Lamb McErlane PC’s Sports, Entertainment & Hospitality group offers a comprehensive suite of services to our clients. Backed by extensive experience, we consistently provide sophisticated, business-focused advice in a broad spectrum of legal and business scenarios, from contract negotiations to civil litigation, and everything in between. Our results-oriented approach is focused on commercializing, capitalizing and protecting the value of our client’s specific brand — or name, image and likeness (“NIL”).
Lamb McErlane PC’s Sports, Entertainment & Hospitality group offers a comprehensive suite of services to our clients. Backed by extensive experience, we consistently provide sophisticated, business-focused advice in a broad spectrum of legal and business scenarios, from contract negotiations to civil litigation, and everything in between. Our results-oriented approach is focused on commercializing, capitalizing and protecting the value of our client’s specific brand — or name, image and likeness (“NIL”).
Whether you’re an athlete, team, conference or league; an owner, agent or investor; a media or tech company or other content developer or publisher; or a brand operating in the space, Lamb McErlane is committed to helping you play competitively, on and off the field.
We solve the problems that arise daily in this rapidly evolving industry by relying on our deep knowledge of the sports and entertainment worlds and our unique understanding of our clients’ businesses and objectives. We counsel entertainers, athletes, celebrities, high-profile media personalities and C-level executives; agents, coaches, managers, and collectives, as well as other key players in the space.
In the hospitality arena, our attorneys have extensive experience advising highly regarded chefs, well-known restaurateurs, mixed-use developers, hotels, breweries and wineries, health clubs and spas, resorts and casinos in multiple aspects of the restaurant and hospitality universe.
We have a team approach – with both internal and external participants – to increase the likelihood that our clients’ goals are met successfully and efficiently.
Our services in these industries includes
Litigation
- Representation of athletes, coaches, and interested parties in contract disputes, NCAA inquiries and personal disputes outside of their official roles
Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”)
- Lamb McErlane’s NIL team advises collectives, universities, and student-athletes on the everchanging complex patchwork of state NIL laws and NCAA rules. We work to help clients leverage opportunities and manage risks as they navigate the regulatory labyrinth and legal concerns that arise in the NIL space, including areas such as contracts, licensing, intellectual property, technology and data privacy, social media, digital platforms and NFTs, media rights, academic and athletic eligibility, NCAA compliance, and financial reporting
Professional Sports Rules and Regulations
- Assessing league rules and regulations and advising of the impact upon amateur status, various professional sports activities, and funding
Collegiate Compliance Rules
- Evaluating compliance rules of the NCAA and conferences (such as the Big East and Division II and III) and advising on the impacts of various collegiate athletic activities
Labor and Employment
- Drafting and reviewing employment agreements, employee handbook/policy requirements, athlete handbooks
- Representation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Advising clients on taking adverse actions against current and potential employees and contractors
Intellectual Property
- Matters related to trademarks, licensing and merchandising, handling licensing matters and drafting agreements protecting NIL rights
Corporate
- Drafting commercial agreements, governance, and partnership matters
- Drafting and negotiating agreements for the creation, development, recording, publication, distribution, branding, and merchandising of various media; advising on event contracts, sponsorship issues, and catalog sales
- Mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic alliances
- Sports sponsorships – event contracts, broadcast agreements and naming rights
- Sports broadcasting agreements between on-air talent and media outlets
Real Estate
- Counsel on the purchase and sale of land, financing, development, land use rights, zoning, leasing, and appeals
Executive Compensation
- Counsel teams, conferences, and leagues regarding compensation for executives and high-value talent
Estate Planning
- Advising athletes, entertainers, and business owners on how to structure, protect and minimize tax burdens
Lamb McErlane partners Jake D. Becker and Kathleen O’Connell Bell serve as Co-Chairs of the Sports, Entertainment & Hospitality Department.
