Scroll through your social media feed today, and you aren’t just seeing a dance trend or a perfectly plated avocado toast. You are seeing a billion-dollar industry built on pixels, personality, and—increasingly—complex legal contracts. In this "golden age" where content creators and influencers wield the power to shift culture, the difference between a viral hobbyist and a media mogul often comes down to the fine print.
Enter the University of Miami School of Law. Recognizing that creators need to be sophisticated about protecting their intellectual property, the school hosted its annual "Counseling Creators: Influencers, Artists and Trendsetters Negotiation Competition and Conference." Scheduled on Feb. 12 and 13, 2026, the two-day event armed the next generation of dealmakers with the tools to navigate the algorithm and the courtroom alike.
The event, which made history in 2024 as the first of its kind to pull together law students with leading creatives, returned to the Shalala Student Center and the Lakeside Village Auditorium. It was a convergence of two worlds that often struggle to speak the same language: the fluid, fast-paced realm of digital trends and the structured, risk-averse world of law.
"We view the competition as a training ground for law and business students, but the conference is really a meeting place for the entire ecosystem,” said Associate Dean Greg Levy, director of the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Graduate Program. “Whether you are a lawyer, a brand strategist, or a creator, if you are interested in the intricate dynamics of how this industry actually works, you need to be in the room."
From the classroom to the boardroom
The event kicked off Thursday, Feb. 12, with the negotiation competition at the Shalala Student Center. Here, the stakes were simulated, but the pressure real. Law and business students, in teams of up to four, stepped into the shoes of power players representing fashion companies, artists, and brands.
They did not just draft memos; they were in the room, negotiating critical deal points such as compensation and deliverables. It was an exercise in practical skills, requiring participants to balance the creative demands of an influencer with the commercial rigidities of a corporation, all while receiving constructive feedback from industry judges.
"When we first launched this, the conversation was largely about basic compliance,” Levy said. “Now, as we head into our third year, the landscape has shifted entirely. We aren’t just talking about a sponsored post anymore; we are talking about equity stakes, long-term intellectual property retention, and navigating a regulatory minefield. The 'side hustle' era is over; this is the boardroom era, and our students need to be ready to sit at the head of the table."
A meeting of minds
The energy shifted Friday, Feb. 13, as the event moved to the Lakeside Village Auditorium for the conference and the live competition finals. If Thursday was about practice, Friday was about perspective. The conference offered a unique platform for aspiring professionals to engage in negotiations and learn directly from industry leaders who are rewriting the rules of engagement.
The programming was designed to tackle the most pressing issues keeping creators up at night. Past panels have dissected the "Business of Style," exploring how fashion creators drive trends and launch brands through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Other sessions have dived into the legal strategies surrounding potential platform bans—a looming threat that challenges creators to diversify their revenue streams. From "Fair Use for Content Creators" to "Promoter Liability," the agenda covers the intersection of creativity, business, and compliance.
This year, the conference expanded and featured panels centered on the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on the creator economy, how creators are becoming mini-businesses and building their own brands, and how major sporting events are viewing creators as critical partners in their promotion efforts.
Whether you are a law student looking to sharpen your teeth on a brand deal or a creator looking to protect your empire, the Counseling Creators conference offers a seat at the table. In a world where content is king, it pays to know who holds the keys to the castle.
Read more about Miami Law’s Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law area of study.
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