The Tribune

The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) is bringing 300 attendees to the Bahamas by holding its 32nd annual conference at the Atlantis Resort on October 24-28.

Obie Wilchcombe, minister of tourism, will welcome the group at the opening reception this Wednesday. Local organiser, Andy Ingraham, said the event provided an opportunity for the Bahamian private sector to establish connections with the 300 music, television and sports executives that will attend.

“Local attorneys and Bahamian businesses are all encouraged to register for the conference and take advantage of the networking opportunities,” said Mr Ingraham.

BESLA will present its Lifetime Achievement award to Judy Smith, the crisis management expert whose A-list clientele and trailblazing counsel inspired the new ABC hit series, ‘Scandal’.

Known in her business as a “fixer”, for the past 20 years Ms Smith has been the go-to person called upon by politicians, celebrities and Fortune 500 companies caught in media firestorms. The founder of Smith and Company, Ms Smith is an attorney who was the first black female special assistant to the President, and deputy White House press secretary for President George H, W. Bush. She will also participate in a ‘Representing clients in a time of Crisis’ seminar.

Representatives from NBC Entertainment Television, BET, Universal Music Group, Turner Broadcasting, Island Def Jam, Warner/Chappell Music, Oprah Winfrey Network, Sony, Max Siegel, chief executive of US Track & Field, and Eva Wright, vice-president and associate general counsel of the Miami Heat, will also lead discussions.

Legendary music executive and entrepreneur, Clarence Avant has also been honoured. This year, his daughter, retired US Ambassador to the Bahamas, Nicole Avant, will receive BESLA’s Humanitarian Award.

BESLA is a network for the professional development and advancement for attorneys of colour in entertainment and sports.