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, the college sports industry, technology, data security and privacy, tax, and litigation in 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 agreements
• Brand endorsement 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, NIL opportunities, Title IX investigations, and related state and federal laws
• Legal compliance related to sweepstakes and contests
• Agreement reviews for current best practices and legal compliance
• 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
• Sports and entertainment industry mergers and acquisitions
• Representation of players in league disciplinary proceedings and collective bargaining grievances

Our entertainment attorneys work with every client from concept to completion. 

• 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
• 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
• Media production, distribution, and licensing agreements
• Personal service and talent agreements across all platforms

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 our clients toward their goals.

An integrated approach to Sports & Entertainment