs department at Paramount Global. There, she supported a range of flagship brands including MTV, VH1, Logo, CMT, and BET Networks. Her portfolio included servicing major franchises such as Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out, Black Ink Crew, Love and Hip Hop, and RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as initiatives for VH1 Integrated Marketing, BET+, and BET Brand Creative, News, and Special Events. Kalani earned her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
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Brandon Harmer
AMC Networks
Brandon serves as Counsel at AMC Networks, with a focus on film acquisition, finance and production for The Independent Film Company and Shudder. He is a 2018 graduate of Northwestern Law School and a 2015 graduate of Fordham University.
Akinyele Jordan
Sloss Eckhouse
Dasti Haynes LawCo LLP
Akinyele Jordan is an associate attorney at Sloss Eckhouse Dasti Haynes LawCo LLP, where he represents directors, writers, producers and other filmmakers in their contract negotiations. Akinyele’s practice primarily focuses on the independent and documentary film space. Prior to Sloss Eckhouse, Akinyele was an associate at a personal injury law firm where he handled trust & estates matters in the New York Surrogate’s Court for families of 9/11 victims. Before graduating from Cardozo School of Law in 2020, Akinyele served as Articles Editor of the Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal, and Administrative Assistant for the Fashion, Arts, Media and Entertainment Law (FAME) Center.
Gillian Lusins
Apple TV
Gillian Lusins joined Apple TV in 2025 as senior counsel and works on film and television marketing and distribution. Formerly, she was Senior Vice President & Head, Legal Affairs, Film & Television Marketing at NBCUniversal, a group that supported the entertainment film and television marketing teams across NBCUniversal.
Prior to that, she was a part of NBCUniversal’s Intellectual Property group, and provided counsel to numerous television and digital productions as well as the late night, news and sports divisions.
Amanda Wolfe
(Vice President of Business Affairs for NBCUniversal Late Night)
Amanda Wolfe is Vice President of Business Affairs for NBCUniversal Late Night, covering Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers. Amanda joined NBCUniversal from Comedy Central/Paramount, where she was the lead late night attorney for “The Daily Show”, “The Nightly Show” and “The Opposition”. Prior to Comedy Central, Amanda did her first stint as an attorney at NBCUniversal at NBCUniversal properties DailyCandy and iVillage, and, prior to that, as a clerk in the NBCUniversal Law Department (which she found on the Cardozo job board!). Before going in-house, Amanda was an attorney at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison for over four years. Amanda received her BA from Tulane University and her JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (her first legal internship was for Barbara Kolsun!). She lives in Manhattan with her husband, Jon, and her children, Lia and Will.
