Jaia Thomas

Jaia Thomas is a Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment attorney with over ten years of experience on both coasts. Her day-to-day consists of structuring, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating an array of agreements relating to the production, distribution, publishing and licensing of television and film content. Her clients range from artists, filmmakers, producers, production companies, social media influencers, and studios. She also represents current and retired professional athletes at the intersection of sports and entertainment.

Jaia has been quoted as a legal expert in publications such as The New York Times and USA Today. She has served as a panelist for the Los Angeles County Bar Association and Beverly Hills Bar Association and a speaker for several sports and entertainment law conferences throughout the country. She has had several articles published in journals including, Pace I.P., Sports and Entertainment Law Journal (“For the Love of the Name: Professional Athletes Seek Trademark Protection”), Journal of Sports Media (“Twitter: The Sports Media Rookie”) and The American Bar Association (“1Million Followers: Understanding Social Media Influencer Agreements”).

Jaia is currently an adjunct professor at UCLA, where she teaches a course titled "Copyright Law and the Entertainment Industry" and all-day seminar titled “The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Law Practice.” Prior to her appointment at UCLA, she was an adjunct professor at American University in Washington D.C. where she taught graduate students about the inner workings of production company formation. She has guest lectured at several colleges and universities, including Stanford Law School and Georgetown Law School.

Jaia recently launched Diverse Representation, a company aimed at increasing the exposure and hiring of Black agents, attorneys, managers and publicists in the sports and entertainment industries. In addition to providing the first ever comprehensive database of Black agents, attorneys, managers and publicists in the sports and entertainment industries, Diverse Representation also curates various diversity programs, events, and initiatives. For more information – www.diverserepresentation.com.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jaia Thomas is a graduate of Colgate University (BA) and The George Washington University Law School (JD). She also holds a Certificate in Television, Film and New Media Production from University of California, Los Angeles.