Giancarla Sambo
Top entertainment attorney focusing on media contracts, IP, and pageant law
I am Giancarla Sambo, a distinguished entertainment sector attorney focusing on media contracts, intellectual property, and legal compliance. With over 15 years of experience, I have successfully negotiated and managed thousands of entertainment, fashion, and luxury agreements, including talent, production, licensing, and distribution deals.
My unique role as a pageant attorney sets me apart. In this capacity, I have collaborated with high-profile organizations, advising on contracts, brand protection, and compliance within the pageant industry. As the former Executive Director of The Miss America Opportunity and State Board President of Miss Puerto Rico, I was pivotal in overseeing operations, securing sponsorships, and managing contracts for events broadcast to millions. My work in the pageant space underscores my ability to handle complex agreements and safeguard the rights of contestants and organizations.
My background as a former media personality further enhances my practice. This background gives me a distinct understanding of the entertainment landscape and how to align legal strategy with creative and business objectives. I have collaborated with top brands such as AT&T, Disney, and Google. I have also advised on significant events like the Essence Festival and Afropunk, offering tailored legal solutions that mitigate risk and drive success.
Fluent in English and Spanish, I serve a diverse, global client base, guiding them through cross-border legal challenges. I am committed to staying informed about industry trends and legal developments to ensure my clients receive the most current and effective strategies.
Recognized as Lawyer of the Year in 2022 and 2023, I am known for my comprehensive legal approach, combining entertainment law with my experience in pageantry to provide clients with unmatched legal insight and support in both mainstream and niche 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 Attorney (Contracts)
- Legal Services
- - Current
- Media & Entertainment Attorney
- Essence Communications, Inc.
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- Attorney Support and Marketing Associate
- Law Offices
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- National Executive Director | State (Territory) Board - President & Attorney
- The Miss America Opportunity - Puerto Rico chapter
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- Entertainment and Corporate Counsel
- Solo Practitioner
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- 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. Studies in legal common law and civil law system.
- Honors: Academic excellence in Private International Law
- Activities: American Bar Association, member; National Association of Law Students (Asociación Nacional de Estudiantes de Derecho-ANED), member; Class Council, Publicity Director (2L); Puerto Rico Senate, Legislative Assistant (Summer 2L), concurrent employment in broadcasting (1L).
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- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
- LL.M. | Entertainment & New Media Law
- Courses included Copyright Law, Trademark Law, Motion Pictures: Finance and Production Seminar, Television Programming and Production Financing, Trade Secret Law, International Entertainment Law, Introduction to Immigration Law, Internet Law, Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes, and Legal Drafting.
- Honors: Academic excellence merit-based scholarship, Loyola Law School; Entertainment & Sports Industries Forum Award, American Bar Association
- Activities: American Bar Association, member; International Students Association, member; La Raza de Loyola, member; National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) - Deposition Skills Program, staff; USC Gould School of Law and Beverly Hills Bar Association - Institute on Entertainment Law and Business, attendee; The National Jurist magazine, student representative.
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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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- 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
- Recognition for years of community service & pro-bono work
- Renace Condado
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Advanced Topics in Copyright and IP Law
- University of Puerto Rico
- Realities about Internet Privacy
- Puerto Rico Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico)
- Proficiency in Employment Law
- Thomson Reuters
- Proficiency in Research
- Thomson Reuters
- Proficiency in Citations
- Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD)
