I had the pleasure of attending and volunteering at the Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) 45th Annual Conference in Puerto Rico. Throughout the week, I connected with attorneys and law students from across the country and gained valuable insight from panels on the intersection of law, sports, entertainment, and business.
While at the conference, I was able to reconnect with fellow Miami Law alumni and celebrate the incredible work they’re doing in the industry - Kennedy Byrd, J.D. '25 & EASL L.L.M. '25, Dominique Davillier, J.D. '24 & EASL L.L.M. '24, Marissa John, EASL L.L.M. '21, Charles Harrington, J.D. '19, and David Moreno, J.D. '11.
Highlights included Fireside Chat & Sip with Carmelo Anthony & Asani Swann, and C. Anthony Mulrain, discussing athlete entrepreneurship, The Black Women Leading Legal Strategy in the NFL panel featuring Miami's Marissa John, Esq EASL L.L.M. 21 (VP, General Counsel, Seattle Seahawks), The Business of Play: Law, Investment, and Policy in Sports and Entertainment panel, featuring Miami's David Moreno JD 11(Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright), and Fireside Chat with DeMaurice Smith, former head of the NFL Players Association (Miami Law EASL Advisory Board Member/Adjunct Professor).
Thank you to the University of Miami School of Law and L.A.F.A.C. for generously supporting my travel to the conference. Your belief in me truly opens doors I wouldn’t be able to walk through otherwise. I left Puerto Rico feeling deeply inspired, motivated, and energized for the path ahead, and I’m already looking forward to returning to next year’s BESLA Conference.
