Phones Get Stolen, Apps Switch Up, Laws Get Proposed, Brands Get Built

My law firm is officially THREE years old—and I’m feeling emotional in the best way.

Three years ago, this firm was just a vision, a leap of faith, and a small but mighty client list. I was building from the ground up—trusting my skills, my purpose, and a calling to serve entrepreneurs, creatives, and business owners with a creator first approach and heart. There were seasons of uncertainty, seasons of hustle, and seasons where I had to believe in the mission long before the results fully showed up.

To be fair there still is and will always be, but in 2026, I feel good about where I am right now, both personally and professionally.

Fast forward to now, and the growth feels almost unbelievable. From serving a handful of clients to representing emerging talent management agencies and founder first brands, protecting meaningful businesses, expanding my reach, and even testifying on Capitol Hill—this journey has stretched far beyond what I once imagined. What started as a scrappy shot in the dark has grown into a respected, impact-driven law firm with a national presence and a growing legacy.

This milestone isn’t just about business success. It’s about resilience. It’s about obedience to a vision bigger than fear. It’s about late nights, quiet prayers, bold decisions, doors opening that once felt impossible, and the privilege of advocating for people who are building the future.

Turning three feels like proof that steady faith, hard work, and purpose compound over time. And as I reflect on how far we’ve come, and I’ve come, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for every person who trusted me early on, supported the vision, and continues to be part of this journey.

And last week I felt like I captured a beautiful snapshot of that growth.

My friend @ninathelawyer and I hosted our very first workshop within the Hot Smart Rich (HSR) community, founded by @maggiesellersreum, and the timing felt deeply full-circle. Three years ago, I was simply hoping to build a sustainable firm for creatives and entrepreneurs. Now, I’m stepping into (virtual) rooms like this. My goal of educating and surrounding myself with powerful women, shaping conversations around business ownership, and advocating for the long-term value of intellectual property on a larger stage is happening in real time.

I’ve long admired @hotsmartrich as a podcast, a newsletter, and media empire that champions ambitious, empowered women. Being invited into that space— in community with women committed to becoming the most confident, informed, and financially empowered version of themselves—reminded me that this firm has become more than a legal practice. It’s become a platform, a voice, and a mission.

Our conversation was incredible, and we were truly honored to teach our fellow HSR Angels about the power of trademarking and licensing intellectual property—not just as legal protections, but as tools for wealth-building, leverage, brand expansion, and legacy.

Moments like this remind me why I started—and why the work continues to matter.

What’s Next: Creators, Influence, and Impact

As I look ahead to what’s next, one thing is clear: my work with creators is only deepening — and the opportunities in that space continue to expand in meaningful ways.

I’m especially excited (and honored) to share that I’ve been invited back to judge at the Counseling Creators competition hosted by the University of Miami School of Law. Being asked to return in this capacity feels like a full-circle moment and a powerful affirmation of the work I’ve been doing to advocate for creators, protect their brands, and help them build sustainable, legally sound businesses. The creator economy is growing fast, and it’s incredibly meaningful to be trusted as a voice in shaping how creators are supported, evaluated, and empowered at a higher level.

My closest collaborator and colleague and I first established a working relationship at the inaugural event in 2024 and now we’re back for another year of connecting with our industry friends and getting to know the next generation!

At the same time, the inaugural IP x Influence: A Social Media and Creator Rights Conference at FIU Law is gaining serious momentum. This event is one I’m co-chairing with a professor and fellow IP lawyer, after being introduced by the Interim Dean of the school.

We’ve now confirmed almost all of our panelists, and the lineup is shaping up to be POWERFUL. Featuring top industry leaders, creators, legal experts, and innovators, our event is going to be carried forward by speakers who are actively shaping the future of influence, intellectual property, media, and monetization. The conversations we’re curating go far beyond surface-level advice; they’re centered on ownership, leverage, protection, brand power, and long-term legacy. I’m honored and ecstatic to be a part of it.

In many ways, this next chapter feels like a natural extension of my law firm’s three-year journey: expanding from private legal counsel to public thought leadership, from behind-the-scenes protection to front-facing education, advocacy, and impact. I love working with students and now I get to do it on another level. And of course, it's even more special because at Kayla Moran Law we’re not just serving clients, we’re helping shape an industry.

And there’s so much more to come.

Legal Updates

A Major Development for Creators: The Proposed Creator Bill of Rights

Big news in the creator economy and the broader sports and entertainment world: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) has introduced a proposed Creator Bill of Rights in the U.S. House of Representatives!

It’s important to understand exactly what this is—and what it isn’t. This proposal is a House Resolution, not binding legislation. It wouldn’t immediately change the law or impose new obligations on platforms if passed. Instead, it serves as an aspirational framework, designed to spark a national conversation about how creators are treated in the platform-based economy—an ecosystem that supports millions of Americans and generates hundreds of billions in global economic value.

I want to deep dive into it more but as you’ll read below things have been insane over here so for now, I just want to say, 1) I have no idea if my testimony played a role because I was never contacted (THANKS SHUTDOWN), though I think it did, but I did reach out to Khanna’s office to provide public comment AND 2) from a sports and entertainment law perspective, this proposal feels familiar and important. 

Creators today are taking on roles once held by athletes, artists, and entertainers: generating enormous value for platforms, leagues, labels, and networks while often operating under non-negotiable terms, opaque compensation structures, and rules that can change overnight. The resolution raises legal questions that echo long-standing industry debates around control, bargaining power, revenue sharing, and transparency.

If the framework gains traction, it could influence how creator contracts are drafted, how platforms disclose monetization and AI policies, and how lawmakers approach digital worker classification under existing labor laws. Even if it never becomes binding law, it signals a shift: creators are being recognized not merely as users of platforms, but as workers, small businesses, and rights-holders whose labor underpins the modern digital economy.

For anyone working in sports, media, NIL, or brand partnerships, this is one to watch closely. The legal infrastructure around creators is evolving—and it’s beginning to mirror the labor conversations that have long shaped entertainment and sports industries.

We Have a “New” TikTok in the U.S.!

Remember a few weeks ago when I shared that a deal was in the works to sell TikTok to a U.S. entity to satisfy PAFACA?

Well… it happened! The deal officially closed on January 22, 2026, just as expected. How do we know? When I opened the app on Friday January 23, it had a notice confirming the new ownership right at the top.

I still need to dive into the updated Terms of Service to give you the full scoop, but for now, the takeaway is this: our favorite app is under new ownership, so things might feel a little different for a while. 

From what I’ve gathered through online discourse, the TOS aren’t all new just clarified again, and it brings privacy and data gathering front and center. And at a time where the country is going through a reckoning, there’s definitely raised eyebrows. I need to keep researching but here’s a good breakdown by my friend Sarah for now, more to come.

If you missed my first post about the sale, here’s the breakdown:

• TikTok has been spun off to a group of majority American investors after a year-long battle and ongoing uncertainty.

• The group—led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX—now controls 45% of TikTok.
  

• Parent company ByteDance retains 20%, satisfying PAFACA rules that no foreign-controlled entity (namely China) can own more than that, while still controlling the all-important algorithm.
  

• The deal was finalized as expected by January 22, 2026.
  

So, what does this mean for creators?

We still need more clarity on how the deal affects the app we know and love, but if you rely on TikTok for income, visibility, or brand deals, here’s your reminder to safeguard your business:

• Diversify your platforms—don’t put all your eggs in one algorithmic basket.
  

• Read your brand contracts carefully—especially TikTok Shop and Creator Marketplace agreements.
  

• Download and back up your content—make sure your hard work is secure.
  

• Build off-platform assets—email lists, websites, communities—so your business isn’t tied to one app.

Platform changes happen fast, and creators who prepare for them win. Your business shouldn’t depend on a single app—even if it’s your favorite one.

Although I have a feeling it won’t be for long…

In Other News: My Phone Got Stolen — Character Development Edition

So… my phone got stolen on Saturday night. Between being heads-down in work, moving for the last two weeks, and being fully disconnected for 12+ hours, I’m basically just now catching up on what happened in the world. If I missed your text, DM, email, Slack, carrier pigeon message — please know I was not ignoring you. I was simply living in 2007. Or more like 2016… because they still steal phones at clubs? 

And why was I at a club? LOL

Old me would’ve panicked, spiraled, and stress-cried in the Apple Store. But growth is real — because instead, I said: “Okay. New phone. New chapter. Let’s move.” No meltdown. No chaos. Just calm, acceptance, and a very efficient replacement plan.

Ok I lied, I definitely had a meltdown on Tuesday night but thankfully we’re clearing out old energy, ushering in new and restoring my new iPhone as we do it.

And honestly? The silver lining was elite. My friend Madi and I partied like we were back in college (literally 2016) but we made it home safely, had a 6 a.m. heart-to-heart at Burger King (nothing builds character like emotional healing over chicken nuggies and fries), and got through it together. If that’s not bonding, I don’t know what is.

Proof that everything really does happen for a reason — even if the reason is to test your patience, your growth, and your ability to emotionally recover over a Whopper. Character was built. Lessons were learned. iCloud did her job.

Outro

As I reflect on the past three years, what stands out isn’t just the milestones, the growth, or even the big moments like testifying on Capitol Hill or hosting workshops with incredible women in the HSR community. It’s the journey. The leaps of faith, the late nights, the lessons learned through challenges (and yes, even a stolen phone at 2 a.m. that somehow ended in a Brickell Burger King fries and a few life lessons).

This anniversary is a reminder that growth comes in many forms: personal, professional, and even digital. From hosting workshops and judging creators competitions to watching the creator economy evolve through initiatives like the proposed Creator Bill of Rights, and seeing platform shifts like TikTok’s U.S., the past year has reinforced that the work we do isn’t just about legal protection; it’s about empowering creators, business owners, and entrepreneurs to own their brands, their content, and their futures.

Three years in, my law firm has become more than a practice. It’s a platform for education, advocacy, and impact. It’s a space where creators and entrepreneurs can grow with confidence, knowing their work is protected and their opportunities are expanding. And while there’s always more to learn, more to build, and more to celebrate, I’m endlessly grateful for this community: my clients, colleagues, collaborators, assistant, social media team, law clerks and fellow creators, who make this journey so meaningful.

BTW not to bury the lead but this newsletter is getting a rebrand soon… stay tuned for that too. For now, catch me back on socials with a new phone, I’ve missed you all!

Keep Up With Kayla and Kayla Moran Law

Let’s make January a month of purpose, passion, and productivity.

Thanks for reading!

Talk soon,

Kayla