Do Your Clients Need A Wingman?

Not interested in sending your clients to Blackwater Worldwide for some good old fashioned firearm training?  What if you have highly controversial clients who like heading out to the clubs that may not be the best scenes for iced out necks and bling on the wrist?  Might want to call in a guy like Julian Jones.  Some call him a wingman; others a babysitter.  His specialty is in preparation, and he does his best to steer athletes away from potential trouble.  He has worked with some of the biggest names in professional sports and is a special assistant to the Maloof brothers, who own the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casinos.

While reading the New York Times piece linked to above, I could not help but think about the similarities between the way Jones and William Wesley are described by the media.  Unlike Wesley, it seems like Jones does not mind the public attention.  I am all for athletes having fun.  They should not be relegated to staying at home in the offseason.  I am happy that there are Julian Jones’s out there to take care of them while they party it up with their people.

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.

One reply on “Do Your Clients Need A Wingman?”

Interesting comparison. I’ve met him a few times at Staples with the Maloofs. Some people have that people person thing down — and from the article, it seems like he is one of them.

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