11:00 am – 12:15pm

Breaking into the Sports Law Industry

Moderators:

Leigh Hawley, Associate Counsel, Leopoldus Law

Panelists:

Marla Axelrod, Director of Legal and Government Affairs, Philadelphia Eagles
Aaron Hernandez, Director, Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program, Arizona State University
Joe Nahra, Senior Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs, Oak View Group
Jennifer Hunter, Senior Director, Equity and Inclusion, Portland Trailblazers

12:15 pm – 12:30 pm

SLA 2021 Annual Conference Welcome
Robert A. Hacker, SLA President

12:30 pm – 1:45 pm

An Overview of Recent Legal Developments in Sports

Panelists:

Gabe Feldman, Paul and Abram B. Barron Professor of Law, Tulane Law School; Director, Tulane Sports Law Program; Associate Provost for NCAA Compliance, Tulane University; Mediator/Arbitrator, MAPS, New Orleans, LA

Matt Mitten, Professor of Law and Executive Director, National Sports Law Institute, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, WI; Member, Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland, SLA Past President

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm

Vendor Time

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm

SLA 2021 Philanthropy Initiative
This year the SLA honors the outstanding work of Border Youth Tennis Exchange

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

General Counsels’ Forum (invited to speak)

Moderator:

Abraham Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal

Panelists:

Rick Buchanan, General Counsel & CCO, NBA
Bill Daly, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Legal Officer, NHL
Jeff Pash, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, NFL

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Executive Directors’ Forum (invited to speak)

Moderator:

Abraham Madkour, Publisher & Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal

Panelists:

Tony Clark, Executive Director, MLBPA
Donald M. Fehr, Executive Director, NHL
Michele A. Roberts, Executive Director, NBPLA
DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director, NFLPA

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

SLA Overtime Lounge
Please Join us in the SLA Overtime Lounge as Award winning singer/songwriter Nikki Grier presents an electrifying set featuring up and coming artists Steve Epting and Jawan. After the show, join us for a backstage interview where Layth Gafoor will talk to Nikki on her journey and being a part of a Grammy winning Album with Kanye West.

11:50 am – 12:00 pm

Welcome

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

The NCAA in the Supreme Court: Amateurism, Alston, Antitrust, and the Next Step in the Evolution of College Sports

Moderator:

Jayma Meyer, Counsel. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Visiting Clinical Professor, Sports Law and Public Policy, O’Neill School of Public Policy, Indiana University

Panelists:

Karen M. Lent, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager & Flom
David G. Feher, Co-Chair, Sports Law Practice, Winston & Strawn, LLP
Gary Roberts, Former President, Bradley University

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Where is the Integrity in Sports Wagering?

Moderator:

Naima Stevenson Starks, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Varsity Brands

Panelists:

Andy Cunningham, Head of Integrity and League Relations, Sportradar
Marquest J. Meeks, Senior Counsel, Investigations, MLB
Lisa Pension, Supervisory Special Agent, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Vendor Time

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

Athlete Activism: Placing Sports on the Front Lines of Social Change

Moderator:

Len Elmore, American Sportscaster, Lawyer and Former National Basketball (NBA) Player

Panelists:

David L. Foster, Deputy General Counsel, NBA Players Association
Rob Koehler, Director General, Global Athlete
Christopher McCleary, General Counsel, United States Olympic Committee
Gene Smith, Director of Athletics, Ohio State University

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

Sports Organization Legal Challenges and Opportunities Arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Moderator:

Gregg E. Clifton, Principal, Jackson Lewis, P.C.

Panelists:

Donald E. English Jr., Equity Principal, Jackson Lewis, P.C.
Richard Giller, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Lisa Levine, General Counsel, National Women’s Soccer League

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

To Unionize or not to Unionize? Representing Athletes in the U.S. and Abroad: Players Associations, Trade Associations, and other Options

Moderator:

Bruce Meyer, Senior Director, Collective Bargaining, MLBPA

Panelists:

Rob Koehler, Director General, Global Athlete
Dionne Koller, Professor of Law & Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, University of Baltimore School of Law
Roy Vermeer, Legal Director at FIFPro

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Rethinking Sponsorships in a Changing World

Panelists:

Stokely Caldwell, Partner, Robinson Bradshaw
Kari Cohen, General Counsel, New York Red Bulls
Darren Meyer, Senior Director, Marketing Partnerships & Premium Services, New York Red Bulls

