Practice Area Feature: Arbitration in Sports and Entertainment
Whether a true arbitration or a sports and entertainment administrative proceeding, the Firm has substantial experience in navigating the unique aspects of arbitration that many litigators do not know or understand. As an arbitrator, I have served as the sole arbitrator in more than 500 cases across a multitude of different arbitration platforms. I have […]
Practice Area Feature: Crisis Management in Sports and Entertainment
Sports and entertainment draws attention. People are interested in what athletes, entertainers, teams, and leagues are doing. Whether it is high profile litigation or something that happens on or off the field play, eyeballs are tuned in to see what will happen next. It is no longer television and periodicals reporting on the latest happenings, […]
NCAA Committee on Infractions Has Spoken: University of Alabama
NCAA Committee on Infractions Has Spoken: University of Alabama The NCAA Committee on Infractions (“Committee” or “COI” or “panel”) recently issued its findings and found that the University of Alabama (“Alabama” or “institution”) committed violations of NCAA legislation. Alabama and NCAA enforcement staff agreed with the violations and penalties detailed below. The parties also agreed […]
Tennessee v. NCAA: NCAA Enjoined from Enforcing NIL Rules and Policies
Tennessee v. NCAA: NCAA Enjoined from Enforcing NIL Rules and Policies On February 23, 2024, United States District Judge Clifton L. Corker granted an injunction prohibiting the NCAA from enforcing name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) rules and policies. Specifically, Judge Corker granted the Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction and “restrained and enjoined [the NCAA] from […]
The NCAA Committee on Infractions Has Spoken: Florida International University
The NCAA Committee on Infractions (“Committee” or“ COI or “panel”) recently issued its findings and found that Florida International University (“FIU” or “institution”) committed violations of NCAA legislation. This case involved violations in the FIU women’s soccer and softball programs including impermissible inducements and contacts during the NCAA COVID-19 recruiting dead period, as well as unethical conduct and head coach responsibility violations for the head softball coach. The panel processed violations for FIU and the head women’s soccer coach […]
NCAA Committee on Infractions Has Spoken: Florida State University
The NCAA Committee on Infractions (“Committee” or “COI” or “panel”) recently issued its findings and found that Florida State University (“Florida State” or “institution”) committed violations of NCAA legislation. Florida State, assistant football coach (assistant football coach), and the NCAA enforcement staff agreed with the violations and penalties detailed below. Accordingly, the parties agreed to […]
The NCAA Continues the Fight in Court in Antitrust Disputes – House v. NCAA and Fontenot v. NCAA
The NCAA Continues the Fight in Court in Antitrust Disputes – House v. NCAA and Fontenot v. NCAA The NCAA is no stranger to antitrust litigation. For thirty years, the NCAA was wildly successful in protecting the amateur product from dozens of attacks brought by athletes, coaches, and constituents under the Sherman Act. However, the […]
Texas A&M Parts Ways with Jimbo Fisher: What if there were Lawyers?
Texas A&M Parts Ways with Jimbo Fisher: What if there were Lawyers? Over the weekend, Texas A&M University (“A&M”) announced the termination of head football coach, Jimbo Fisher, without cause. The headlines have invariably included a reference to the more than $76 million buyout included as liquidated damages in Fisher’s employment agreement. The buyout includes […]
Brett Favre v. Shannon Sharpe: Defamation Case Dismissed with Prejudice
Brett Favre v. Shannon Sharpe: Defamation Case Dismissed with Prejudice On October 30, 2023, United States District Judge Keith Starrett dismissed Brett Favre’s (“Favre”) complaint filed against Shannon Sharpe (“Sharpe”) with prejudice. The dispute arose from statements made by Sharpe on the television broadcast of “Undisputed” regarding Favre’s alleged involvement in a Mississippi welfare fraud […]
Texas is in the Minority: Georgia Allows High School Athletes to Use NIL for Compensation
Texas is in the Minority: Georgia Allows High School Athletes to Use NIL for Compensation Three major state governing bodies–governing bodies in Georgia, Florida, and Texas–held out and did not allow high school athletes to profit from the use of their names, images, and likenesses (i.e., NIL). On October 2, 2023, the Georgia High School […]