Sports & Entertainment

Stites & Harbison's sports and entertainment attorneys have a thorough understanding of the complex legal issues impacting the sports and entertainment industries on a daily basis. We have worked with everyone from team owners, agencies, sports associations, universities, and players, to record labels, recording artists, television stations, arenas, and stadium facilities. These multimillion dollar industries are ever changing and require seasoned attorneys with a deep understanding of the landscape. Stites & Harbison’s multidisciplinary approach to servicing the needs of its clients allows us to provide full legal representation to our sports and entertainment clients in the areas of:

• Antitrust;
• Complex Financings;
• Construction;
• Contract Negotiations and First Amendment Rights;
• Employment
• Estate Planning
• Intellectual Property, Copyright Law, and Royalties;
• Licensing;
• Mediation, Arbitration, and Litigation;
• Name, Image and Likeness (NIL);
• Real Estate; and
• Tax.

Stites & Harbison sports and entertainment attorneys have represented clients in negotiating contracts, advised clients regarding compliance with the rules and regulations of the National Basketball Association, National Collegiate Athletic Association, as well as other conferences, and have assisted clients in a variety of other day-to-day legal matters.

Our team has also been heavily involved in planning, design, and construction of large scale sporting venues across the United States. These include arena and stadium facilities for Division 1 universities, Major League Baseball, and the National Football League.

In addition, we have provided advice to clients relating to the various state and federal regulations associated with intercollegiate and professional athletics. While we prefer to help clients mitigate risk, we also assist clients with internal investigations, NCAA investigations, and the defense of their interests in court.

We maintain a deep understanding of the entertainment industry including copyright law, music publishing, contract negotiations, record labels, media and technology, television, radio, and general corporate matters. Clients include entertainment industry artists, songwriters, and other entities engaged in the use of creative works.

Our firm’s team approach benefits clients, assisting them in these globally popular industries with complex and often high-profile legal issues. Stites & Harbison sports and entertainment attorneys are included in some of the most prestigious legal rankings and publications including but not limited to The Best Lawyers in America^®, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation and Martindale-Hubbell^®.