UM School of Law Set To Address Pressing Legal Issues in Sports March 26-27
The University of Miami School of Law will host its annual Global Entertainment & Sports Law + Industry Conference on March 26–27, 2026, bringing together leading lawyers, executives, and industry experts to discuss the most pressing legal and business issues shaping the sports and entertainment sectors. The two-day conference will take place at the Shalala Student Center on the Coral Gables campus and is organized by Miami Law’s Entertainment and Sports Law Society and its LL.M. program in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law.
To register for the event, visit https://www.law.miami.edu/events/cle/esls/
The conference has become a key gathering for professionals across the sports, media, and entertainment industries. Each year, it convenes lawyers, league officials, athletes’ representatives, executives, and academics for panel discussions examining evolving legal frameworks, industry trends, and emerging technologies.
Among the prominent speakers scheduled to appear this year are Horacio Gutierrez, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at The Walt Disney Company, and Ray Martinez, Chief Operating Officer of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Miami Host Committee. Other featured participants include Kerry-Ann Royes, a leading sports and entertainment attorney, along with executives, law firm partners, and academics who advise major leagues, teams, and media companies.
Panels throughout the conference will explore some of the most significant legal developments in sports and entertainment. Topics are expected to include the future of college athletics and media rights, the evolving landscape of name, image, and likeness (NIL), and the legal implications of expanding global sports events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Discussions will also address the role of lawyers and executives in negotiating media rights deals, navigating athlete representation, and managing the increasingly complex intersection between sports, technology, and intellectual property.
Another focus of the conference will be the broader business ecosystem surrounding sports and entertainment. Speakers will examine how leagues and entertainment companies are adapting to shifting media consumption habits, the rise of streaming platforms, and the globalization of professional sports. With billions of dollars at stake in broadcast and sponsorship deals, legal advisers increasingly play a central role in structuring agreements that govern distribution, licensing, and revenue sharing.
The program will also highlight emerging challenges facing lawyers in the entertainment industry, including artificial intelligence, digital content distribution, and evolving intellectual property protections. As technology reshapes how fans interact with sports and entertainment, legal professionals must grapple with new regulatory questions involving data rights, content ownership, and cross-border transactions.
In addition to the panel discussions, the conference will provide networking opportunities for students, practitioners, and executives. The event traditionally draws attorneys from major law firms, league offices, media companies, and sports agencies, creating an environment where participants can exchange ideas and build professional connections.
For Miami Law students, the conference also serves as an extension of the school’s renowned Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law program, which trains lawyers to work across the sports, media, and creative industries. The program regularly integrates practitioners and industry leaders into its curriculum, and the annual conference offers students a chance to interact directly with professionals working at the highest levels of the field.
As the sports and entertainment sectors continue to evolve amid rapid technological change and shifting economic models, the Global Entertainment & Sports Law + Industry Conference aims to provide a forum for examining the legal strategies that will shape the industries’ future. By bringing together leading voices from law, business, and sport, the event underscores Miami Law’s role as a hub for dialogue on the legal challenges and opportunities facing global entertainment and sports.