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The Entertainment Law Initiative® event is the nation's preeminent gathering for entertainment attorneys and the music business community, and it provides a forum for the industry to honor its legal practitioners, hear from thought leaders, and support promising law students interested in entertainment law. 

The 23rd Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Event & Scholarship Presentation will take place during GRAMMY® Week in a new virtual format, gathering the nation's most prominent entertainment attorneys to promote discussion and debate about the most compelling legal issues facing the music industry today. The event will honor the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association — a nationally recognized leader in legal education and professional development within the United States for lawyers and professionals in the entertainment, sports and related industries — with the 2021 Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award. This honor is awarded to an attorney or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to advancing and supporting the music community through service. Sophia Sofferman, the winner of this year's Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Competition along with runners up Evan Biegel and Alberto Vargas will also be recognized during the virtual event. Other program participants include Recording Academy® Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr., Entertainment Law Initiative Executive Committee Chair Laurie Soriano, Entertainment Law Initiative Executive Committee member Ken Abdo, and Recording Academy Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Valeisha Butterfield Jones, who will lead a roundtable discussion that will explore the current state of diversity in the music industry.

This annual program also includes a Writing Competition that invites law students to write a 3,000-word paper on a compelling legal topic facing the music industry today. The contest is open to Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Laws (LLM) candidates currently enrolled at any U.S. law school. A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to the author of the winning paper, and a $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to the two runners-up. The winning student and two runners-up will be recognized during the 23rd Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Event & Scholarship Presentation to provide a forum for interaction with successful attorneys in the field. Earlier this month, of the Entertainment Law Initiative hosted an Info Session for students interested in submitting for this year’s Writing Competition to learn from previous student winners, in addition to gaining career advice from top entertainment lawyers.

Please note that this event is invite only.