Giancarla Sambo
Entertainment & Pageant Law Attorney | Media Counsel & Contract Negotiation
Giancarla Sambo is a distinguished entertainment attorney specializing in media contracts, talent agreements, and production deals. With over 15 years of experience, she has successfully negotiated and managed thousands of entertainment, fashion, and luxury agreements.
Giancarla's unique experience as a pageant attorney sets her apart in the field. Having served as the Executive Director of The Miss America Opportunity and State Board President of Miss Puerto Rico, she was pivotal in managing sponsorships, overseeing operations, and advising on contracts for events broadcast to millions. Her expertise in the pageant sector underscores her ability to handle complex agreements and protect the interests of contestants and organizations.
Her background as a former media personality enhances her legal practice, offering a unique perspective on the entertainment landscape. Giancarla has collaborated with major brands like AT&T, Disney, and Google and provided legal counsel for high-profile events such as the Essence Festival and Afropunk. She delivers tailored legal solutions that minimize risk and drive success.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Giancarla serves a global client base, helping them navigate cross-border legal challenges. She is committed to staying current with industry trends and legal developments to ensure her clients benefit from practical, up-to-date strategies.
Recognized as Lawyer of the Year in 2022 and 2023, Giancarla combines her expertise in entertainment law with her unique experience in pageantry, providing unparalleled legal support to clients across diverse sectors.
- Entertainment & Sports Law
- Free Consultation
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Bar
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- New York
- New York State Office of Court Administration
- ID Number: 5675103
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- Puerto Rico
- Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico
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- 9th Circuit
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- English: Spoken, Written
- French: Spoken, Written
- Italian: Spoken, Written
- Spanish: Spoken, Written
- Entertainment & Media Attorney managing legal and business affairs
- Legal Services
- - Current
- Legal Content Contributor - NYSBA Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section
- New York State Bar Association
- - Current
- Contribute legal updates to the New York State Bar Association’s Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section blog, supporting more than 1,300 attorneys.
- Media & Entertainment Attorney
- Essence Communications, Inc.
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- Served as legal counsel for a global media company with an audience exceeding 20 million, supporting major content, events, and brand partnerships. Oversaw negotiations for commercial contracts and managed risks across high-profile initiatives that generated significant sponsorship revenue.
- Legal Consultant & Marketing Strategist
- Law Offices
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- Provided legal and strategic support per jurisdictional requirements in a high-volume civil law office. Leveraged legal training and media expertise to enhance both case outcomes and the firm’s visibility in the competitive Los Angeles legal market.
- Executive Director | President & Media Legal Counsel, Puerto Rico Chapter
- The Miss America Opportunity
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- Oversaw the Puerto Rico chapter of a century-old national nonprofit that awarded over $3M in cash scholarships and more than $30M in in-kind scholarships annually. Applied legal expertise to ensure state operations complied with the organization's standards and Puerto Rico’s legal framework.
- Entertainment & Media Attorney | Legal Counsel
- Solo Practitioner
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- Provided bilingual legal counsel in the entertainment, media, fashion, and service industries. Advised clients within both civil and common law frameworks, serving individuals, businesses, and nonprofits.
- Legislative Assistant
- Puerto Rico Senate
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- Summer position
- Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law
- J.D. | Concentration in Contracts
- Highest-ranked ABA-accredited law school in Puerto Rico.
- Honors: Academic excellence in Private International Law
- Activities: Board member, student leadership team - Publicity Director (2L). Studies in legal common law and civil law system.
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- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
- LL.M. | Entertainment & New Media Law
- Focus on entertainment law, media contracts, and legal issues in new media industries.
- Honors: Academic Excellence Award, Loyola Law School; Entertainment & Sports Industries Forum Award, American Bar Association
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- New York University
- M.A. | Broadcast Journalism
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- Fordham University
- B.A. | Media Studies and Sociology
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- Avvo Rating Level - Superb
- Avvo
- Lifetime Achievement Honoree
- Top 100 Lawyers
- Most Influential Attorneys in North America
- Issued by Top 100 Lawyers - The Magazine Jun 2023
- Attorney of the Year (2022 & 2023)
- Top 100 Lawyers
- Who's Who in American Law 2020 - 2021
- Marquis Who's Who
- FEME - Female Executives in Media & Entertainment
- Member
- - Current
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- New York State Bar
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section Member; Task Force on the US Territories Member; Committee on Media Law Member
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- District of Columbia Bar
- Member
- - Current
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- American Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries member (2003 - 2012; 2023 - Present)
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- Puerto Rico Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico)
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: 2006 - 2016; 2022 - Present
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- Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
- Member
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- Week in Review - Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section Blog (2022 - Present)
- New York State Bar Association
- Editor, Renace Condado Newsletter (2013 & 2014)
- Renace Condado
- Civil Law articles (2006 - 2008)
- Appoint Magazine
- Civil Law articles (2007 - 2008)
- Demand Media
- Broad Perspectives: The Impact of Law - The Law and Entertainment, Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- University of Puerto Rico Law School
- Craft Winning Sponsorship Requests, Virtual Presentation
- Pageantry 101, The Legal Side of Pageantry: CONTRACTS, Virtual
- Rams Helping Rams Class of 2020. Alumni Q+A, Giancarla Sambo - Entertainment Executive specializing in on-air production and talent representation
- Fordham University
- 2025 Leadership Academy
- New York State Bar Association
- Latham & Watkins's Data and Technology Transactions Job Simulation
- Forage
- Fashion Law Summer Intensive Program a.k.a Fashion Law Bootcamp
- Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School
- NYSBA Trial Academy: Trial Techniques
- New York State Bar Association
- Latham & Watkins - Intellectual Property Litigation Job Simulation
- Forage
- Inside LVMH
- LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE)
- Music Modernization Act: Negotiating Artist Contracts
- University of Puerto Rico
- Practice-Ready Certification on Lexis Advance
- LexisNexis
- Q. What do I need to know in preparation for creating a YouTube channel that reviews entertainment media?
- A: I agree with the previous answer. Here are some additional points to consider.
1. Creative Commons & Licensing: To avoid copyright claims, use royalty-free music or footage or create original content.
2. Fan Engagement: Set guidelines for fan submissions and provide disclaimers. Build community through comments, live reviews, and polls.
3. Monetization: Use overlays and keep clips short. For additional income, you can use affiliate links or merchandise.
4. Stay Compliant: Regularly check YouTube’s policies and protect user data to comply with privacy laws.
