Categories
Agent Spotlights

Agent Spotlight: David Dunn

Smiling...but not for long
So the Sports Law Blog that I am fond of, is finally taking some notice to the Sports Agent business.

This post by the Sports Law site, references a Sports Business Journal article (I do not have access to it…anybody want to buy me a subscription?…please…), which speaks about David Dunn’s past, present, and possible future.

In 2003, Sports Agent David Dunn was suspended by the NFLPA for two years for trying to steal clients from his former partner, Leigh Steinberg. The NFLPA’s power did not seem very strong in this case (which runs contrary to my comment in this post about the power of player unions). By filing for personal chapter 11 bankruptcy, the 2 year suspension had no effect at the time. It seems that this claim will not last for long, though.

Basically, do not try to steal away a player from another Agent/Agency. It is a violation of NFLPA rules. Many have accused Drew Rosenhaus of stealing clients, but no players have actually told the NFLPA that the claims are true. David Dunn has been called out by players, and therefore, is at risk of losing his ability to represent players.

The main issue that I have is that I cannot understand why an athlete would want someone like David Dunn to represent him/her. With such a large pool of qualified Sports Agents out there (including tons of registered Agents without a single client that would do anything possible to gain one), why would players like Reggie Bush and Matt Lienart even consider representation from David Dunn? With 50 players currently represented and another 8 players in this upcoming draft, David Dunn seems to be in control even though that control may be forcefully taken away from him by the NFLPA (which I still believe to have the strongest hand concerning Sports Agent issues in football).

How is it possible that people would want a cheater, rule-breaker, and unloyal person as their agent?

[tags]david dunn, sports, law, agent, drew rosenhaus, nfl, nflpa[/tags]

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.

6 replies on “Agent Spotlight: David Dunn”

David Dunn in the Agent Spotlight???  You cant be THAT hard-up for quality stories.
This one you can sum up quite easily…..”Lying, Thief.” 

David, Last Febuary I sent the Packers  two footballs to sign by Aaron Rogers.. I got them back today unsigned. I was very disappointed.  I dion’t know if you are Aaroin’s agent, but can uou tell me how I can get them signed.  One is for me an one is for a guy with lots of health problems.  I would  really appreciater any help or advise you cann give me.
                                                           Thank You BJ

Comments are closed.