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Tiger Woods Sticks With Mark Steinberg; Leaves IMG

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Mark Steinberg leaving IMG before the natural end of his employment with the company (the New York Post says Steinberg was fired).  Steinberg had been Director of Global Golf Business at IMG.  Upon his exit, many wondered whether Tiger Woods would leave IMG with Steinberg, who has represented Woods for most of his career.  According to Woods’ recent Tweet, he will be sticking with Steinberg.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/TigerWoods/status/77742376826834944″]

I have not read anything regarding whether Annika Sorenstam will also continue to be represented by Steinberg, leaving IMG for wherever Steinberg goes.  Further, I have not yet been informed as to whether Steinberg will set up his own practice or join an existing agency.  It would be a very interesting play for Steinberg to sign with Creative Artists Agency (CAA).  The company recently hired Peter Bevacqua, who had been Chief Business Officer at the United States Golf Association (USGA).  Bevacqua was hired by CAA to develop new business for CAA’s Golf Division.  Hiring Mark Steinberg would be a very good start.

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.