TechTainment™ 2026

Technology + Entertainment + Law

The 12th Annual Conference in Los Angeles

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TechTainment™ 2026 Speakers

ASU California Center Broadway | Los Angeles, California

Megan Bannigan

Megan Bannigan

Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Megan K. Bannigan is a partner in the Litigation and Intellectual Property & Media Groups, focusing on trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, false advertising, design patents, rights of publicity, licensing and other disputes. She represents clients across a range of industries, including technology, entertainment, professional sports, pharmaceuticals, beauty, consumer products, cosmetics, fashion and luxury goods, financial services, and food and beverage. Her practice includes high-stakes AI-related copyright litigation, including landmark cases addressing AI model training and intellectual property rights. Ms. Bannigan also maintains an active pro bono practice, including leading a significant trademark victory for the Judd Foundation and spearheading the development of the International Trademark Association’s Pro Bono Clearinghouse.

Jason Bloom

Jason P. Bloom

Partner, Haynes and Boone, LLP

Jason Bloom is a trial lawyer specializing in high-stakes intellectual property and business disputes, with a particular focus on litigation involving trademarks, technology, and copyrights. Jason chairs the Intellectual Property Litigation Section at Haynes and Boone, LLP, where he has practiced for 20 years.

Paul E. Burns, Esq.

Paul E. Burns, Esq.

Mediator, Arbitrator, Court-Appointed Neutral, JAMS

Paul E. Burns, Esq., is a nationally recognized JAMS arbitrator and mediator with more than 30 years of experience in technology, intellectual property and complex commercial matters, including 21 years as a neutral. He has presided over more than 500 arbitrations and 150 mediations involving high-stakes domestic and international disputes and is listed on the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center’s Tech List of the world’s leading technology-focused neutrals. A longtime law professor and thought leader in ADR, technology and intellectual property, Mr. Burns has taught ADR courses for more than 15 years and has been a frequent speaker for leading legal and professional organizations. He currently teaches Artificial Intelligence in Litigation and Dispute Resolution at USC Gould School of Law, exploring the practical, strategic and ethical implications of AI across litigation, mediation and arbitration.

mike-burshteyn-20260903 Mike Burshteyn

Mike Burshteyn

Founding Partner, Burshteyn Polin LLP

Led a 10 person trial team of litigators handling billions of dollars in controversy. Former Partner at Greenberg Traurig, litigator at MoFo and Perkins Coie. Ex founder and CEO of CryptoMove. Daily Journal Top 100 leading commercial litigators, 40 under 40 Law360

Fabio de Sa Cesnik

Fabio de Sa Cesnik

Founding Partner, CQS FV Law Firm

Founding partner at CQS FV Law Firm. Graduated in Law and Legal Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). Completed an executive certification in Business and Management of Entertainment at UCLA Extension (University of California, Los Angeles). Ex-chairman of IASP’s Media and Entertainment and of OAB-SP Rights to the Arts Commission. Recognized by the Chambers Global Guide as a leading reference in Media & Entertainment from 2010 to 2025. Author of landmark works on the creative economy and cultural policies.

Courtney Collins

Courtney Collins

Senior Corporate Counsel, Microsoft

Courtney Collins is a Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft within the Intellectual Property Group of the Corporate External and Legal Affairs Department, where she leads legal strategy for data acquisition initiatives and helps scale the frameworks, processes, and governance models that support responsible data sourcing across the organization. She advises on the legal and commercial considerations associated with acquiring and using data for AI and emerging technologies. Prior to her current role, Courtney led commercial legal support of complex technology transactions for Microsoft’s Software and Digital Platforms National Enterprise Sales Division and previously held legal roles at Harman International and Amazon. Her experience spans technology transactions, data acquisition, AI governance, privacy, product counseling, and commercial strategy across global technology companies. Courtney earned her J.D. from Southwestern Law School and holds CIPP/US and AIGP certifications.

