2026 EASL Spring Meeting

2026 EASL Spring Meeting
Thursday, May 28, 2026

1:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

American Arbitration Association

150 East 42nd Street – 17th Fl. 

New York, NY  10017

and 

Virtual

This program brings together practitioners to explore several timely issues at the intersection of entertainment, sports, and art law. Panels will cover the rapid evolution of NIL and its impact on college athletics, including recent litigation, reform efforts, and shifting economic models. The program will also examine developments in artists’ moral rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act, with a focus on street art and the implications of cases like 5Pointz. In addition, panelists will discuss the ongoing uncertainty around music licensing in sports settings, including who bears responsibility when music is used in live performances.

The discussions are designed to highlight recent legal developments and offer practical insights for attorneys working in these areas. A networking reception will follow the program, providing an opportunity to continue the conversation with colleagues and speakers.

Chaos, Cash and College Sports

Chaos, Cash, and College Sports dives into the rapid evolution of NIL, where high-profile litigation, aggressive reform efforts, and big-money athlete deals are transforming NCAA economics in real time. Panelists will unpack the latest court battles, proposed legislation, and the legal implications for student-athletes, schools, conferences, and other stakeholders. Panelists will engage in a timely discussion of where NIL law stands now, where it may be headed next, and what attorneys should focus on as the rules keep changing.

VARA, Street Art and Artists’ Moral Rights: Is the Writing on the Wall?

The panel will examine artists’ moral rights, including developments under the Visual Artists Rights Act since the seminal 5Pointz case, protection and valuation issues respecting street art, and artists’ moral rights of attribution and integrity.

On Thin Ice: Music in Sports and the Battle Over Who Pays When Athletes Perform

When a figure skater choreographs a routine to a pop song or an NBA dance team performs during a game break, does the venue's blanket license cover it — or is a separate, additional license required? This panel examines the unsettled law at the intersection of music licensing and sports, recent court decisions reshaping the landscape, and who bears the liability when the music stops.