Sports and Entertainment

Ogletree Deakins lawyers understand the complexities and nuances of sports and entertainment businesses. We regularly provide advice and education to clients on sports and entertainment-related legal topics. We also understand the pace of the industry and the vital importance of keeping our clients on stage or on the field. As a result, we strive to partner with our clients to provide sophisticated legal and practical assistance tailored to each matter.

Sports

In the sports arena, our attorneys have experience with teams in all major sports leagues and their minor league affiliates, including Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League. Our attorneys have additional highlighted experience representing employers in the areas of track and field, Formula 1 racing, professional soccer, mixed martial arts fighting championships, and university and college sports teams and athletic departments. They have applied their experience in areas such as employment law, labor matters, immigration, employee benefits, and executive compensation. Our attorneys’ work has included assisting clients in the following areas, among others:

Post-acquisition work on benefit plans and executive compensation
Collegiate compliance
High-profile tort claims, including claims based on athletic conduct and claims by patrons
Advice and counsel on ADA issues arising from stadium access
Visas for athletes to participate in sporting events both domestically and internationally
Green cards and family filings for athletes
Crisis management advice and counsel on misconduct and termination of players, coaches, and staff
Diversity, workplace violence, sexual harassment, and civility training
Litigation defense
Title III ADA compliance with employees and venues
Resolution of employment and termination issues for athletes and staff in foreign jurisdictions
Coaching contract advice and counsel
Wage and hour matters including FLSA exempt status determinations
Strategic modifications of compensation for key employee subgroups (e.g., season ticket and sales personnel)
Separation of sports industry executives
Drug testing policy review
Signage and sponsorship contracts
ERISA compliance
Legal claims relating to stadiums and other sports venues
NCAA investigation defense
Training and education of NCAA and NAIA regulation compliance
Title IX training to colleges and universities

Entertainment

In the entertainment industry, our attorneys have worked with major media conglomerates, production companies, international movie theater chains, radio stations, theater groups, the cast and crew of television shows, casinos, high-profile celebrities and comedians, and other media entities. Issues they have worked on include but are not limited to:

Litigation
Class actions
Advice and counsel
Investigations
Contract negotiation
Visas for performers and actors to attend events domestically and internationally
Green cards and family filings for entertainers
Employment and separation agreements in entertainment ventures
Employee training for cast and crews
Injury waivers
Employment law
Traditional labor, including union avoidance training