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Duke Law School’s 2nd Annual Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium

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What: Duke Law School’s 2nd Annual Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium – The Business: Recent Developments and New Challenges in Sports, Entertainment and the Law

When:  

Where: Duke Law School 3043 (map)

Schedule of Events

9:00 – 9:20: Registration and Networking Breakfast

9:20 – 9:30: Opening Remarks

9:30 – 10:15: Collective Bargaining Panel

  • David Feher, Partner, Co-Chair of Sports Litigation Practice, Dewey Leboeuf, New York Office
  • Gary Roberts, Dean and Professor of Law, Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis

10:20 – 11:05: New Age, New Problems: Athletes’ Rights of Publicity and Other IP Issues Panel

  • Curt Clausen, Associate, Skadden Arps, New York Office
  • Gary Roberts, Dean and Professor of Law, Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis

11:10 – 11:55: Entertainment Law Firm Panel

  • T. Robert Zochowski, Jr., Corporate Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
  • Adam Cooper, Corporate Associate, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
  • Alma Asay, Litigation Associate, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

12:00 – 12:30: Immigration Issues in Professional and Amateur Sports Presentation

  • Robert Seiger, Partner, Jackson Lewis, Philadelphia Office

12:30 – 1:30: Networking Lunch

1:30 – 2:15: Structuring Complex Sports Transactions Panel

  • Chris Melvin, Partner, Nixon Peabody, New York Office
  • David Connolly, Partner, Shearman &Sterling, New York Office
  • Richard Brand, Partner, Chair of Sports Practice Group, Arent Fox, Washington DC Office

2:20 – 3:05: Entertainment In-House Panel

  • Rick Baker, VP, Business and Legal Affairs, Content Distribution & Marketing, MTV Networks
  • Clifton Knight, Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Direct Brands
  • Jill Greenwald, Assistant General Counsel, ABC
  • Mavis Fowler-Williams, Adjunct Professor, Columbia Law School & former Director of Business Affairs at CBS News and Nickelodeon                                

3:10 – 3:55: General Counsel Panel

  • William Traurig, General Counsel of Carolina Hurricanes
  • Scott Wilkinson, General Counsel of Atlanta Hawks

4:00 – 4:45: Working With Talent in Sports and Entertainment Panel

  • Gregg Clifton, Partner, Co-Chair of Collegiate and Professional Sports Industry Group, Jackson Lewis, Phoenix Office
  • Mark Watkins, Intellectual Property Partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP

4:45: – 4:50: Closing Remarks

4:50 – 6:00: Formal Networking Reception in Star Commons

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.