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UNC’s John Henson Selects Jim Tanner of Williams & Connolly for Representation

Two-Time ACC Defensive Player of the Year John Henson has selected Jim Tanner of the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Williams & Connolly LLP for representation.  Henson, a 6’11, 220lbs excellent shot blocker who just finished his Junior season at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, is one of the best players in the nation and is projected to be a lottery pick.  Williams & Connolly will represent Henson leading up to the Draft and will also work with him on all contractual agreements, personal appearances, corporate partnerships and other business opportunities.

“When looking for representation, I wanted to find a group that fit with my goals and personality,” said Henson. “Jim [Tanner] and the team at [Williams & Connolly] had a very specific and unique plan for me and that was important. Overall, I just felt comfortable with them and that they truly cared about my career.”

Jim Tanner and company are also excited about adding Henson to a roster of clients that includes Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, and other prominent NBA players.  “John is one of the most talented and exciting players entering the NBA draft this year,” said Tanner. “His unique combination of athleticism, size and skill for the power forward position give him a limitless ceiling. With his dynamic personality and an enthusiastic following of fans, we believe he has enormous opportunities ahead of him. We are thrilled to be working with him.”

Williams & Connolly has long differentiated itself from the competition by using an hourly rate, instead of charging a contingency fee, in the representation of its athlete clients.  The fact that the firm chooses to bill by the hour may have had a strong influence on its ability to acquire notable clientele such as the aforementioned names (including Henson).  It is not all that uncommon for an hourly fee of a Washington D.C.-based lawyer to be around $500 per hour, which may seem like a lot of money, but truthfully turns out to be less than the 4% (or slightly less) that would be charged to the player under the alternate scenario.  I continue to believe that this type of fee structure will become more prevalent in the industry (by lawyers) over time.

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.