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Loeb & Loeb hosted its annual IP/Entertainment CLE Conference in New York City, convening in-house counsel and industry leaders from across the entertainment ecosystem. On Jan. 22, 2026, more than 250 lawyers spanning the film, television, theater, music, sports, podcast and media industries came together for a full day of engaging, forward-looking CLE panels. The New York program complements the firm’s long-running Los Angeles conference, first launched in 2008.
The morning kicked off with a panel featuring Brian Heidelberger, chair of the firm’s Advertising, Marketing & Promotions practice; Libby O’Neill, deputy chair of the Advertising, Marketing & Promotions practice; Kayla Cobb, a senior reporter at TheWrap; and Uche Ndumele, deputy general counsel of Mr. Beast YouTube, LLC. The discussion focused on the evolving creator economy and its impact on the brand and entertainment landscape, examining how creator-founders are increasingly driving media partnerships, sponsorships and branded entertainment deals, alongside the legal considerations shaping these relationships, including IP ownership, brand control and advertising compliance.
The morning agenda moved next to the firm’s famed “Recent Cases of Interest” review presented by Christian Carbone, co-chair of the Litigation department, and Litigation associates Jeff Prystowsky and Jacob Sievers. The group reviewed recent copyright and trademark matters across the entertainment industry, unpacking key developments involving ownership, fair use, parody, licensing and unauthorized uses, and offering practical guidance.
The third panel turned to the music industry, diving into key considerations for structuring music catalog acquisitions from the perspectives of buyers, sellers and lenders. Speakers included John Frankenheimer, chair of our Music industry group; Derek Crownover, vice chair of the Music industry group; Finance partner Miriam Cohen; Daniel Row, COO and founder of Firebird Music; and David Israelite, president and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association.
Following lunch, our Theater & Live Entertainment co-chairs, Carol Kaplan and Stefan Schick, sat down with Sarah Battaglia, associate general manager at Evan Bernardin Productions, for a discussion on the growing world of live, immersive entertainment—think Stranger Things: The Experience or Immersive Van Gogh. The conversation explored how these productions come together from a legal perspective, as well as the key issues, disputes and practical challenges that can arise along the way.
Of course, no conference on IP and entertainment would be complete without a deep dive into today’s hottest topic: artificial intelligence (AI). Litigation partners Tal Dickstein and Frank D’Angelo were joined by Jason Schultz, professor of law at NYU School of Law, and Doug Shapiro, founder of The Mediator, to examine how AI is reshaping the legal and entertainment landscapes, from groundbreaking court rulings to emerging deal structures.
The program wrapped with a conversation between Meredith Madnick, director of our Pro Bono department, and Andrew Hughes, vice president of litigation at Paramount Global, on best practices for law firms and in-house teams collaborating on pro bono initiatives. The discussion spotlighted the legal and strategic considerations behind effective partnerships, with key guidance drawn from the American Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct.
A cocktail reception closed out the event, giving attendees a chance to continue the day’s conversations and connect with colleagues.
The morning kicked off with a panel featuring Brian Heidelberger, chair of the firm’s Advertising, Marketing & Promotions practice; Libby O’Neill, deputy chair of the Advertising, Marketing & Promotions practice; Kayla Cobb, a senior reporter at TheWrap; and Uche Ndumele, deputy general counsel of Mr. Beast YouTube, LLC. The discussion focused on the evolving creator economy and its impact on the brand and entertainment landscape, examining how creator-founders are increasingly driving media partnerships, sponsorships and branded entertainment deals, alongside the legal considerations shaping these relationships, including IP ownership, brand control and advertising compliance.
The morning agenda moved next to the firm’s famed “Recent Cases of Interest” review presented by Christian Carbone, co-chair of the Litigation department, and Litigation associates Jeff Prystowsky and Jacob Sievers. The group reviewed recent copyright and trademark matters across the entertainment industry, unpacking key developments involving ownership, fair use, parody, licensing and unauthorized uses, and offering practical guidance.
The third panel turned to the music industry, diving into key considerations for structuring music catalog acquisitions from the perspectives of buyers, sellers and lenders. Speakers included John Frankenheimer, chair of our Music industry group; Derek Crownover, vice chair of the Music industry group; Finance partner Miriam Cohen; Daniel Row, COO and founder of Firebird Music; and David Israelite, president and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association.
Following lunch, our Theater & Live Entertainment co-chairs, Carol Kaplan and Stefan Schick, sat down with Sarah Battaglia, associate general manager at Evan Bernardin Productions, for a discussion on the growing world of live, immersive entertainment—think Stranger Things: The Experience or Immersive Van Gogh. The conversation explored how these productions come together from a legal perspective, as well as the key issues, disputes and practical challenges that can arise along the way.
Of course, no conference on IP and entertainment would be complete without a deep dive into today’s hottest topic: artificial intelligence (AI). Litigation partners Tal Dickstein and Frank D’Angelo were joined by Jason Schultz, professor of law at NYU School of Law, and Doug Shapiro, founder of The Mediator, to examine how AI is reshaping the legal and entertainment landscapes, from groundbreaking court rulings to emerging deal structures.
The program wrapped with a conversation between Meredith Madnick, director of our Pro Bono department, and Andrew Hughes, vice president of litigation at Paramount Global, on best practices for law firms and in-house teams collaborating on pro bono initiatives. The discussion spotlighted the legal and strategic considerations behind effective partnerships, with key guidance drawn from the American Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct.
A cocktail reception closed out the event, giving attendees a chance to continue the day’s conversations and connect with colleagues.
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Deputy Chair, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions -
Co-Chair, Litigation
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Associate -
Associate -
Chairman Emeritus, Loeb & Loeb LLP; Chair, Music Industry -
Vice Chair, Music Industry -
Partner -
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Co-Chair, Theater & Live Entertainment -
Partner -
Partner -
Director, Pro Bono