Shanti Sadtler Conway

Shanti Sadtler Conway

Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Shanti Sadtler Conway is a nationally ranked IP litigator and partner in Kirkland & Ellis’s New York office. Her practice focuses on intellectual property, including copyright, trademark, false advertising, right of publicity, AI and technology, licensing and contract issues. Shanti both advises clients and litigates cases across the country, from trial through appeals. She has been recognized by Law360 as a “Legal Lion” and “Rising Star,” by The National Law Journal as a “Sports, Gaming & Entertainment Trailblazer,” by The American Lawyer as “Litigator of the Week,” in Chambers USA, in The Legal 500 as a “Leading Partner” for Trademark Litigation, and in the World Trademark Review, among other publications and rankings.

COWAN Profile Photo Dr David Cowan

Dr. David Cowan

Law Professor, Author & Adviser, National University of Ireland Maynooth

David teaches and writes on law and technology, compliance & legal ethics, entertainment law and legal communication. Author of the groundbreaking Law and Technology (Bloomsbury, 2025) and Effective Communication for Lawyers (Edward Elgar, 2022), featuring a unique communication & negotiation tool called The Dialogue Box, his book Entertainment Law and Technology is due out next year. David advises on legal, regulatory, and communication challenges and has vast experience spanning the globe.

Daniel Drane III

Daniel Drane III

Executive Director, Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property and the Center for Law, Science and Innovation, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

I currently serve as Executive Director of the Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property and the Center for Law, Science & Innovation at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. My work sits at the intersection of law, technology, and human impact, where I focus on growing nationally recognized programs that connect students, industry leaders, and emerging ideas in areas like intellectual property, artificial intelligence, and the future of innovation.

At ASU Law, I lead the development of new academic programs, large-scale conferences, and strategic partnerships with industry, donors, and faculty. This includes launching new IP-focused initiatives, building interdisciplinary pipelines (including engineering-to-law pathways), and creating spaces where complex questions about technology and society can be explored in practical, meaningful ways.

Facetune_03-02-2026-22-38-40 Michelle Etchebarren

Michelle Etchebarren

CEO & Founder, Attorneys in Motion

Michelle Etchebarren is an entrepreneur and business strategist dedicated to creating opportunities within the legal industry. She is the founder of Attorneys in Motion, providing nationwide court appearance coverage, and Law Beez, connecting lawyers with other lawyers for contract legal writing. She also founded the Attorneys in Motion Foundation, which provides grants, mentorship, and business coaching to women-owned law firms. Across all three organizations, Michelle is focused on helping lawyers build stronger, more successful businesses.

Fernandez_Benjamin Benjamin S. Fernandez

Benjamin S. Fernandez

Partner, WilmerHale

Ben Fernandez is an intellectual property lawyer who possesses noteworthy subject matter and industry knowledge, and has experience in patent and trademark portfolio management, freedom to operate/competitive landscape and IP diligence. Drawing on 20 years of experience in intellectual property, his practice centers on helping companies navigate patent and trademark law complexities to achieve their business objectives. He leverages his extensive experience in managing US and international IP portfolios to advise clients on achieving the most strategic and valuable coverage possible and to develop formidable IP rights.

David Franklyn

David Franklyn

Professor of Practice; Executive Director, the McCarthy Institute, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

David Franklyn is professor of practice and executive director of the McCarthy Institute at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

Considered one of the nation’s preeminent experts on intellectual property and technology law, Franklyn previously was on the faculty at Golden Gate University beginning in 2018. Since 2000, he served as the director of the McCarthy Institute for IP and Technology Law at the University of San Francisco.

Tracey L. Freed​

Tracey L. Freed

Founder & Principal Attorney, Freed Law, P.C.

Tracey L. Freed is Founder of Freed Law, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in digital media, entertainment and technology transactions based in Los Angeles, California. Freed has been recognized as a Trailblazer by The American Lawyer Magazine, a Top Cyber/Artificial Intelligence Lawyer by the Daily Journal, Thriving by the L.A. Business Journal, and a Rising Star and SuperLawyer by Los Angeles Magazine. Prior to opening her own practice, Freed was Assistant General Counsel of Digital Networks at Sony Pictures Entertainment where she was Head of Legal for Crackle, Sony’s multi-platform ad supported video entertainment network, for six years during the emergence of digital media as an industry, and the development of streaming video across mobile and OTT platforms. Working on the novel business and legal issues surrounding digital media and tech inspired Freed to create the first law school course at Loyola Law School dedicated to digital media in 2011, entitled “Digital Media & the Law,” which she taught for almost 10 years as an Adjunct Professor, and stemming from her work with private practice clients related to big data, ad tech and machine learning, led Freed to co-create and co-teach “Artificial Intelligence & the Law” at Loyola Law School in 2017.

