Law and Leadership
Nyasha Shani Foy is a multi-hyphenate business & legal affairs executive and corporate transactional lawyer with extensive experience in intellectual property law, media, entertainment, and emerging technologies. She has advised and counseled global brands, established companies, start-ups and scale-ups such as Sotheby’s, COMPLEX, Buzzfeed and VICE. Her practice encompasses structuring and negotiating a wide spectrum of commercial agreements from talent and content deals to book publishing and consignment agreements. Nyasha is admitted to practice law in both California and New York.
Beyond her legal practice, Nyasha holds prominent roles in various boards and associations. She serves on the Save the Music Foundation Board, the Board of Directors for the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA), and the National Black Law Students Association, Northeast Region Advisory Board. Nyasha is a former Trustees at Wesleyan University.
Nyasha is also a commanding and engaging speaker. Her extensive public speaking experience includes over 30+ engagements, where she shares her insights and expertise on a range of topics from intellectual property law, emerging technology, women's empowerment, and cultural trends.
Legal Conversations & Publications
Speaker -
Strategy for Art: Digital & Marketing Landscape Tech Panel, 2024 Arts Admin Next x Art Business Society Symposium
New York, NY (November 2024)
Panelist -
We’re Doing it Live: Advising Clients on Legal, Regulatory and Relationship Issues Presented When Producing/Operating Live Events and Activations, 44th Annual Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association Conference
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (November 2024)
Speaker -
Am ‘AI’ Being Replaced? AI’s Place in Copyright, New York Law School
New York, NY (April 2024)
Speaker -
Navigating the Evolving Regulatory Landscape: Digital Assets and FinTech in Today’s Climate, 2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel
Brooklyn, NY (February 2024)
Speaker -
Generative AI and Music: A Creative Collaboration or the New Threat to the Music Industry?, Copyright Society 2024 Midwinter Meeting
Webinar (January 2024)
Speaker -
How to Deal with Contents Created by AI, 67th UIA Rome Congress AI Panel
Rome, Italy (October 2023)
Speaker -
Colleagues & Friends Series: Gender Disparity in Crypto & NFT Spaces, Professional Organization for Women in the Arts
New York, NY (September 2023)
Moderator -
The Legal Implications of Generative AI Technologies, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association
New York, NY (June 2023)
Speaker -
Matisse or the Matrix: The Future of Generative Art and AI, Duane Morris
London, United Kingdom (April 2023)
Speaker -
AI Generated Work Panel, New York Law School Intellectual Property Symposium
New York, NY (April 2023)
Author -
Does Copyright Protection Extend Beyond Original Works in an AI World?
Bright Ideas, A publication of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association
Lifestyle
Moderator -
Mental Health and Wellness for High Performing Lawyers, 44th Annual Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association Conference
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (November 2024)
Interviewee -
The Art of Law at NYLS, New York Law School
New York, NY (January 2024)
Speaker -
TikTok Under the Microscope: A Discussion of the Business and Legal Realities Creators and Legal Departments are Confronting on the Platform, 43rd Annual Black Entertainment Sports Lawyer Association Conference
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (November 2023)
Speaker -
Fireside Chat with Nyasha Foy, Cardozo School of Law
New York, NY (March 2023)
Guest Lecturer -
The Legal and Ethical Landscape of Branded Content and Influencer Marketing, NYU Masters Class in Branded Content
New York, NY (April 2023)
Presenter -
What Does Your NFT Collection Say About You?, NFT.NYC
New York, NY (April 2023)
Speaker -
Law School Mentor Virtual Coffee Talk Series, The Law Student Mentor
Virtual (April 2023)
Interviewee -
Next-Wave Lawyers: NYLS Grads Drive the Digital Economy - Part II: Alumni Stories, New York Law School
New York, NY (2018)
Women
Interviewee -
What does egg freezing have to do with your employer?
BBC (June 2022)
Interviewee -
More Companies Offer Fertility Benefits. It’s Only the Beginning
Wired Magazine (April 2022)
Guest Speaker -
Navigating Conversations Around Fertility in the Workplace: A Discussion with Esther Perel and Kindbody
New York, NY (September 2021)
Speaker -
21st Annual Fordham Women in Business Conference: Beyond All Limits, Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University
New York, NY (February 2020)
Speaker -
15th Annual Women in Intellectual Property Program, New York State Bar Association IP Law Section
New York, NY (2017)
