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.
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2 replies on “First Interview With The Region Buzz Sports Show”
Is this Royce da 5’9″? Mad props, when I hooped at UW-Milwaukee, I’ve seen this guy ball. He has skills. But on the serious tip, did you really send stuff to NBA teams about him? what are your goals and what do you think is realistic (summer league? non-guaranteed contract? training camp invite? D-league tryout?) how would you get him to a team overseas? what is the process for this? how can you represent players if you are not a certified NBA agent? how much does it cost to stay certified? how much money can an agent make on an IBL contract? why is everybody that is a legit athlete called a stud? Thanks.
Actually there has been quite a bit of information sent to several NBA teams (Among others) that have shown an interest in Royce for all of the obvious reasons. One of the most important reasons for having opportunities prsented to an individual come from having someone that will take the time and effort to promote them. There are a number of talented individuals that for one reaosn or another never seem to have that right situation develop.
Derren has taken that roll even though the financial rewards are not the driving force. When you assist someone that person and others affected by it want to know how it happened and why it happened. With those types of succeses other opportunities begin to present themselves. In this case there is a talented young man that deserves a shot and if given one may become one of those success stories.
I have watched Royce continue his development as a player and as a person and if this continues he may be able to take his diminutive size and continue what he has been doing for quite some time…….which is over achieve at every level.