Ian August 2026 Headshot (current - hi res) (1) Ian Fried

Ian Fried

Partner, DME Law LLP

Ian Fried has spent two decades at the intersection of media and technology. He serves as Chair of DEG.AI, the AI-focused alliance within DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, and as DEG’s General Counsel. He is also a founding partner of DME Law LLP, a boutique firm that advises companies ranging from Fortune 500 enterprises to early-stage startups. As a fractional executive and advisor, he works with studios, producers, platforms, technology and machine learning companies navigating AI transformation with a specific focus on AI strategy, rights frameworks, content creation, distribution and protection.

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Sandra Haberny, Ph.D.

Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Sandra Haberny, Ph.D., is a Partner in Quinn Emanuel’s Los Angeles office, where she maintains an extensive patent litigation and trade secret practice with a dedicated focus on the life sciences. Dr. Haberny specializes in resolving complex, high-stakes business disputes both on the papers and at trial, as well as advising clients on due diligence and pre-litigation strategy. She has litigated and tried cases involving a wide range of cutting-edge technologies. In addition to her litigation work, Dr. Haberny is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). She has substantial experience prosecuting patents, conducting inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings, and counseling clients on global patent portfolio development. Dr. Haberny earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. She also holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from the New York University School of Medicine, where she was awarded a highly competitive NIH Pre-doctoral Individual National Research Service Award.

Sean Harrington

Sean Harrington

Director, AI and Legal Technology Lab, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Sean A. Harrington is the Director of the AI & Legal Tech Studio at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. A 2025 vLex Fastcase 50 honoree and recipient of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Exemplary Service Award, he is a nationally recognized leader in the integration of artificial intelligence and legal practice. His work spans AI-assisted legal education, benchmarking legal AI tools, and developing innovative applications such as a juror simulation platform (patent pending). He holds a J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, an M.S. in Data Analytics and Program Evaluation from ASU, an M.L.I.S. from the University of Arizona, and a B.A. in English Literature from UCLA. He is a member of the OpenAI Education Forum and a frequent speaker at national conferences including ABA Techshow, AALL, ILTACon, and NAAG events.

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David L. Hecht

Managing Partner, Hecht Partners LLP

David L. Hecht represents companies, individuals, and nationwide classes in high-stakes intellectual property, antitrust, and commercial disputes. IAM Magazine has recognized David for “winning some of the most significant patent and copyright disputes of the modern era.” He is currently litigating a major antitrust and patent case against Apple in the District of New Jersey on behalf of Reincubate, a UK-based technology company.

Jonathan Hyman​

Jonathan Hyman

Partner, Knobbe

Jonathan Hyman is a partner in Knobbe’s Los Angeles office. He is the Co-Chair of the firm’s Advertising, Media and Entertainment Practice Group and Co-Chair of the firm’s CBD and Legal Cannabis Group. Jonathan’s practice includes domestic and foreign trademark prosecution, enforcement and searches, proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), intellectual property licensing, copyrights, rights of publicity, domain name disputes, entertainment law, false advertising, and client counseling.

Richard ("R.J.") Jackson

Richard "R.J." Jackson

Deputy Attorney General for Cybersecurity, Technology, and Digital Assets, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office (State of Oklahoma)

An Oklahoma Native, Richard Jackson currently serves as the Deputy Attorney General for Cybersecurity, Technology, and Digital Assets in the State, acting as the subject matter expert on cybersecurity policy, regulation, and compliance; innovation and entrepreneurism facilitation; and the digital assets industry.

Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, he served as Information Security Manager at the City of Tulsa where he designed, developed, and implemented the first comprehensive cybersecurity and data governance program for the enterprise. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and energy management Summa Cum Laude from the University of Oklahoma, A Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama, and holds several industry certifications and licenses including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation and Investment Advisor Representative Series 65.

Aaron D. Johnson

Aaron D. Johnson

Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson

Aaron Johnson is a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Aaron’s practice focuses on protecting and enforcing his clients’ intellectual property rights, particularly trademark and copyright rights, and defending against claims of infringement.  

