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 is gearing up to host its annual "Counseling Creators: Influencers, Artists and Trendsetters Negotiation Competition and Conference." Scheduled for Feb. 12 and 13, 2026, the two-day event is designed to arm 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, returns to the Shalala Student Center and the Lakeside Village Auditorium. It is 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 kicks off Thursday, Feb. 12, with the negotiation competition at the Shalala Student Center. Here, the stakes are simulated, but the pressure is real. Law and business students, in teams of up to four, will step into the shoes of power players representing fashion companies, artists, and brands.
They won't just be drafting memos; they will be in the room, negotiating critical deal points such as compensation and deliverables. It is 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 shifts Friday, Feb. 13, as the event moves to the Lakeside Village Auditorium for the conference and the live competition finals. If Thursday is about practice, Friday is about perspective. The conference offers 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 is 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 is expanding and will feature 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.
Securing a spot
For those looking to join this intersection of art and commerce, attendance is essential. The conference is open to the public with non-UM student registration at $75.00 and general admission at $125.00. CLE credits pending.
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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