Entertainment Law Track - Courses & Requirements

The entertainment track prepares students to represent the full spectrum of collaborators in the entertainment industry.

In addition to directors, actors, and musicians, entertainment lawyers more often advise companies that produce and distribute entertainment content, license celebrity brands, purchase and sell companies or music catalogues.

By studying the entertainment track within the comprehensive EASL LLM, it is possible for students to fully prepare for the practice of “entertainment law,” thereby giving them a competitive edge in the search for employment in the industry.

What is an "Entertainment Law Attorney"?

At the core, an “Entertainment Lawyer” provides legal advice, counsel and representation to companies and individuals ("talent") in the entertainment industries, including TV, movies, radio, music, theater, publishing, digital media and video games.

The areas of law most frequently associated with the field are intellectual property, contracts, corporate, employment/labor, securities, international, taxation, immigration, and litigation.

Courses and Requirements

U.S. Trained Lawyers

The LL.M. is two semesters consisting of required and elective courses, and a practicum. All courses are taught by Law School faculty and prominent practicing attorneys.

The blended nature of the LL.M. enables students to maximize their studies and create a curriculum to match individual professional interests.

Prerequisites (4 of 6 required or equivalent):

  • Administrative Law
  • Antitrust
  • Business Associations
  • Federal Income Tax
  • Labor Law
  • Trusts and Estates

  • Entertainment Law This course is designed to arm students with the fundamentals of understanding the legal, business, and creative standpoints of production from its inception.
  • Entertainment Law Transactions This course is designed to arm students with the fundamentals of understanding the legal, business, and creative standpoints of production from its inception.
  • Music Law During this short course, you will be representing a hypothetical four member band of which two of the members are the primary songwriters starting with your initial client interview with the band and the terms of your representation agreement.
  • Negotiating and Drafting for the Business of Entertainment Introduces students to advising clients, and reading, drafting and negotiating contracts with application to mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and private equity transactions.
  • Copyright Law Addresses the legal protection provided under the Copyright Act of 1976 (and subsequent amendments) for artistic, musical and literary works (including computer programs).
  • Trademark Law Introduces the legal protection under U.S. law for trademarks, service marks and trade dress; also covers related state and common law doctrines and relevant international agreements.
  • Practicum Affords students the opportunity for additional training in the workplace. Placements have included: NBC Univiversal/Telemundo, HBO Latin America, BBC Worldwide Americas, Warner Music, Universal Music, Spotify, Ultra, Jazwares, Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and more.

Miami Law Entertainment Law Conference: Students in the program also attend the Symposium on Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law.

International Students Who Plan to Take the NY Bar

International students have the option to do a special course of study in the LLM in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law to accumulate enough credits to comply with the State Board of Law Examiners’ requirements to qualify to sit for the New York Bar Exam.

These students still complete the LLM in the same two-semester period and earn the same degree.

If an international student does not want to take the NY bar or wants to take additional courses, they can fulfill the credit requirement by enrolling in EASL electives of their choosing.

  • None

  • Music Law (1 credit)
  • Entertainment Law Transactions (1 credit)
  • Negotiating and Drafting for the Business of Entertainment l (1 credit)
  • Copyright Law (3 credits)
  • Trademark Law (2 credits)
  • Practicum (2 credits)
  • Entertainment Law (1 credit)

  • Immersive Introduction to American Law (2 credits)*
  • Legal Communication and Research I (2 credits)*
  • Business Associations (4 credits) ^ *
  • Professional Responsibility (2 credits)*

* This course complies with the State Board of Law Examiners’ requirements to qualify to sit for the New York Bar Exam.

^The requirement to enroll in Business Associations may be waived with the prior approval of the Director of the Program.

See more information for foreign lawyers on taking a U.S. Bar Exam.

International Study Option

Global Sports and Entertainment Law Course

Offered in conjunction with the Madrid-based Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE), a leader in legal education, Miami Law offers a course for law students and professionals who are interested in broadening their understanding of the global sports and entertainment industries and provides an understanding of the differences and similarities between the U.S. and the international entertainment and sports law landscapes.