Aaron counsels clients on IP protection strategy, assists with the prosecution of trademark and copyright applications in the U.S. and internationally, and has handled trademark and copyright disputes in a wide variety of forums, including ‎before federal and state courts in the U.S., opposition and cancellation proceedings before the ‎Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and domain name ‎issues before international tribunals.

Dana Kempler​

Dana Kempler

Legal AI Engineering Attorney, LexisNexis

Dana Kempler is an attorney, legal innovation leader, and AI strategist. She has led AI and legal transformation initiatives for major media and technology organizations, helping legal teams responsibly adopt emerging technologies while streamlining complex workflows. Dana brings a practical perspective on how innovation is reshaping the creator economy and the future of legal practice. She is passionate about helping organizations harness AI responsibly while protecting creativity, intellectual property, and human judgment.

1739315264574 Peter Kidd

Peter Kidd

Senior Corporate Counsel, Global Content Protection and IP, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios

Peter Kidd leads the content protection program at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios and serves as trademark counsel to Audible and Amazon Music. He has been at Amazon for 7 years, previously an associate at Kilpatrick Townsend with clients in the social media and entertainment space.

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Stefanie Lindquist

Nickerson Dean and Professor of Law,
WashU Law

Stefanie Lindquist is the dean of WashU Law and was previously senior vice president for Global Academic Initiatives at Arizona State University (ASU). Lindquist served as Dean at the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs and held various roles at the University of Texas School of Law. A recognized expert in judicial behavior and constitutional law, she authored the influential book Measuring Judicial Activism. Lindquist clerked for the Honorable Anthony J. Scirica at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, practiced law at Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C., and worked as a research associate at the Federal Judicial Center.

Maloney_Patrick-web Patrick M. Maloney

Patrick M. Maloney

Partner, The Maloney Firm APC

Patrick M. Maloney represents clients in business disputes. He has served as lead trial counsel in bench and jury trials in state and federal courts and in arbitration. Mr. Maloney has represented companies in antitrust and patent matters, shareholder and partnership disputes, employment disputes, and in disputes between clients and lawyers in malpractice, fiduciary duty claims, and fee disputes. 

Mr. Maloney is certified by the California State Bar as a Specialist in Legal Malpractice Law. He has been named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Martindale Hubbell awarded Mr. Maloney with an AV-Preeminent rating, the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards. 

Mr. Maloney has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine each year from 2015 to 2023, and has been a Rising Star – an award given to just 2.5% of attorneys who have been in practice for ten years or less – from 2005 to 2008.

Mike Murray

Mike Murray

VP of Product Strategy, Veritext

Michael Murray is VP of Product Strategy at Veritext, where he leads product vision at the intersection of AI and litigation technology. He speaks nationally at CLEs, product demos, and conferences including ILTACON, and hosts Veritext’s webinar program, named the nation’s #1 CLE Provider and #1 Online CLE Provider by The National Law Journal. His perspectives on responsible AI in litigation have appeared in Law.com, Law360, and LegalTech News.

Jordan Nafekh​

Jordan Nafekh

Attorney, Irell & Manella

Jordan Nafekh is an IP litigator at Irell & Manella and the LAIPLA President for the 2026-27 term.

Nedeen Nasser

Nedeen Nasser

Attorney, Law Cubed

Nedeen holds a Doctor of Law (JD) degree from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). From her offices in Los Angeles Metropolitan, she serves her clients.

Marcus Peterson

Marcus Peterson

Senior Counsel - Trademark, Marketing & Copyright, Oracle

I am a member of Oracle’s Trademark, Marketing & Copyright Legal team. I help protect and grow some of the best known business and enterprise software and service brands in the world. I also advise business and marketing clients on publicity and marketing materials. I am actively involved in AI/ML Legal issues within Oracle.

Exec Bio.v2 Josh Raphaelson

Joshua Raphaelson

Co-Founder, PPI Releasing, LLC

Josh co-founded Network Ventures, Inc. (NVI), a top program development and research firm. At NVI, Josh helped launch & renew over 100 shows for clients like Barry & Enright, Dick Clark, Gracie Films, Goodson-Todman, New World/Fox Television, Proctor & Gamble, Sony, Saban Entertainment and Warner Brothers. Programs included The Wonder Years, Tour of Duty, Beauty & the Beast, The Simpsons, America’s Top 10, Donahue and Sally Jesse Raphael, Tic Tac Dough, Joker’s Wild, Name That Tune and Sale of the Century.

