In this episode of “My Friends Are Better Than Yours,” BIG CED sits down with powerhouse entertainment attorney and professor Bernie Lawrence Watkins, Esquire to talk about her 26‑year journey in entertainment law, her roots in Queens and at NYC’s legendary Music & Art (LaGuardia), and how Howard University and law school prepared her to build a respected practice in Atlanta. From watching her brother’s ups and downs as an artist to becoming a “contract killer” for producers, songwriters, and artists, Bernie breaks down how she advocates for creatives, negotiates better deals, and protects her clients in a changing music industry. She also shares how she built her own firm BLW & Associates, the story behind working with major producers (including Bangladesh and others tied to Ludacris, 50 Cent, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, and more), and why she’ll walk away rather than put her name on a bad deal. Beyond law, Bernie talks about her role as an adjunct professor of entertainment law at Georgia State University College of Law, her passion for mentoring the next generation, her life as a triathlete and fitness lover, and her plans for the future—including a possible judgeship and an upcoming book targeted for 2026. If you’re an artist, producer, or future lawyer looking to understand the business, this conversation is packed with gems on discipline, time management, self‑belief, and navigating the industry as a Black woman at the top of her field.0:00 Intro – show and concept setup​1:40 Guest intro – Bernie Lawrence Watkins, Esquire​2:10 26 years in entertainment law, “contract killer” mindset​3:09 Professor at Georgia State Law + CEO of Eclipse Distro​3:59 Growing up in Queens, LaGuardia/Music & Art background​5:03 Majoring in voice, choosing law over “starving artist” path​6:03 Caribbean upbringing, family pressure to pursue college​6:27 Brother Ron Lawrence at Howard, seeing artist struggles​7:07 Two Kings in a Cipher and decision to become an advocate for artists​8:25 College major changes, rejecting corporate job to attend law school​10:00 Impact of LaGuardia and Howard on confidence and standards​12:13 Long commute and working in high school, building discipline​14:47 From quiet student to lawyer: learning to be a “voice for others”​16:06 Majority at Howard vs. minority in law school​18:03 Purpose vs. just “going to college because parents said so”​19:42 Moving to Atlanta on industry advice, early law‑firm work​22:14 First big entertainment client around 1999​23:38 Launching BLW & Associates in 2002​25:10 Building a producer‑heavy roster (Bangladesh, her brother, etc.)​25:52 Streaming era shift and rise of independent artists​26:16 Taking on 21 Savage and new‑school deals​29:40 Navigating the “old boys” network as a young Black woman lawyer​31:36 Reputation, results, and referrals building her roster​35:34 Becoming an adjunct professor of entertainment law​38:01 Time management, boundaries, and running a busy practice​40:32 Triathlete life and long‑term commitment to fitness​#BernieLawrenceWatkins #EntertainmentLaw #MusicBusiness #BlackExcellence #WomenInLaw#MyFriendsAreBetterThanYours #BigCed #HowardUniversity #LaGuardiaHighSchool #theindustrycosign #BLW #ronlawrence ​Connect with BIG CED: https://www.instagram.com/bigced328/ https://www.facebook.com/bigced328 https://x.com/bigced https://bsky.app/profile/bigced328.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigced/ https://www.twitch.tv/bigced328 https://www.dailymotion.com/bigcedhttps://rumble.com/user/bigced328https://open.spotify.com/show/35yBW0BTd4c7HvCnh9dVXz?si=HvZeE8RfTJGH6YjvHBiYzg&nd=1&dlsi=a147a471e6ab4c5c https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-industry-cosign/id1638654676 https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-industry-cosign-105171601/https://www.youtube.com/@bigced328?sub_confirmation=1https://theindustrycosign.com/