Renowned political strategist James Carville will headline Tulane Law School’s 2nd Annual Entertainment & Sports Law Conference April 12-13 on Tulane University’s uptown campus.

Titled “Geaux Create: Emerging Trends in Law and Creative Content,” the two-day conference will take place at John Giffen Weinmann Hall, home of the Law School, 6329 Freret St. It is free and open to the public.

Among the highlights will be a keynote conversation between Carville and nationally known Tulane law professor Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane Sports Law Program, who will discuss such topics as “NOLA No-Call” litigation, the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal known as Bountygate and recruiting scandals in college basketball.

Each year, the conference explores powerful forces disrupting and remaking the sports, entertainment and creative industries, from new technologies and distribution channels to virtual reality and a melding of sports, media and entertainment content. It also highlights those representing talent – from sports agents to those whose clients are some of the best known in Hollywood.

Top industry executives speaking during the day include Tulane Law School alumni Jeff Frost, president of Sony Pictures Television Studios, and Kevin Yorn, founding partner of the Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Entertainment Law Firm, which represents such Hollywood celebrities as Ellen DeGeneres, Scarlett Johannson, and the creators of South Park.  Morris Yorn partner Jared Levine, who represents film director and actor Jordan Peele and NBA star Stephen Curry, will also speak at the conference. 

“We’re excited to bring some of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry to Tulane to discuss the dynamic changes reshaping sports, media and entertainment,” said Tulane Law School Dean David Meyer. “New Orleans has long been an engine of creativity in music, art, film, and entertainment broadly, and it’s fitting that this important conversation should take place here.”

The conference opens Friday morning with a look at the creative environment for film and music in New Orleans, showcasing the work of two emerging filmmakers associated with the New Orleans Film Society, Samantha Aladana and Kenneth Reynolds. Other panel topics include Emerging Trends in Television Content, Exploring the Role of Outside Counsel in the Sports Industry and Athlete and Team Representation in Professional Sports.

On Saturday, the conference will explore ways in which other forms of creative media, including fabric art, quilting, and cosplay, leverage popular entertainment and culture to fuel a rapidly expanding $5-billion arts and entertainment industry.