Laura Farina is an adjunct professor in the Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management program. A member of SmithDehn LLP, a global media, entertainment, and sports law firm, Laura represents broadcasters and producers of feature length films and television series. She also represents various entities and talent in the entertainment and sports industry, including amateur and professional athletes. Laura has also recently and concurrently founded sports- and apparel-related ventures.
Prior to teaching at the School of Continuing Studies, from 1999 to 2011 Laura served as Vice President of Legal Affairs at the global media company, Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI), encompassing Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, and other DCI channels. Laura's professional background includes several years of private law practice in leading Manhattan and New Jersey firms and a judicial clerkship with the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Laura received her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law, where she served as Articles Editor of the Rutgers Law Review, and her B.A. from Georgetown University in government and history. As an undergraduate at Georgetown, Laurawalked on the basketball team as a freshman and played three years of varsity lacrosse.
A 2012 graduate of the Georgetown Sports Industry Management (SIM) program, Laura received the Outstanding Student Award at graduation. Laura has been teaching the Capstone course and Sports Law in the SIM program since 2014. A former high school and collegiate athlete and avid fan, Laura was inducted into the Princeton Day School’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.