11:50 am – 12:00 pm

Welcome

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

There’s No Place Like Home: Ethics in the Era of Remote Work

Moderator:

Will Lopez, Deputy General Counsel, Cooley LLP

Panelists:

Bobby Hacker, SLA President and Attorney, Robert A. Hacker Attorney at Law and Sports Media Consulting
Brandon H. Leopoldus, Founder, Leopoldus Law
Trisha E. Newman, General Counsel, Women’s Flat Track Derby Association

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Vendor Time

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Award of Excellence Presentation

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Brand Building with Social Media: Opportunities and Risks

Moderator:

Debbie Spander, Senior Vice President Media and Coaching, Wasserman

Panelists:

Nate Jones, Agent and Athlete Marketer, Goodwin Sports
Michele Matsubara, Director of Legal, Twitter

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

COVID 19 Impact on Stadium Development and Sports Anchored Development

Moderator:

Irwin P. Raij, Partner, O’Melveny and Myers

Panelists:

Eric Andalman, General Counsel, CAA/ICON
Ted Fikre, Vice Chairman and Chief Legal and Development Officer, AEG

3:45 pm – 4:45 pm

How Law Responds to Evolving Social Norms in Sport

Moderator:

Sara Slane, Founder, Sara Slane Advisory (Formerly with the American Gaming Association)

Panelists:

Jessica Berman, Deputy Commissioner and EVP, Business Affairs, National, NIL
Eric Foote, Chief Commercial Officer, PointsBet
Scott Kaufman-Ross, Senior Vice President, Fantasy & Gaming NBA

4:45 pm – 5:45 pm

SLA After Hours Lounge

Join us in our virtual After Hours Lounge, for our customary multidisciplinary discussion on emerging sport and entertainment issues and opportunities

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion-the Changing Landscape of Sports
Sponsored by    

Guest Sponsors:

Dennis Coleman, Ropes & Gray, LLP

Moderator:

Robert Wallace, Thompson Coburn LLP

Panelists:

Woodie Dixon, Chegg
Bobby Hacker, Robert A. Hacker Attorney At Law
Leigh Hawley, Leopoldus Law
Nona Lee, Arizona Diamondbacks

Using Data to Win!: Sports Industry and Sports Betting Data Trends; From Historical Data and Score Keeping to Extremely Specific Team and Athlete Analysis, Algorithmic Performance Forecasting and Wearable Technologies

Host:

Nerissa Coyle McGinn, Loeb & Loeb, LLP
Ivan Parron, PARRON LAW | Entertainment & Sports

Legal Considerations and Best Practices in Hosting and Promoting Multi-Sport & Entertainment Events in the Age of Pandemics, Protectionism and Social Fragility

Host:

Daniel W. Werly, Tennessee Titans

eSports Development and Updates in an Ever-Changing Global Landscape

Host:

Caleb Jay, Arizona Diamondbacks
Robert Forbes, Activision
Harris Peshkin, ESG Law

Maple Syrup & Scones: Discussing the Leading Sport Law Topics in the UK and Canada

Host:

Keely Brown, Oilers Entertainment Group
Andrew Haywood, Penningtons Manches LLP
Richard Marshall, Penningtons Manches LLP
Matthew Shuber, Toronto Blue Jays

11:50 pm – 12:00 pm

Welcome

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

The Future of College Athletics

Moderator:

Allison Rich, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/SWA, Princeton University

Panelists:

James E. Delany, Former Commissioner, Big Ten Conference
Nina King, Senior Deputy Director of Athletics/Administration, Legal Affairs and Chief of Staff, Duke University
Kendall Spencer, Attorney, Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and Former NCAA Board Member

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Vendor Time

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Diversity and Inclusion Head Coaches

Moderator:

Ken Shropshire, Adidas Distinguished Professor of Global Sport and CEO of Global Sport Institute, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ

Panelists:

Tony K. Dungy, Former Professional American Football Safety, Sports Analyst and Former Head Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Indianapolis Colts
Herman Edwards Jr., Head Football Coach, Arizona State University
William C. Rhoden, Former Award-Winning Sports Columnist, The New York Times, The New York Times and Author of "Forty Million Dollar Slaves," is a Writer-at-Large for The Undefeated

