PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett - Nov. 13

Entertainment Law Panel

When: Monday, November 13, 2023 - 5:00-6:15 pm CT

Please join us for a Q&A session where P.J. Shapiro and Greg Slewett (lawyers and partners at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole) discuss their career trajectories, the scope of their work, and their views on the current state of the media industries.

To RSVP, please fill out this form & we will send out the Zoom link day-of. 


Speaker Biographies 

P.J. Shapiro (entertainment lawyer, partner at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole)

P.J. Shapiro is a Founding Partner of Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP. He has an extensive film and television practice, representing some of today’s most successful on-camera talent as well as many acclaimed film and television producers, directors, writers and content creators. He also represents some of the most celebrated artists in the world of music through a myriad of ventures and business transactions.

P.J. has structured and negotiated groundbreaking transactions in the media and entertainment industries – resulting in both lucrative financial benefits and unprecedented creative control for his clients. He has worked with clients to identify and exploit important and novel ancillary revenue sources, generating lucrative publishing, endorsement, licensing and merchandising deals. P.J. has also helped his clients establish significant commercial ventures across the beauty, apparel, fragrance, automotive, technology and wellness industries. P.J. supports his clients’ civic and philanthropic passions by assisting in the creation and execution of foundations devoted to causes including domestic violence education and prevention, mental health advocacy and cancer awareness and treatment.

P.J. serves as an advisor to a select group of leading-edge companies in the media and technology sectors including Spire Animation, Jam City and Kidaptive Media. An active investor in early-stage companies with a keen entrepreneurial eye, P.J. co-founded BeautyCounter, a non-toxic skin care and cosmetic company recently acquired by The Carlyle Group.  

In 2012, P.J. was the youngest person recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the 100 Power Lawyers in the Entertainment Industry and has remained on that list every year since.  He was listed among Vanity Fair’s 2010 Next Establishment List (Vanity Fair’s selection of the nation’s emerging leaders in business, media and the arts), as well as a member of Variety’s 2012 Legal Impact Report.

P.J. received his Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences (with a Minor in Physiological Sciences) from UCLA. P.J. graduated Order of the Coif from USC Law School and received an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business, achieving Dean’s List recognition each semester during his tenure at the University.

He serves on the Board of Trustees and is Chairman of the Development Committee at The Laurence School and is a proud member of the Board of Trustees of The Heart of Los Angeles, whose important mission is to give underserved kids an equal chance to succeed through a comprehensive array of after-school academic, arts, athletics and wellness programs. He most recently served as the Managing Partner of Ziffren Brittenham.  


Greg Slewett (entertainment lawyer, partner at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole)

Greg Slewett is a Founding Partner and Co-Managing Partner of Johnson, Shapiro Slewett & Kole.  He represents some of the most in-demand actors, writers, directors and producers, as well as prominent media companies, from around the globe.  


In addition to his traditional talent practice, Greg focuses on brand building for his clients.  He has overseen the successful creation of several companies, including media companies, talent management companies, production companies, marketing and consulting agencies, and consumer product brands.  He also has negotiated several groundbreaking overall deals for top content creators and on-camera talent.

Greg graduated from The University of Texas at Austin (with a degree in Radio, Television & Film), and from Cardozo School of Law in New York City.  He regularly appears on The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers list.  Prior to launching Johnson, Shapiro Slewett & Kole, he was a partner at iconic law firms Bloom Hergott and Ziffren Brittenham.

Throughout his career, Greg has been active in numerous charitable, civic and entertainment industry activities, and has been a guest lecturer at several film festivals (including SXSW) and other entertainment industry events.  He is married to Chiara Slewett with whom he has two sons, Luca and Sebastian.  They live in Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles.

