An upcoming symposium at the University of Virginia School of Law will discuss how lawyers can most effectively meet the needs of their sports and entertainment clients.
"Will You Protect This House?: Understanding and Meeting Client Needs," will be held Friday, Feb. 28 from 8 a.m-5 p.m in the Law School's Caplin Pavilion. DeMaurice Smith, a 1989 graduate of the Law School and the executive director of the National Football League Players Association, will deliver the keynote address at 1 p.m. The symposium is sponsored by the Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal.
"Effective representation of clients in the sports and entertainment industries requires a comprehensive understanding of the particular challenges those clients face," says Steve Guynn, the journal's programs editor. "This year's symposium aims to expose law students to those challenges and to provide insight from industry insiders into how those challenges can be effectively addressed."
In addition to Smith's address, the symposium will feature three panels of experts discussing alternative means of dispute resolution such as arbitration and mediation; lawyers' roles in helping their clients to achieve their business and financial goals; and issues of intellectual property protection in the entertainment industry.
Smith leads the union responsible for protecting the interests of professional NFL football players. In 2011, Smith helped end a 132-day lockout by the league, culminating in a 10-year collective bargaining agreement. The agreement codified new health and safety protocols for players, achieved longer off-seasons, reduced the amount of contact during practices and provided the players with their highest share of TV contract revenues in history.
Smith is also on the faculty of the National Trial Advocacy College in Charlottesville, Va., and an executive in residence at the UVA Darden School of Business.
"Will You Protect This House?: Understanding and Meeting Client Needs" is free and open to the public. Registration is required and can be completed here. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Schedule - Friday, Feb. 28
8 a.m.
Check-in/breakfast
Check-in/breakfast
9 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Ronika Carter
Editor-in-chief, VaSE
Opening Remarks
Ronika Carter
Editor-in-chief, VaSE
9:15 a.m.
Choosing a Venue: Alternative Dispute Resolution in Professional Sports
- Donald Dell '64, Group President, Lagardere Unlimited
- Robert P. Latham '83, Partner, Jackson Walker; International Rugby Board Executive Committee
- Bryan Stroh '02, Vice President and General Counsel, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Robert Forbes, Assistant General Counsel, Washington Redskins
10:40 a.m.
Protecting Their Image: Compensating NCAA Athletes for Use of Their Likeness
Protecting Their Image: Compensating NCAA Athletes for Use of Their Likeness
- Stuart Paynter, Principal, The Paynter Law Firm
- Allison Brehm, Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren
- Bernadette V. McGlade, Commissioner, Atlantic 10 Conference
- J. Gordon Hylton '77, Professor of Law, Marquette University Law School; Visiting Professor, University of Virginia School of Law
11:55 a.m.
Lunch
Lunch
1 p.m.
Keynote Address, DeMaurice Smith, NFL Players Association
2:20 p.m.
Protecting Financial Interests: Adding Value Through Legal Services
- Bryan Stroh '02, Vice President and General Counsel, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Kelly Jones, Associate Counsel, Under Armour
- Donald Dell '64, Group President, Lagardere Unlimited
- Robert P. Latham '83, Partner, Jackson Walker; International Rugby Board Executive Committee
3:50 p.m.
Protecting Intellectual Property: IP Issues in the Entertainment Industry
Protecting Intellectual Property: IP Issues in the Entertainment Industry
- Douglas Bush, Arent Fox
- Troy Dow, Vice President and Counsel, Government Relations and IP Legal Policy & Strategy, The Walt Disney Company
- Robert Garret, Partner, Arnold & Porter
4:50 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Steve Guynn
Programs editor, VaSE
Closing Remarks
Steve Guynn
Programs editor, VaSE
Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
