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Dallas Mavericks’ Dahntay Jones Selects French/West/Vaughan for PR/Marketing Work

November 10, 2012; Dallas Mavericks guard forward Dahntay Jones (30) making his case with the referee. Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE
November 10, 2012; Dallas Mavericks guard forward Dahntay Jones (30) making his case with the referee. Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Raleigh, North Carolina-based French/West/Vaughn’s rapidly growing sports and entertainment practice just got another boost with the addition of Dallas Mavericks’ player Dahntay Jones to its list of clients.  As is the case with most of their athlete clients, French/West/Vaughn (FWV) will oversee Jones’ marketing opportunities and public relations support.

Jones, a former 20th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003, is on his fifth NBA team.  His career has included a short stint on an NBA D-League team as well (the Fort Wayne Mad Ants).  The nine year NBA veteran and former Duke basketball star will allow FWV to vet corporate partnership offers, as well as promote the Dahntay Jones Foundation, which provides academic support, mentorship and empowerment to underserved youth.

“We’ve been impressed with Dahntay since our very first meeting,” said FWV Chairman and CEO Rick French. “His solid NBA career is a testament to his talent and work ethic, and his off-the-court business acumen as well as his community involvement is nothing short of inspiring.”

Jones is part-owner of a New York City area health clinic that provides affordable care to patients, and he and a group of investors plan to open other clinics in the area, not far from his hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. He also works with the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), a group of men and women promoting the positive portrayal of women in entertainment and society, co-founded by his wife, Valeisha Butterfield-Jones.

Jones joins All-Pro running back Arian Foster and starting free safety Glover Quin of the Houston Texans, NFL legend-turned-filmmaker Simeon Rice, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick and Orlando Magic forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis, among other clients of FWV’s sports and entertainment practice. The agency also represents sports properties such as the United States Polo Association, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Southwestern Athletic Conference and athletic apparel brands Arena Swimwear, SKINS and Tasc Performance Apparel.

“French/West/Vaughan’s sports and entertainment practice is doing great things for athletes.  I am thrilled to have them on my team,” said Jones.  “They understand who I am, where I want to go and how I feel about my responsibilities as a professional athlete.”

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.