SPORTS INDUSTRY TEAM

The sports industry consists of billion-dollar businesses, innovative emerging companies, skilled performers and just about everything in between. In this highly competitive environment, our clients demand smart and experienced counsel to address a wide range of legal challenges. Holland & Knight’s Sports Industry Team was created for just that purpose. We are a full-service enterprise of highly skilled and experienced lawyers ready to help our sports industry clients efficiently meet their business objectives and solve their problems on and off the playing field.

College And Amateur Athletics

We have advised clients on a range of collegiate athletics matters, including name, image and likeness (NIL) programs, NCAA governance and investigations, and conference realignment challenges. We counsel clients on privacy issues related to athlete records and Title IX compliance and on issues faced by international athletes.

Disputes

We have represented clients in high-profile disputes involving breaches of contract, agents’ fees, league and team disciplinary matters, team relocation, owner disputes, multi-team trade disputes, internal investigations, tax, intellectual property, and other regulatory and compliance matters.

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES, AGENCIES AND GOVERNING BODIES

We have handled private business matters for players in the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA , including representing the business interests of six players who were drafted number one overall in the NBA (4), NFL (1), and MLB (1). We have advised sports agencies on compliance matters with the Athlete Agent Registration Act and on player association compliance. We have also represented professional athletes on endorsement agreements for all types of media.

TEAMS, LEAGUES AND ASSOCIATIONS

We have provided comprehensive antidiscrimination, anti-harassment and anti-bullying training to coaching staffs, front office personnel and teams. We have advised one of the four major sports leagues on liability, tax and intellectual property issues, as well as advised teams on a variety of confidential internal and external matters. We counsel and advise professional sports leagues on structuring their player agreements, group licensing policies, codes of conduct and human resource policies. Additionally, we have advised team owners on their purchase and sale transactions, assisted in league formation and reformation matters, conducted and defended against internal investigations by and for leagues and teams, advised on content licensing agreements, represented an esports provider on content and music, and counseled an eGaming platform on corporate governance, executive compensation and initial public offering preparation.