Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamesha Laurry-Powell.
Hi Kamesha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a DMV native and a first-generation lawyer, so my journey into entertainment law definitely wasn’t one where I had a built-in roadmap. I attended Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville, Alabama, for undergrad, and absolutely loved my experience there. Being surrounded by such a strong community of Black students and professionals was incredibly formative for me. From there, I went on to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, but even in law school, I was still figuring out exactly what I wanted my career to look like.
My journey into entertainment law really began after graduation. I had the opportunity to participate in a media law fellowship, and from there, I networked my butt off — seriously! I was intentional about meeting people, building genuine relationships, asking questions, and finding ways into an industry that can be notoriously difficult to break into.
That persistence eventually led me to New York City, where I became the first Black attorney to serve as counsel at The New Yorker. After several years in New York, my journey brought me back home to the DMV, where I now work in-house at a television production company.
Somewhere along the way, another part of my career started growing too: content creation. What started as simply sharing pieces of my life online evolved into a platform where I talk about law, career, faith, lifestyle, and what it actually looks like to navigate life as a young attorney. I especially love making the legal profession feel a little less intimidating and showing aspiring lawyers that there isn’t just one way to build a successful legal career.
Today, I really feel like I live at the intersection of two worlds. I’m an entertainment attorney and a content creator, and the two careers have become incredibly complementary. I get to negotiate and advise on the kinds of partnerships that I also experience firsthand as a creator.
I don’t think I could have predicted this exact career when I started, but I’ve learned that sometimes you don’t need to know every step. My faith is a huge part of who I am, and I truly believe God has ordered my steps and opened doors for me that I couldn’t have planned for myself. My job has simply been to keep showing up, work hard, build genuine relationships, and have the courage to walk through those doors when they open. I’m still building, still learning, and still figuring out what’s next, but I’m trusting God and enjoying where the story is taking me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Getting into law school was probably my first big lesson in perseverance. I applied to 12 law schools and was waitlisted at three. Eventually, I got the call that I had been accepted to Northwestern Law BUT shortly after, I was in a serious car accident where I broke both of my legs and was unable to walk. I called the school and asked if I could defer my admission for a year, and initially, I was told no. I remember having to wait an entire weekend while they reconsidered the decision, not knowing if the opportunity I had worked so hard for was going to disappear. Thankfully, they ultimately granted my deferral, and a year later, I started law school.
Then came the bar exam, which was another lesson in resilience. Passing didn’t happen as easily as I expected, and that was difficult, especially after making it through law school. But I kept going, and today I’m licensed to practice law in three jurisdictions. That experience taught me not to let one result define what I’m capable of.
Finding my footing professionally after graduation wasn’t easy either. Breaking into entertainment law is incredibly competitive, and there were plenty of applications, rejections, and moments when I wondered how I was going to get my foot in the door. But I kept networking, kept putting myself in rooms, and kept believing that the right opportunity would come. Eventually, that journey led me to becoming the first Black counsel at The New Yorker and now working in-house at a television production company.
Looking back, some of the moments that felt the most discouraging at the time became some of the biggest reminders of God’s faithfulness in my life. I’ve learned that a “no,” a delay, or even a setback doesn’t necessarily mean the story is over. Sometimes you just have to keep going long enough to see what God is doing with it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an entertainment attorney, my work focuses on the business and legal side of media and entertainment. I handle everything from talent and influencer agreements to marketing, sponsorships, licensing, and the many legal issues that come with bringing creative projects and campaigns to life. One of the things I love anbout in-house counsel in entertainment law is that no two days or projects are exactly the same.
What sets me apart is that I understand the creative side just as much as the legal side. Being a content creator myself has given me firsthand experience negotiating brand partnerships, developing creative concepts, and working with companies as talent. That perspective helps me approach legal issues not just as an attorney asking, “How do we protect the company?” but also, “How do we get to yes and still allow people to be creative?”
I’m most proud of the impact I’ve been able to have beyond my day-to-day work. Through my platforms, I’ve been able to make the legal profession feel more accessible and show people a side of being a lawyer they may not traditionally see. When someone tells me that my content helped them discover entertainment law, consider going in-house, or simply see themselves in this profession, that means a lot to me.
I think that’s ultimately what I want to be known for: being a great attorney, but also being someone who made the path a little easier to see for the people coming behind me.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was VERY talkative growing up and definitely got in trouble for it more than a few times! I’ve always been outgoing, social, and someone who loved being involved. Growing up, I did a little bit of everything: basketball, cheerleading, soccer, student government, and pretty much any extracurricular that gave me an opportunity to participate, lead, or be around people.
I was also naturally drawn to leadership and community. I loved bringing people together, organizing things, and making sure everyone was included. Even in my friend groups, I was always the planner — the one figuring out what we were doing, where we were going, and making sure there was actually a plan. Admittedly, that can come with being a little bossy, but I prefer the term “authoritative” or “very organized with a vision” Lol
Looking back, it’s funny because so much of who I am today was already there. I’ve always loved people, communicating, leading, and creating community. Now I’ve just found grown-up ways to channel all of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8cwvhx6/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaurrylife?stkn=MWE3bjBpbmtsMW9hcw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kameshalaurry
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thelaurrylife?si=-cXU4wN_-bwH2z_U
- Other: https://beacons.ai/thelaurrylife?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAUNPJxwZG9mAmZkaWQWUOCsU28MMH2PIqsbi-QkhUDidRZ-e2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp8VxSryp3D0VI8lYnV5ePZhQgyh6vY-SLtJtVr_LIS1e05WoCVlY4TdlQCfP_aem_ISM_k44SYcXBlUhrq5bq9Q