In executive assignments with The WB Network, Citytv/MuchMusic and ARTISTdirect, Josh created programming with major recording artists, from the Backstreet Boys, No Doubt and *NSYNC, to Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Cher and many more.

Catalina Ravizza

Catalina Ravizza

Sr. Principal, Keystone

Catalina Ravizza is a Senior Principal Economist at Keystone and a member of the senior leadership team in the firm’s Global Antitrust Practice. Her work focuses on some of today’s most consequential antitrust matters in digital and media markets, including matters involving online search, advertising technology, entertainment, and digital platforms. Her antitrust experience includes monopolization, mergers, and alleged collusion. She also has experience analyzing economic issues at the intersection of competition and intellectual property. She leads interdisciplinary teams across economics, technology, and industry in analyzing market definition, competitive effects, and complex technology-related issues.

Zach Rufa

Zach Rufa

Associate, Knobbe Martens

Zach Rufa is an associate in Knobbe Martens’ trademark group, where he counsels clients on intellectual property strategy and disputes involving trademarks, copyrights, rights of publicity, false advertising, and unfair competition. As an award-winning playwright and published author, he brings a storytelling-focused perspective to his advocacy. Zach is a proud alumnus of ASU Law, where he served as the inaugural Student Executive Director of The McCarthy Institute.

Pedram Sameni​

Pedram Sameni

President and CEO, Patexia

Pedram Sameni is the Founder and CEO of LexDana and Patexia. Over the past 15 years, he has built legal intelligence platforms that help law firms and corporate legal teams make better decisions using data. At LexDana, he is building a legal memory layer for high-stakes legal matters. Previously, he led intellectual property and licensing at International Rectifier and holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.

Matt Samet​

Matt Samet

Attorney, Ashurst Perkins Coie

Matt Samet is a trademark and copyright attorney at Ashurst Perkins Coie. He began his legal career in Los Angeles, including at an entertainment boutique, before moving to the Bay Area to add technology clients to his roster. His practice reflects a blend of technology, media, and entertainment, and other businesses across a range of industries.

Tricia Schafer​

Tricia Schafer

Mediator | Arbitrator, Tricia Schafer Dispute Resolution PLLC

As a mediator, Tricia is known for connecting people and concepts to create outcomes that transcend the sum of their parts. Her tenacity, curiosity, and enthusiasm, combined with strategic preparation and critical analysis, engage stakeholders and promote durable resolutions. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Tricia mediates and arbitrates nationwide, scheduling directly or through the American Arbitration Association’s commercial, healthcare, consumer, and expedited rosters. She also serves as a FINRA arbitrator for securities-related disputes, and a Judge Pro Tempore on the Maricopa County Superior Court, handling settlement conferences in civil, commercial, and probate matters. Tricia earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a member of the bar in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

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William R. Sears

Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Will is a partner in Quinn Emanuel’s Los Angeles office with a distinctive practice spanning antitrust, competition, and class action litigation. His significant experience on “”both sides of the V”” gives him unparalleled insight into plaintiff strategies and how to defeat them—making him particularly effective at defending companies against complex commercial litigation.

Will provides strategic counsel to Fortune 500 companies navigating their most challenging antitrust and regulatory matters. Will has substantial experience defending companies in competition matters across multiple jurisdictions.

Maria Crimi Speth​

Maria Crimi Speth

Shareholder, Jaburg & Wilk. P.C.

Maria Crimi Speth, a shareholder in the law firm of Jaburg & Wilk, P.C., has practiced for over thirty-five years in the areas of intellectual property, technology, and commercial litigation, representing clients and serving as a neutral. She is the author of two published books, Protect Your Writings: A Legal Guide for Authors, and Protect Your Photographs: A Legal Guide for Photographers. Maria is a member of the AAA’s Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators, past Chair of the Board of YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, and past chair of the Intellectual Property and E-commerce Sections of the Arizona State Bar Association. She is a frequent presenter on topics related to intellectual property and artificial intelligence.

