Come to the Kings-Suns Game!

We're doing another ESLS sponsored Kings game! Come out and support the hometown Sacramento Kings play the Phoenix Suns, in what should be an interesting game-- considering they are rounding out the bottom two positions of the Western Conference.

A bunch of us have already bought tickets in Section 207, so we advise calling Michael Ramos at (916) 928-3634 and asking to sit in that section with ESLS so that all the law students can be relatively close to one another.

Hope to see you there!

Pick up your tickets!

If you signed up for tickets to the UC Davis basketball game this weekend, don't forget to come by the table at 12 tomorrow to pick them up! If you already picked them up, we'll see you on Saturday for the game.

ESPN Bracket Buster

• Saturday February 23rd ESPN Bracket Buster Game 


• Schedule 
• Pre-Men's Game Chalk-Talk @ 12:30 p.m.
  Men's Game vs. Northern Colorado @ 1:30 p.m.
  Women's Game vs. Cal State Fullerton @ 4 p.m.
• Want to come? Check out our facebook event!
• https://www.facebook.com/events/125467614296216/?ref=ts&fref=t

15th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Luncheon

A few of our board members attended a conference in LA last week sponsored by the GRAMMY Foundation. Read below to see how it went!

Dear Fellow Students:

On Friday, February 8, 2013, three members of the UC Davis Entertainment & Sports Law Society (Luca Ognibene (1L), Danielle Skornik (2L), and Brian Tauber (3L)) had the unique opportunity to attend the 15th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) Luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Presented by the GRAMMY Foundation and co- sponsored by the ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, various entertainment law firms, record labels, and music companies, the conference—which took place just two days before, and just across town from, the GRAMMYs—sought to facilitate discussion about the most compelling legal issues facing the music industry today. In addition, the conference presented a great opportunity to network with music law professionals and other law students from across the country and around the world (literally—two of the people at our table had come all the way from Australia). In attendance at the Luncheon were Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation President Neil Portnow (who, two nights later alongside Ryan Seacrest and Justin Timberlake at the GRAMMYs, announced the new GRAMMY Foundation Music Educator Award), and entertainers Pharrell, MC Hammer, and Will.i.am. In addition, NBC News’ Tom Brokaw, angel investor Ron Conway, and interactive content consultant Andie Simon led an interesting keynote panel discussion. 

The discussion focused on ways in which technological advances are changing the entertainment industry and, more generally, our culture. The Luncheon also recognized the winners of this year’s national legal writing contest. The contest winners were law students who had submitted essays regarding important issues facing the music industry. After attending the ELI Luncheon, we hope that King Hall will have some student participation in the ELI national legal writing contest in the future. This contest is a great way for students not only to learn about important legal issues facing the music industry, but also to have a shot at winning a scholarship and a trip to the GRAMMYs while networking with some of the most knowledgeable individuals in the profession. Finally, we wish to thank King Hall and LSA for helping make our attendance at the ELI Luncheon possible.

Sincerely,

Luca Ognibene
Danielle Skornik
Brian Tauber

IP and Sports Panel at McGeorge

The Intellectual Property Student Association over at McGeorge School of Law was kind enough to invite our group to their IP and Sports Panel back in October. The guests were some big names including: Keir Beading, Ryan Hilbert, and Jon Velie. [bios below are taken from the IPSA event's promotional flyer].

The event was an interesting look at the differing jobs in sports law. The panelists talked about everything from athletes trademarking various slogans ("Fear the Brow") to classifying ski instructors as "experts" to obtain the proper non-immigrant visa (either O or P) to allow them to remain in the US.  Read on for bios of the panelists.

Keir Beading is the the founder and CEO of Evolve Sports, LLC where he has managed the careers of athletes at the pinnacle of their sports careers. He is also the co-founder and Managing Partner of Mavericks Surf Ventures, LLC, where he transformed an elusive, regional surfing event into an international media property.

Ryan Hilbert is the special counsel at Sheppard Mullin in the Intellectual Property and Litigation Practice Groups in the firm's Palo Alto office and is a member of the firm's Sports Industry Team. Mr. Hilbert practices in the areas of sports, intellectual property, and commercial litigation. Mr. Hilbert has extensive experience in all aspects of complex civil litigation, especially in the areas of trademark and unfair competition, copyright, trade dress, rights of publicity, domain names, and consumer protection. He has litigated disputes in federal and state courts nationwide, as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Jon Velie is licensed as a sports agent who specializes in sports-related immigration law. He has over 30 international clients in the sports and entertainment industry competing and performing across the United States. Mr. Velie has testified in court as an expert in immigration law and has authored expert letters for immigrations cases. He was featured in: Lawyer's Weekly in July 201 "Taking the Law Firm Website to the Next Level," International Gymnast Magazine "Immigration Men" and in Rugby Magazine, "Rugby Immigration Experts." Mr. Velie authored the article, "Immigration Issues and Solutions for the Ski Industry." Mr. Velie launched onlinevisas.com, was awarded the ABA's Louis M. Brown Legal Access to Justice Award, and was declared an innovator in the legal industry.