Categories
Dynasty Athlete Representation

It’s Going To Be A Long Sunday..

But at least I will be going into the day with a smile on my face. Dynasty now has its first client in an MLB organization. Dan Leatherman, the stud RHP who quickly became the #38 prospect for the Minnesota Twins before being cut with absolutely no explanation is back in MLB’s Minor League System. The Washington Nationals acquired Leatherman’s contract from the Winnipeg Goldeyes before he ever logged a single inning for the Northern League squad. He is on his way down to Melbourne, FL, where he will show the world the mistake that the Twins made by cutting him this past off-season.

While Leatherman is making his trip down to sunny Florida, I will be on the phone all day making calls to the intern applicants that still remain for Dynasty’s two Summer positions. Of over seventy initial applicants, nineteen remain. Eight out of the nineteen are current in law schools across the nation, two are President of their Sports and Entertainment organizations, and a couple maintained 4.0 GPAs throughout their undergrad education. Their resumes and cover letters got them to the second round. Today is show time.

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.