2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree
Annual Conference 2025
Advancing the Founders’ Mission Through …
ACHIEVEMENT • EMPOWERMENT • INNOVATION
Río Grande, Puerto Rico
BESLA is proud to celebrate an extraordinary class of 2025 honorees whose remarkable achievements continue to shape the landscape of entertainment, sports, and the law. Together, these honorees exemplify the excellence, integrity, and innovation that define the BESLA legacy.
Black Excellence filled the room!
2025 BESLA Scholarship Recipients
2025 BESLA Scholarship Recipients
2025 Corporate Impact Award
Perkins Coie LLP
We brought discipline to the work, and joy to the experience ...
Visuals: A Quick Look into Panels of the Week
Code, Content, and Consequences: The New Challenges AI Presents in Entertainment & Advertising
Technology / Business & Ethics
The Constitution on Trial: Executive Orders, Immigration Enforcement & the Impact on Entertainment and Sports
Power Panel - Constitutional Law
The Diaspora Means Business - Connecting with Africa Through Sports, Fashion and Entertainment
General / Business & Law
Discussions on some of the industry's most pressing topics.
BESLA’s 45th Annual Conference proudly featured an extraordinary lineup of thought leaders, industry innovators, and trailblazing professionals who continue to shape the future of Sports, Entertainment, Film, Music, Technology, Business, and beyond. Our distinguished moderators and panelists brought a wealth of experience and insight, offering engaging discussions that challenge perspectives and inspire progress. From exploring cutting-edge trends to addressing the most pressing issues in law and business, this year’s sessions deliver impactful dialogue, practical strategies, and meaningful connections that reflect BESLA’s enduring commitment to excellence and advancement in the entertainment and sports industries.
01
Sports
The Business of Play: Law, Investment, and Policy in Sports and Entertainment
02
Finance
Health and Wealth in Harmony: A Path to Sustainable Living
03
General / Business & Law
The Diaspora Means Business - Connecting with Africa Through Sports, Fashion and Entertainment
04
Music
Streaming Royalties and the Fight for Fair Pay: Legal Strategies to Protect Artists in the Digital Age
05
Technology / Business & Ethics
Code, Content, and Consequences: The New Challenges AI Presents in Entertainment & Advertising
06
Sports
BESLA Presents: Women In Sports - Power Plays: Black Women Leading Legal Strategy in the NFL
07
General Entertainment / Ethics
BESLA Founders Power Panel
08
General Entertainment / Intellectual Property
Protecting and Preserving Legacy: From First Deal to Beyond the Final Act: Ensuring Long-Term Protection for Entertainment Clientele
09
Film (Finance / Business Law)
How Not To Finance A Film: Legal Pitfalls, Risky Deals, and Lessons from the Trenches
10
Power Sports Breakfast
BESLA Presents: Women In Sports Breakfast
11
Music
Representing Creatives in the Latin Music Industry
12
Power Fireside Chat
Fireside Chat with DeMaurice Smith, Professor in Residence, Pepperdine Caruso School in of Law, Former Executive Director of the NFLPA
13
Power Panel - Constitutional Law
The Constitution on Trial: Executive Orders, Immigration Enforcement & the Impact on Entertainment and Sports
14
Power Fireside Chat & Sip
Fireside Chat & Sip with Carmelo Anthony & Asani Swann
The 2025 Annual Conference Journal is now available online!
Thank you for being part of BESLA’s 2025 Annual Conference! We are deeply grateful for your participation in this memorable event filled with inspiring discussions, valuable connections, and opportunities for professional growth. It was truly an honor to come together with distinguished industry leaders, emerging talent, and influential decision-makers across the legal, entertainment, and sports sectors. A special thank you to our Honorees, Sponsors, and Scholarship Recipients for their continued support and contributions.