Doug Sylvester

Doug Sylvester

Dean Emeritus, Professor of Law, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Dean Douglas Sylvester was the 8th dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Under his leadership, ASU Law reached historic heights, ranked 25th in the nation (up from 40th in 2012, and 58th in 2008), 9th among public law schools, and is the youngest law school in the top 25. From 2012-2020, the law school placed in the top 25 for employment (rising as high as #11 in 2014), hired nearly 60 faculty members, and raised $81 million — more than twice the amount raised in the prior 45 years combined.

Dean Sylvester was also a driving force for the conceptualization and creation of the Beus Center for Law and Society in downtown Phoenix, which is now home to ASU Law and a number of other legal-related organizations including the innovative ASU Law Group and the Arizona Legal Center.

Mark Treitel

Mark Treitel

Patent and IP Litigation Attorney, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan; TechTainment Founder and Co-Chair

Mark is the founder of TechTainment™ and has served as co-chair for the past 12 years. He created this innovative conference to explore the dynamic intersection of technology and entertainment, fostering a community of IP attorneys dedicated to predicting current trends and shaping future technologies.

With two decades of experience at Quinn Emanuel, Mark has litigated some of the most significant IP cases in technology and life sciences, covering patents, trade secrets, privacy, trademarks, copyrights, and numerous large commercial litigation matters. He is also a licensed patent attorney.

Konrad Trope

Konrad Trope

Managing Shareholder, Trope and Trope

Lead counsel in federal and state court actions, and binding arbitrations involving complex commercial and business matters including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, e-commerce, Internet, cyber-security, data breaches, licensing agreements, state and federal unfair competition, labor and employment practices.

Craig Wagner

Craig Wagner

Executive Vice President, Business Affairs, and General Counsel, Paradigm Talent Agency

Craig Wagner serves as Head of Business Affairs and General Counsel for the Paradigm Talent Agency, a full service talent agency that represents over 2,000 clients in film, television, digital media, physical production, books and branding. He is a current Governor of the Television Academy and sits on the Board of Directors of the Association of Talent Agents. Mr. Wagner is also an adjunct professor of law at UCLA where he teaches a semester-long course of the representation of talent in the entertainment industry.

image003 Laura Scherck Wittcoff

Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff

Management Consultant/Professor/Podcaster, The Intrinsic Group; Small & Gutsy, Inc.

Laura Scherck Wittcoff, DSW, LICSW is the co-founder and principal of the Intrinsic Group, www.theintrinsicgroup.com, a boutique consulting firm specializing in organizational development in the areas of strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, change management, mentorship, and culture. Laura is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and currently teaches as an Adjunct Instructor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. In January 2021, Laura developed and launched a podcast, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Small & Gutsy®, www.smallandgutsy.org, to support nonprofits and social enterprises in their efforts to spread their message and broaden their networks.

Rina Yano

Rina Yano

Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Tokyo Broadcasting System International

Rina Yano is Head of Business & Legal Affairs at Tokyo Broadcasting System International (TBSI), where she oversees format licensing and development deals, IP rights management, and legal operations, bringing more than 25 years of entertainment law experience across major studios, independent production companies, creator economy businesses, and consumer brands. Prior to TBSI, she served as SVP, Business and Legal Affairs at The Wonder Project, working on films including Young Washington and Sarah’s Oil and serving as lead attorney for AI production services, and earlier led business and legal affairs at Westbrook Inc. for unscripted TV and documentaries such as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion (HBO) and Will Smith’s Off the Deep End (Discovery), along with brand partnerships for Will Smith, Jaden Smith, and Willow Smith. Her studio background includes counsel roles at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, focused on VFX agreements, digital marketing, and global content licensing, and on the brand side, she served as primary legal counsel to The Wonderful Company’s in-house agency, overseeing four Super Bowl commercials and regulatory compliance for brands like FIJI Water and POM Wonderful, and was the sole in-house attorney at Kin, handling influencer campaigns and brand integrations. Rina is also the author of the LinkedIn newsletter “In-House Entertainment Job Report,” where she writes weekly on entertainment law job strategies and curates a list of relevant jobs and internships.