• Trademarks and Copyright
• Sports Law
• Entertainment and the Arts
• Licensing and Sponsorships
• Internet Law
• General Business Matters
• Corporation Formation

• University of Phoenix (MBA, 2004)
• Valparaiso University School of Law (JD, 1999)
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BA, 1995)

Representative Matters

• Represented client in all business, legal and PR aspects related to placing a bid to purchase a Chicago-based MLB team
• Represent and counsel a well-known golf instructor on all legal/business aspects involved in the creation and financing of an international golf competition, and the exploitation of opportunities (e.g., television/film, equity partners, sponsorship, etc.) ancillary thereto
• Represent and counsel client on legal/business aspects involved in the formation and launch of a US-based professional football league
• Represented client in all aspects of the acquisition and subsequent operations of a well-known summer collegiate baseball league
• Represent creator/developer of massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), as well as other online gaming releases, in all legal and business aspects related to the creation and monetization of same
• Represented creator/developer of online social network devoted to the sports and entertainment industries
• Represent screenwriters, producers and filmmakers in operational and legal matters appurtenant to formation of their companies, as well as the financing, production and release of various film/television productions and concepts in the United States and abroad
• Represent participants, featured talent and off-screen consultants of reality television shows
• Sole responsibility for the intellectual property programs of two professional sports leagues while in-house counsel
• Negotiated and drafted settlement and trademark coexistence agreements between and on behalf of professional and amateur sports organizations, major apparel companies, industrial manufacturers and other entities in a variety of industries
• Drafted and enforced licensing and rights agreements between and on behalf of professional and amateur sports organizations, commercial merchandise producers/retailers, cable television shows, major motion pictures and major entertainment personalities/performers
• Negotiated and drafted sponsorship and “tradeout” agreements for professional and amateur sports organizations, various sports-affiliated entities, musicians and others
• Negotiated and drafted agreements as they related to team admission to, and withdrawal from, professional and amateur sports leagues
• Drafted Internet streaming agreements, sweepstakes and contest rules, Internet privacy and user policies, and other Internet-based content for a wide array of entities
• Represented clients in adversarial proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, National Arbitration Forum, American Arbitration Association and ICANN
• Counseled professional and amateur sports organizations on matters of unemployment, wage garnishments, corporation formation and maintenance, FCC licensing, HIPAA compliance and an array of other legal and operational issues
• Represented publicly traded company in the acquisition and management of sports and sports-related entities
• Represented client in multiple contract negotiations related to agreements to perform services internationally for the premier circus-themed performance troupe in the world
• Counseled several national apparel brands in their IP and licensing programs, advertising and entertainment-related issues, and corporate matters
• Represented toy company in copyright infringement/fair use matters against major comic book company and motion picture studio
• Represented professional sports photographers in copyright infringement, contractual and other business-related matters

Bar Admissions and Qualifications

• United States Supreme Court (2003)
• United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (2003)
• United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois (1999)
• Illinois State Bar (1999)

Memberships & Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association (Current Chair, Sports Law Committee -and- Lawyer Referral Service Committee)

Pro Bono and Volunteer Activities

• Lawyers For The Creative Arts, Pro Bono Volunteer
• Chicago Bar Association, Participant, