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January 14, 2021
Winston-Salem Partner Gray Wilson Authors N.C. Civil Procedure Fourth Edition
Sports & Entertainment
Providing legal services specifically focused on the sports & entertainment industry
A national practice driven by attorneys with industry-specific experience helping businesses achieve successful outcomes
We can help your organization whether you are
- A corporation looking to secure naming rights or other benefits in a stadium, arena, or other entertainment venue
- A business negotiating with a professional sports league or team for sponsorship exclusivity within a category of products or services
- A record label, production company, publishing company, songwriter, or artist entering entertainment contracts
- A film production company organizing, acquiring necessary rights, or capitalizing using private equity sources
- A filmmaker, director, actor/actress, content producer, or distributor entering into all types of entertainment contracts
- A professional athlete with personal service, endorsements, nonprofit agreements as well as representation in disciplinary proceedings with professional sports leagues
- A content owner negotiating distribution agreements across multiple platforms
- A recreation business manufacturing or selling a product that needs to comply with regulations concerning product safety, labeling, and advertising
- A college or university athletics department needing assistance with Title IX compliance or protecting various venue sources
- An education-related vendor or association affiliated with college and university athletics departments
- Developing licenses for use of name, image, likeness, rights of personality/publicity
Nelson Mullins’ attorneys working in the Sports & Entertainment Industry understand the rapidly growing convergence between sports and entertainment.
Our attorneys bring a combination of experience, legal knowledge, and business sophistication to the fast-paced and multi-faceted sports and entertainment industry. Our knowledge of emerging trends, new technologies, and best practices assists our clients secure objectives and gain a competitive advantage.
When client needs demand more specialized levels of knowledge, we collaborate with professionals in other firm practice areas such as corporate law, employment and labor, antitrust, advertising, licensing, intellectual property, rights of publicity, traditional and new media, feature film production and distribution, the college sports industry, technology, data security and privacy, tax, and litigation – a truly multidisciplinary approach to addressing client demands.
Our sports attorneys provide services from the opening tip-off to final buzzer
- Venue naming rights agreements
- League and team trademarks licensing
- Sponsorship and promotional relationship agreements
- Endorsement branding and marketing agreements
- FCC and FTC guidelines and compliance
- Marketing and sponsorship agreements with professional sports leagues and franchises
- Development of athletics facilities and athletics complexes
- Strategic planning and revenue growth models related to college athletics
- Legal compliance related to NCAA rules, Title IX investigations, and related state and federal laws
- Legal compliance related to sweepstakes and contests
- Legal agreement reviews for current best practices
- Litigation and administrative proceedings covering matters throughout the sports and entertainment industry
- Product safety and regulatory compliance, including product recalls
- Consumer product licensing agreements
- Event marketing agreements
- Copyright and trademark protection and usage guidelines
- Protections from ambush marketing tactics
- Related corporate, mergers and acquisition, and tax advice and counsel
- Representation of players in league disciplinary proceedings and CBA issues
Our entertainment attorneys work with every client from concept to completion.
- Creating investable structures for feature film production, obtaining necessary rights, equity raises from private capital, and distribution of resultant content across multiple platforms and release windows
- Licensing, enforcing, and protecting rights of personality, publicity, and privacy
- Developing brand-extension opportunities for celebrities, such as for-profit museums or brand ambassador/endorsement agreements
- Production, distribution, and publishing of music and media content on all platforms
- Live events and festival production and financing
- Video gaming design, production, and marketing
- E-Sports
- Literary publishing
- The visual arts (painting, sculpting, etc.), exhibitions, museum, and gallery agreements
- Talent agreement drafting and negotiation
- Pageant contests
- Print and runway models
- Fitness, bikini, and physique sports
- Media production, distribution, and licensing deals
- Personal service and talent agreements across all platforms
- Independent film production
Our attorneys assist the outdoor recreation industry and businesses that help people safely enjoy the outdoors, whether it be
- Recreational product safety, regulatory compliance, and product recalls
- Outdoor businesses in camping, skiing, fishing, hunting, off-roading and powersports, hiking, running, cycling, and other activities
- Public land access and protection for recreational activities
- Shooting sports
- Archery
- Paddling
- Diving
- Or other outdoor activities
A unified practice operating nationally with support from multiple disciplines
Nelson Mullins’ sports and entertainment law practice is national in scope, with a practice set up to function cohesively across all of our offices. We follow a client-focused approach to achieving client objectives at a competitive price. When needed, our attorneys can draw in resources from many other legal disciplines to provide well-rounded service to this complex sector of business. At all times, we work side by side with you toward shared goals.
