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.
View Archive →
4 replies on “Leatherman Reaches Single A Ball”
again, what is the point in this? there is way too much bias here. ok he had a good first outing but he got hit hard in his second outing and now is ERA is over 4. stuff like this does not make you look good and one athlete in particular has taken note of this. im not saying this guy is a bad player either but if your gonna start bragging about something at least wait till half way through the season rather than one performance. he is most likely a typical minor leaguer who will hang up his cleats in a few years. when will we see your 2008 client list for the mlb draft?
I can never understand why a certain minority of people leave these types of comments. I usually ignore them, but I guess this one kind of bothers me just because it attacks a post where I express my happiness for one of my clients. Oh well…always haters.
Perhaps if the original poster did a little investigating into Leatherman’s history, they’d see that he’s more than smoke and mirrors. Given a chance, he’ll show that he’s worthy of moving up the chain and worthy of the opportunity for more seasoning and professional experience. His ratios after 12 innings of work are outstanding.
Here’s some perspective from someone who has watched Dan since American Legion – he is a gem that the Nationals will thank their lucky stars for some day. Take a look at his stats now that another month has passed at he has the lowest ERA on the team!