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3rd Annual Nova Southeastern University Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium

In a little bit less than two weeks from now, I will be sitting on a panel at the Nova Southeastern University Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium. If you will be in South Florida, I hope to see you there. For more information about the entire event, see below.

What: Third Annual Nova Southeastern University Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium: “Seeing the Future Through 20-20 Vision”

When: Saturday, February 20, 2010 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Where: Shepard Broad Law Center – Davie, Florida (map)

9:30-10:00: Check-in and Breakfast

10:00-10:20: Opening Remarks

10:20-11:10: Mediation in the Entertainment and Sports Industries
This panel will cover techniques and uses of mediation in IP, entertainment and sports law. This panel will also discuss ethical concerns for mediators, lawyers, and clients involved in mediation.

John Bradley, Managing Member, John F. Bradley, PA
Jeff Grubman, Mediator, Arbitrator, Managing Member, Jeffrey Grubman, PA
Paul Lopez, Mediator, Arbitrator, Director, Tripp Scott, PA
Justin Wineburgh, Member, Cozen O’Connor Tom Player, Owner, Player Entertainment law

11:10-12:00: Publicity Rights of Amateur Athletes

This panel will discuss the balancing of the rights of student athletes against the ever increasing commercialism of the NCAA.

Larry Most, Director of Advertising and Sales, Fox Sports

12:00-1:20: Luncheon
Excellence in Sports Award
Keynote Address by Tim Hardaway

1:20-2:10: Film and Television in Florida

Why is Florida behind other states in terms of funding for the arts, tax rebates and incentives? What needs to change for Florida to be on par with the rest of the country?

Don Mandrik, President, Georgia Production Finance, LIP
Ivan Parron, Parron and Associates, PL
Noel Paynter, COO, Film Production Capital, LLC
Hackie Reitman, CEO, Prochild Elder Entertainment, LLC

2:10-2:20: Break

2:20-3:10: Redemption: Athletes Overcoming Their Indiscretions
Modern day athletes find themselves in a lot of trouble, both legally (criminal and civil) and otherwise. Oftentimes, attorneys are needed to ameliorate the situation and clean up the mess. Depending on the athlete and circumstances, the path back to respectability may be long and arduous. Alternatively, some athletes seem to get off easier than others in both the eyes of the law and/or the public. This panel will examine both ends of the spectrum, distinguishing and analyzing the individual circumstances.

Alan Fertel, Partner, Pathman Lewis, LLP
Darren Heitner, CEO, Dynasty Athlete Representation
Jason Weiss, Associate, Arnstein & Lehr, LLP
Theodore Curtis, Professor of Sports Management, Lynn University

3:10-4:00: Adult Entertainment

This panel will address ethical and other concerns of Adult Entertainment as a unique sub-industry. The focus of this panel will be the similarities and differences between the law for adult entertainment for instance online websites like hdpornvideo xxx and entertainment law as a whole, including 1st amendment issues.

Allen Bennett, Associate, Christopher & Weisberg, PA
Kim Kolback, Sarah Steinbaum, PA
Jason Weiss, Associate, Arnstein & Lehr, LLP
Richard Wolfe, Erhenstein, Charbonneau & Calderin

Cost (Registration Form):

  • NSU Law Students ($15 – Pre-Registration | $20 – On-Site)
  • Law Students (other schools) ($25 – Pre-Registration | $35 – On-Site)
  • NSU Students (non-law) ($25 – Pre-Registration | $35 – On-Site)
  • General Admission ($35 – Pre-Registration | $45 – On-Site)
  • Attorneys for CLE ($80 – Pre-Registration | $90 – On-Site)

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.