Categories
Colleges Headline Sports Law

University Of Miami Entertainment & Sports Law Symposium

What: University of Miami 14th Annual Entertainment & Sports Law Symposium

When: March 5, 2011 (8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.)

Where: Storer Auditorium (map)

8:30-8:35 a.m.: Opening Remarks – Welcome

  • Speaker: Matt Buser

8:45-10 a.m.: Panel I – Beyond the Field and Stage: Alternate Revenue Streams for Athletes and Entertainers

  • Speakers: Andrew Fine, Ben Sturner, David Slutsker, David Canter
  • Moderator: Darryl Cohen
  • Summary: This panel will focus on the alternate revenue streams available to athletes and entertainers (other than musicians) such as appearances, advertisements, broadcasting, and restaurant ownership. Discussion will also focus on long-term career planning for these individuals. The panel will describe these opportunities while also addressing the legal and business risks that arise.

10:10-11:25 a.m.: Panel II – Labor Environment in Professional Sports

  • Speakers: Tony Agnone, Jamal Mashburn, Derek Jackson
  • Moderator: Joseph Fleming
  • Summary: This panel will focus on the evolving labor environment in the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. The four major leagues in the United States provide unique problems and emphasize different issues, but each sport also has common general problems such as competitive balance, fair pay, and the treatment of retired players. The panel will give the audience an overview of the labor issues in the four major sports leagues and compare and contrast the issues in each league.

11:35 a.m.-12:50 p.m.: Panel III – Licensing Negotiation

  • Speakers: Kim Kolback
  • Moderator: Brooke Beyer
  • Summary: This panel will stage a mock licensing negotiation involving a professional sports league and a potential sponsor/business partner. The panel will begin with a preliminary draft of a licensing contract and panel participants will break down the elements of the agreement and discuss major points of negotiation (grant of rights, trademark use limitations, arbitration clauses, etc), as well as address various bargaining techniques, issues of leverage, and the general effect these licensing deals have on the industry.

1-2:30 p.m.: Lunch and Keynote Address

  • Speaker: Ralph Cindrich

2:40-3:55 p.m.: The Road to Stardom – Legal Strategies for Musicians

  • Speakers: David Bercuson, Gabrielle Bozza, Richard Wolfe, Simran Singh
  • Moderator: Serona Elton
  • Summary: This panel will address the evolving face of the music industry and how artists and musicians are planning for these changes. The panel will address the recent decrease of lucrative record deals, the increase in digital music dissemination, and the legal strategies that musicians at various stages in their careers should employ as a result of these changes.

4:05-5:30 p.m.: Panel V – The Many Facets of High-Profile Legal Issues

  • Speakers: Chris Lyons, Stephen Starks, David Cornwell, Donald Jackson
  • Moderator: Alan Fertel
  • Summary: This panel will address the “perfect storm” that occurs when a high-profile individual has a legal issue. The panel will address the civil suit implications, criminal suit implications, any actions taken by the professional team or organization with which that individual is involved, and the issues with media relations.

5:45-7 p.m.: Reception

Cost: $15 – UM Students, $35 – Non-UM Law Students, $100 – Non-Attorneys, $150 – Attorneys.  Up to 8 CLE credits awarded.  Register here.

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.