Sports and Entertainment Law

Overview

While Sports and Entertainment Law are often listed together as one practice area, in reality, they are two separate areas that happen to have much in common. Both areas of practice are characterized chiefly by their clients – people and organizations in the sports or entertainment industries. Sports and entertainment attorneys represent such clients as athletes, entertainers, and related organizations, and work in areas of law such as contracts, torts, labor and employment, corporate finance, intellectual property, and antitrust law. Sports and entertainment lawyers may negotiate contracts and licenses, provide advice and representation related to copyright and other intellectual property, and protect artists and musicians from piracy. Others may be generalists, assisting a sports or entertainment venue with everything from basic employment matters to defending lawsuits brought by customers. Sports lawyers in particular may also work on regulatory compliance due to the wide array of laws and regulations governing athletes.

Many people envision these practice areas as glamorous endeavors, in which the attorney works closely with one or two high-profile clients, assisting them in choosing movie roles or lining up endorsement deals. However, that is typically the work of an agent, and while a law degree can certainly be helpful to agents, students should be aware that working as an agent is not the same as practicing as a sports or entertainment attorney, and the former requires additional training and licensing outside of the law.

Skills/Personality Characteristics

  • An interest in the entertainment and/or sports industry
  • Outstanding relationship-building skills
  • Strong negotiation skills
  • An understanding of corporate and financial issues
  • Excellent communication skills: Sports and entertainment attorneys spend a significant amount of time reading and writing
  • A flexible and creative approach to problem-solving: This area of law is constantly evolving and it is necessary to maintain an open mind and willingness to change your approach.

Where do sports and entertainment lawyers practice?

Sports and entertainment law is mostly practiced in smaller firms, although some larger firms on the coasts may have sports and entertainment practices. Some film and music companies, sports teams, and media outlets will employ sports and entertainment lawyers as in-house counsel to act as internal advisors. Sports and entertainment law can also be practiced in federal and state government, in such agencies as the Federal Communications Commission, the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Gallery of Art. Some sports and entertainment attorneys work with non-profits such as artists organizations, unions, associations like the NCAA.

Selected Courses at Brandeis School of Law

These courses have been taught in the last two years and may or may not be on the schedule for the next academic year. If you are interested in a course listed here, but the course is not on the schedule, please see the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

  • Sports Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Right of Publicity
  • Employment Law
  • Drafting
  • Trademark Law
  • Copyright Law

Selected Faculty Who Teach in This Area

John Cross
Lars Smith

Student Organizations

  • Sports and Entertainment Law Society

Public Service Placement Opportunities

  • Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
  • Kentucky and Colorado Lawyers for the Arts

Professional Associations

  • National Sports & Entertainment Law Society

For further reading, The Official Guide to Legal Specialties: an Insider’s Guide to Every Major Practice Area, NALP and The Sports Internship Book, (2008) are available in the OPD Library, and Careers in Entertainment Law, Henslee, William D. (1990) and How to Build and Manage an Entertainment Law Practice, Greenberg, Gary, (2001), are available in the Law Library.