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Colleges Entertainment Headline Sports Law

New England Sports, Entertainment, & IP Law Symposium

What: 1st Annual New England Sports & Entertainment/IP Law Symposium at Maine Law

When: Saturday, April 2, 2011 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Where: Moot Court room at Maine Law

Speakers

  • Catherine Bigley McGovern: Dr. McGovern teaches Entertainment Law and Theatre Law at DePaul University College of Law. Her consulting practice is focuses on Art Law, Entertainment Law and Cultural Property. She has an active practice in mediation and arbitration in the Arts and Cultural Property areas. Dr. McGovern has been trained by The California Lawyers for The Arts and the Academy of Dispute Resolution Attorneys and has a particular sensitivity to the concerns and interests of artists in all disciplines.
  • Peter McGovern: Director of the Center for International Business and Trade Law and administrative coordinator for the seven Centers for Excellence at the John Marshall Law School. Professor McGovern has served as Professor and Dean at the John Marshall Law School, Acting Dean at the University of South Dakota School of Law and Dean at Valparaiso University School of Law and St Thomas University School of Law. He teaches Elder Law, Estates and Trusts, International Commercial Dispute Resolution, and Transactional Negotiations.
  • Rita Heimes: Director of the Center for Law & Innovation and a Research Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Intellectual Property Clinic, Copyright Law and Trademark Law at the University of Maine School of Law. In addition to serving entrepreneurs seeking trademark and copyright advice with the IP Clinic, Rita serves as co-chair of the Research Council at USM, and as a governor-appointed member of the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board which acts as an advisory committee to the state’s Office of Innovation. Rita has practiced IP law, environmental law and commercial litigation.

Cost: Free. Food will be provided.

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.