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What Is Your Telepresence?

Dynasty does not have an official office.  In fact, Dynasty’s office is listed as my home address in Hollywood, Florida.  I have not yet decided if the company will ever rent or buy official office space.  I believe that in today’s day-and-age, offices are overrated. We live in a digital world where everything can be done from the comfort of your home.

That was point #1 in a post I made back on August 6, 2008, which laid out reasons for not requiring Dynasty employees/interns to move to South Florida.  My “office” is located in South Florida, yet right now, I am typing this post from Gainesvile, FL.  In fact, I spend a majority of the year in Gainesville.  I travel all the time to meet up with current clients, introduce myself to potential new clients, etc, so why is it necessary to have office space?  I can email and make phone calls from anywhere.  What I am really excited about, though, is the further development of video conferencing (now caled telepresence), which will not only bolster my argument that a traditional office is not necessary, but may also cut down on my business trips.

I use Skype every so often, but have found the calls tend to be choppy in audio and the picture is not always top quality.  But Skype is small scale.  What about a true business teleconferencing system?  Cisco and HP are among the few companies to offer telepresence systems, which can cost a consumer six-figures.  That does not really pull me away from taking a flight, though.  A company called LifeSize could be changing the world of teleconferencing.  Once I graduate from law school and set up shop in a large South Beach condo, I may look more into this concept.

Combining its own HD cameras with some fancy video processing, [LifeSize] offers sharp pictures over ordinary Internet hardware for as little as $5,000—or up to $40,000 for full telepresence. Without massive network upgrades of the sort Cisco provides, LifeSize customers may notice some blurring when people move quickly. Even so, 4,000 customers ranging from giant Wal-Mart Stores to tiny Web venture FetchDog.com have purchased 15,000 systems.

HD telepresence that is affordable is not only something that large companies will be interested in.  Sports agents should look into this technology as well.  An employee from LifeSize Communications contacted me this morning to set up a demo to let me learn more about what they have to offer.  I will get back to you all with an update.

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.