Faculty, Recognitions & Life in Miami

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  • Track Directors & Faculty

    Ivy Kagan Bierman - Director of the Entertainment Track and Adjunct Faculty. Partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Los Angeles and one of a select few entertainment industry labor lawyers looked to for representation in guild and union matters. She was recently selected by the Beverly Hills Bar Association as the “2015 Entertainment Lawyer of the Year.”

    H. Gwen Marcus - Distinguished Practitioner and Advisor, Entertainment Track, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law LL.M. Gwen Marcus has enjoyed a four-decade career in entertainment law, having most recently served as Showtime Networks Inc.’s longtime Executive Vice President & General Counsel. Ms. Marcus joined Showtime in 1984 as Assistant Counsel after serving as an associate in the entertainment department of the New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where she represented clients in the theatre, film, television, and publishing industries.

    Faculty
    • Michael Cheah - General Counsel of Vimeo, one of the premiere video-sharing websites. Responsible for leading the company’s public policy and legal compliance efforts
    • Ana Francois - Faculty member at University of Miami School of Communication, Francois specializes in media management issues such as startups, rights management and valuations
    • Danielle Garno - expert on issues faced by the fashion community, including, startup phase and commercial advice, intellectual property such as trademark and copyright infringement, social media marketing, advertising, and anti-counterfeiting, as well as employment and general business litigation. 
    • Vivek Jayaram - Intellectual property expert with years of experience handling complex IP and general business disputes for U.S. companies in state and federal courts and for several foreign businesses
    • Professor Lili Levi - Teaches copyright law and international copyright law, defamation and privacy law; and prior thereto, was Broadcast Counsel at CBS, Inc. Her scholarship focuses on media and communications law
    • Brian Oliver - General Counsel, Director of Legal & Biz Affairs, Chief Gov't & Public Affairs Strategist at Rolling Loud Music Fesival
    • Michael Olsen - Former Senior Vice President for Business Development at IndieBlu Music
    • Kara Paldino - Founded Paldino Law in 2024 after spending 18 years in-house at NBCUniversal. Paldino Law focuses on entertainment, advertising, marketing and promotions law
    • Hernán Pantaleón - Over 20 years' experience in art, entertainment, mergers & acquisitions, banking and finance; teaches courses on Legal Aspects of TV Production in Latin America and Doing Business in Latin America
    • Henry W. Root - Partner at Lapidus, Root & Sachrow, LLP with 30+ years of legal and business affairs experience in the entertainment, music, television and media industries
    • Ana Salas Siegel - Executive Vice President & General Counsel at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises
    • Jonathan Seiden
    • Jaime Rich Vining - Teaches Trademark and Advanced Trademark Law, and named a “Rising Star” by Florida’s Super Lawyer Magazine since 2009
    • Krista Whitaker - Vice President, Associate General Counsel at Miami HEAT
    • Sandy York - Former General Counsel, Ultra Music Festival

    See All Faculty

     

  • Student Organizations

    The Entertainment and Sports Law Society (ESLS) is one of the most active student organizations and it has hosted an annual international symposium since 1997.

    Read more on entertainment law at Miami Law.

  • Recognitions

    The Billboard Magazine ranked many Miami Law alumni as top music lawyers in 2021, ranked Miami Law as a top 2019 music law school, and LL.M. Guide ranked it a Top 10 Program Worldwide in 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 and #2 most popular program in the U.S.

  • Miami – A Growing International Center for the Entertainment Industry

    As a center of music and film and a hub for the Hispanic media industry, the city is fueled by an influx of international ideas and has witnessed the growth of both homegrown companies and international offices. Students have access to this network with local mentors, practicums and externships. These companies include Fortune 500 Latin American headquarters for:

    • HBO
    • CAA
    • BBC
    • Nickelodeon
    • Discovery Networks
    • Sony
    • ESPN
    • Viacom

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