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Moving Athletes and Coaches Around the World

Moderator:

Jon Velie, CEO and Attorney, Online Visas

Panelists:

Nona M. Lee, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Arizona Diamondbacks
Andrew Maloney, Agent and Attorney, Maloney & Thompson Sports Management
Sherrod Seward, Attorney, OakLG Law Group

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Vendor Time

3:45 pm – 4:45 pm

Athlete Anxiety, Mental Health and Sport’s Response

Moderator:

Maureen Weston, Professor of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law

Panelists:

Woodie Dixon, Jr, General Counsel, Chegg
Brian Hainline, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Sport Science Institute, NCAA
Shanyn Lancaster, MD, FAAF, Head Team Physician & Chief of Sports Medicine, Arizona State University & Head Team Physician, Sun Devils
William Parham, PhD. ABPP, Professor and Interim Director, Loyola Marymount University

4:45 pm – 5:45 pm

SLA Double OT Lounge
Join us in our SLA Overtime Lounge for a private comedy show hosted by the legendary Cipha Sounds of Hot 97.1. Cipha has toured with comedy greats like Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. Joining Cipha will be a cast of friends, who have appeared on Comedy Central, HBO, Def Comedy Jam and Showtime.

After the show Cihpa will sit down for a private virtual interview with Layth Gafoor, where the audience will be able to ask about his amazing career and journey within the entertainment industry.

11:50 am – 12:00 pm

Welcome

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Sports Broadcasting, Exclusive Territories, and the Future of Sports Television.

Moderator:

Robert A. Hacker, SLA President and Attorney, Robert A. Hacker Attorney at Law and Sports Media Consulting

Panelists:

Jodi Balsam, Associate Professor of Clinical Law and Director of Externship Programs at Brooklyn Law School
Stephen Neuwirth, Chair, Antitrust and Competition Litigation, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Stephen F. Ross, Lewis H. Vovakis Distinguished Faculty Scholar Professor of Law & Executive Director, Penn State Center for the Study of Sports in Society

1:00 pm – 1:15 pm

Vendor Time

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

The Human and Legal Side of Sexual Assault

Moderator:

Jayma Meyer, Counsel. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Visiting Clinical Professor, Sports Law and Public Policy, O’Neill School of Public Policy, Indiana University

Panelists:

Rachael Denhollander, Attorney, Advocate, Educator, Speaker and Author; "How Much is a Little Girl Worth"
John Manly, Founding Partner, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi
Sarah Klein, Counsel, Litigator, Advocate and Survivor, Dalton & Associates

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

Gambling & Esports: Major Revenue Opportunities, Major Legal Risks

Moderator:

Bobby Sharma, Special Adviser, Foley & Lardner/Managing Partner, Electronic Sports Group

Panelists:

Robby Forbes, Senior Director, Esports Leagues, Activision Blizzard
Harris Peskin, Partner, ESG Law; Adjunct Professor, Esports Gambling, University of New Hampshire Law School
Irene Scholl-Tatevosyan, Associate, Nixon Peabody LLP
Aalok Sharma, Associate, Stinson, LLP

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

NIL – A Crossroads Where Student-Athlete Interests, Effective Governance and Politics Intersect

Moderator:

Donald M. Remy, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer, NCAA

Panelists:

Valerie B. Ackerman, Commissioner, Big East Conference
Rick George, Athletic Director, University of Colorado
Jill Pilgrim, Pilgrim & Associates Arbitration, Law & Mediation LLC

3:15 pm – 4:45 pm

Mock Athlete Eligibility Arbitration Hearing: On the Eve of the Olympic Games

Moderator:

Maureen Weston, Professor of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law

Panelists:

James Bunting, Founding Partner, Tyr LLP
Paul J. Greene, Attorney/Founder Global Sports Advocates, LLC
Maidie Oliveau, Counsel, Arent Fox LLP
Matt Mitten, Professor of Law and Executive Director, National Sports Law Institute, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, WI; Member, Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland, SLA Past President
Barbara Reeves, Arbitrator, Mediator, Special Master, JAMS
Nadia Soghomonian, Legal Affairs & Investigations Counsel, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
Ross Wenzel, Attorney at Law, Solicitor, Partner, Kellerhals Carrard

4:45 pm

Meeting Adjourns