Jaia Thomas

About Jaia Thomas

I am a Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment attorney, specializing in transactional and intellectual property matters. I regularly draft, structure and negotiate agreements on behalf of writers, producers, directors and talent in the television and film industries. I also assist clients with copyright and trademark registration and protection. I have been cited as a legal expert in several publications, including The New York Times (\"Sports Stars Seek Profit in Catchphrases\") and USA Today (\"Colin Kaepernick Defends Move to Protect Personal Brand\"). In addition to practicing law, I am also an adjunct professor at UCLA. Prior to my appointment at UCLA I taught at American University in Washington DC. I have also guest lectured at several schools including: Vassar College, Carnegie Mellon University, Emory Law School and Stanford Law School. I am also a contributor for Entrepreneur Magazine, where I regularly write about the intersection of sports, entertainment and entrepreneurship. As an ardent advocate for diversity, I recently launched \'Diverse Representation,\' a new comprehensive database that lists African-American agents, attorneys, managers and publicists working in the entertainment industry. Diverse Representation was created to expand the conversation surrounding \"diversity in the entertainment industry\" to include agents, attorneys, managers and publicists. For more info - I am a member of several Los Angeles-based organizations, including the California African American Museum and USC Sports Business Institute Rising Executives Committee. I am also on the Advisory Board of The Eric Reid Foundation.Feel free to contact me at: j•••@jathomaslaw.com

Experience

1. Founder and CEO

   Diverse Representation

   Aug 2018 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

   Diverse Representation is an initiative aimed at increasing the exposure and number of African-American agents, attorneys, managers and publicists working in the sports and entertainment industry. Diverse Representation provides a comprehensive database of these professionals as well as networking and mentorship opportunities throughout the country.

Education

• The George Washington University Law School

  Juris Doctorate

  2003 — 2006

• Walnut Hills High School

  Diploma, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Colgate University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science and Government

  1999 — 2003