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Emerging Legal Issues in Ski, Snowboarding and Resort Law


What: The Sports Law Institute at Vermont Law School Panel Discussion on Emerging Legal Issues in Ski, Snowboarding and Resort Law

When: Thursday, March 29, 2012 (12:45 – 2:00 p.m.)

Where: Chase Community Center at Vermont Law School

Panelists

  • Moderator: Brian Porto, Deputy Director of the Sports Law Institute and an Associate Professor of Law at Vermont Law School.
  • Jaimesen Heins, Associate General Counsel at Burton Snowboards in Burlington, VT.
  • Andrew Maass, Attorney at Ryan Smith & Carbine in Rutland, VT; past officer and President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Ski Defense Attorneys.
  • Parker Riehle (VLS’ 93), President of the Vermont Ski Areas Association

Topics

  • tort implications of participating in ski and snowboarding
  • role of assumption of risk in personal injury litigation involving ski and snowboarding including how a law firm might approach a personal injury case of this nature
  • new state laws that promote safety, such as requiring skiers and snowboarders under 18 to wear helmets
  • the structuring of licensing and related ski and snowboarding contracts
  • impact of international law on multi-national ski, snowboarding and resort transactions
  • impact of controversial new regulations promulgated by the International Ski Federation
  • ways the law can improve underprivileged persons’ access to ski and snowboarding
  • how changes to the law might address the expected impact of climate change on the ski, snowboarding and resort industries

    • Cost: Free. 1.25 Vermont CLE credit hours available for attendees.

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.