Spring 2024 MIC Speakers

Feb 16. - Austin Animation Panel

Guests include Carrye Glazar (Executive Producer, Austin Community College Television), Brad Graeber (CEO, Powerhouse Animation Studios), Austin Harper (Supervising Producer, Rooster Teeth), Evan Narcisse (Senior Writer, Brass Lion Entertainment), and Craig Staggs (CEO, Minnow Mountain).
4:00 - 5:15 pm CT

Feb 20. - Scot Cru

Independent International Television & Media Consultant
12:30–1:45 pm CT

March 21 - Austin-Based Film Festivals Panel

Guests include Neha Aziz (Artistic Director, Austin Asian American Film Festival), Alka Bhanot (Co-Founder, Indie Meme), David Finkel (Director, Austin Jewish Film Festival), Todd Hogan (President, aGLIFF), and Gabriel Ornelas (Executive Director, Cine Las Americas).
4:00–5:15 pm CT

Apr. 1 - Patrick Schumacker

EP and Co-Showrunner of Abbott Elementary, Delicious Non Sequitur Productions and WB Television
5–6:15 pm CT

Apr. 9 - Amanda Harrell

Former EVP, Business and Legal Affairs, Alternative and Specials, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
12:30–1:45 pm CT

Apr. 23 - Lee Solomon

Partner, Apollo Global Management LLC
12:30–1:45 pm CT

Fall 2023 MIC Speakers

Aug. 28 - Launching Your Career Panel

Guests include Ben Harizman (Executive Assistant to the CEO, OBB Media), Zachary Smith (Line Producer's Assistant, 20th Television), Hemrani Vyas (Assistant Manager of Programming, TCM), and Rachel Wang (Associate Producer, Up Entertainment).
5:00–6:15 pm CT

Sept. 11 - Launching Your Career, Screenwriter & Agent

Guests: Davia Carter (Tulsa King), Jim Ehrich (literary agent, Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston) & Cindy McCreery (RTF Interim Chair, Honey Girls)
5:00–6:15 pm CT

Sept. 18 - Brent Weinstein

Chief Development Officer, Candle Media
5:00–6:15 pm CT

Sept. 25 - Gail MacKinnon

Senior Executive Vice President, Global Policy & Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association
5:00-6:15pm CT

Oct. 2 - Dr. Thomas Schatz

Professor Emeritus, University of Texas at Austin
5:00–6:15 pm CT

Oct. 9 - Business of Music Panel

Guests include Wofford Denius (Attorney, Eisner, LLP), Jonathan Eshak (Co-President, Mick Music), Margaret Galton (Promoter, C3 Presents), Dan Goscombe (Managing Director, Cal Financial Group), and Kevin Shivers (Partner, WME).
5:00–6:15 pm CT

Oct. 16 - Amanda Barclay

Director, Comedy Series, Netflix
5:00-6:15pm CT

Oct. 23 - Christopher Casanova

Vice President, Film & Television, Black Bear Pictures
5:00-6:15pm CT

Oct 25 - Emerald Fennell

Writer, Director, Actress and Author
Promising Young Woman, Saltburn
6:00-7:15pm CT

Oct. 30 - Pastor Alvarado III

Executive Producer and Creative Director, Riverside Entertainment
5:00-6:15pm CT

Nov. 6 - Lucy Huang

Senior Production Executive, Amazon Studios
5:00-6:15pm CT

Nov. 9 - Bob Berney

CEO, Picturehouse
9:30-10:45am CT

Nov. 13 - Entertainment Law Panel

PJ Shapiro & Greg Slewett (lawyers and partners, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole)
5:00–6:15 pm CT

Nov. 27 - David Tran

VP, Distribution Strategy and Analysis, Lionsgate
5:00-6:15pm CT

Dec. 4 - Austin Entertainment Industry

Guests include Alfred Gomez (Director, Programming & Development, Blind Nil), Jennifer Hutchins (Producer), Laura Kincaid (Director of Operations, ATX TV), Attia Rasul (Content Hub Editor, Atmosphere TV), and Vince Robinette (Controller, Amazon Studios and 20th Century Fox/Disney).
5:00–6:15 pm CT