Sports Law

Areas of Concentration

Contracts (drafting, review and negotiation)
Civil and criminal litigation (state and federal courts)
Administrative and regulatory proceedings
NCAA regulations, reviews and investigations
Labor and employment and collective bargaining
Tax and estate planning for athletes, coaches, athletic directors, managers and front office personnel
Sports facility leases
Intellectual property (including trademarks, merchandize and logos)

AP&S has long-standing and varied experience in the area of sports law. AP&S attorneys have served as outside general counsel to the former World Boxing Organization, and an AP&S attorney is also a certified professional boxing judge. We have substantial litigation experience representing professional sports organizations, athletes, coaches, athletic directors and managers, and have represented sports clients in administrative, civil and criminal litigation, and NCAA investigations. We have also been involved in corporate, estate planning, tax, licensing and intellectual property issues related to sports law.

Representative Matters

Represented former World Boxing Organization in various litigation matters involving promoters and boxers.
Represented the WBO in various administrative and regulatory forums.
Represented promoters and organizers of Ultimate Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts in lobbying, regulatory and litigation matters.
Represented student-athletes in administrative and regulatory matters, as well as in litigation against leagues, conferences and the NCAA.
Defense of a Big East basketball program and its head coach on claims brought by a former player for personal injury resulting from alleged improper training regimens and medical care.
Defense of coaches and athletic program managers in Big East and NCAA reviews and investigations.
Defense of manufacturer of sporting goods products in antitrust litigation brought by distributors.
Represent manufacturer of racing shells sold to college and club crews in leasing, financing, corporate, tax and contract issues.
Extensive experience in legal work relating to sports venues, including U.S. Golf Museum, U.S. Tennis Hall of Fame, and Volvo Regatta.
Represent Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer of hGH, which was alleged in Major League Baseball’s Mitchell Report to be the source of banned substances used by various Major League baseball players.
Appointed as legal counsel to America’s Cup Rhode Island 2013 Committee.

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