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Florida Almost De-Regulates Sports Agent Profession

My state of Florida almost abolished its athlete agent licensing system.  While it would have saved me and many other agents who recruit in the state of Florida a lot of money, until a federal system exists, it is probably not prudent to do away with Florida’s regulation of the sports agent profession.  Truthfully, I was very surprised that it was being considered, since Florida has been known to be one of the more strict states when it comes to athlete agent regulation.  Its Department of Business and Professional Regulation even had plans to hold a round-table meeting late 2010 to discuss licensing issues, including a discussion about whether “runners” should be licensed as agents, or whether some other type of registration or credential would be appropriate.

Anyway, Republicans in Florida planned on de-regulating multiple professions in order to spur job creation.  My alma mater, the University of Florida, was instrumental in taking the athlete agent profession out of that proposal.  In particular, University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley called Florida’s Senate Budget Chairman to encourage the removal of sports agents from the de-regulation package.  The Chairman says that he had already decided to oppose the inclusion of sports agents in the deal.

Want to do business as a sports agent in Florida?  Sorry, but you still must pay the fee and get licensed in the Sunshine State.

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.

5 replies on “Florida Almost De-Regulates Sports Agent Profession”

I suspect that the NCAA would have pitched a fit over Florida dropping regulation of the sports agent business. How do Florida’s rules for agent regulation compare with those of other states?

Leave it to the State of Florida Legislature to almost make another poor decision. Being that Florida is a hot-bed of both young talent and college football this decision, gone the wrong way, could have spelled disaster for both current agents and athletes statewide. The barriers of entry to a career exist for a reason…

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