An integrated approach to Sports & Entertainment
Nelson Mullins’ attorneys working in the Sports & Entertainment Industry understand the rapidly growing convergence between sports and entertainment.
Our attorneys bring a combination of experience, legal knowledge, and business sophistication to the fast-paced and multi-faceted sports and entertainment industry. Our knowledge of emerging trends, new technologies, and best practices assists our clients secure objectives and gain a competitive advantage.
When client needs demand more specialized levels of knowledge, we collaborate with professionals in other firm practice areas such as corporate law, employment and labor, antitrust, advertising, licensing, intellectual property, rights of publicity, traditional and new media, feature film production and distribution, the college sports industry, technology, data security and privacy, tax, and litigation – a truly multidisciplinary approach to addressing client demands.
Our sports attorneys provide services from the opening tip-off to final buzzer
- Venue naming rights agreements
- League and team trademarks licensing
- Sponsorship and promotional relationship agreements
- Endorsement branding and marketing agreements
- FCC and FTC guidelines and compliance
- Marketing and sponsorship agreements with professional sports leagues and franchises
- Development of athletics facilities and athletics complexes
- Strategic planning and revenue growth models related to college athletics
- Legal compliance related to NCAA rules, Title IX investigations, and related state and federal laws
- Legal compliance related to sweepstakes and contests
- Legal agreement reviews for current best practices
- Litigation and administrative proceedings covering matters throughout the sports and entertainment industry
- Product safety and regulatory compliance, including product recalls
- Consumer product licensing agreements
- Event marketing agreements
- Copyright and trademark protection and usage guidelines
- Protections from ambush marketing tactics
- Related corporate, mergers and acquisition, and tax advice and counsel
- Representation of players in league disciplinary proceedings and CBA issues
Our entertainment attorneys work with every client from concept to completion.
- Creating investable structures for feature film production, obtaining necessary rights, equity raises from private capital, and distribution of resultant content across multiple platforms and release windows
- Licensing, enforcing, and protecting rights of personality, publicity, and privacy
- Developing brand-extension opportunities for celebrities, such as for-profit museums or brand ambassador/endorsement agreements
- Production, distribution, and publishing of music and media content on all platforms
- Live events and festival production and financing
- Video gaming design, production, and marketing
- E-Sports
- Literary publishing
- The visual arts (painting, sculpting, etc.), exhibitions, museum, and gallery agreements
- Talent agreement drafting and negotiation
- Pageant contests
- Print and runway models
- Fitness, bikini, and physique sports
- Media production, distribution, and licensing deals
- Personal service and talent agreements across all platforms
- Independent film production
Our attorneys assist the outdoor recreation industry and businesses that help people safely enjoy the outdoors, whether it be
- Recreational product safety, regulatory compliance, and product recalls
- Outdoor businesses in camping, skiing, fishing, hunting, off-roading and powersports, hiking, running, cycling, and other activities
- Public land access and protection for recreational activities
- Shooting sports
- Archery
- Paddling
- Diving
- Or other outdoor activities
A unified practice operating nationally with support from multiple disciplines
Nelson Mullins’ sports and entertainment law practice is national in scope, with a practice set up to function cohesively across all of our offices. We follow a client-focused approach to achieving client objectives at a competitive price. When needed, our attorneys can draw in resources from many other legal disciplines to provide well-rounded service to this complex sector of business. At all times, we work side by side with you toward shared goals.
- Substantial engagement by partners with industry-specific experience
- Extensive knowledge of evolving best practices, trends, and precedents
- Multi-disciplinary team with a practical, business mindset for solving problems and achieving objectives
- Responsive services delivered within demanding turn-around timelines
- Cost-efficient staffing models with cost predictability
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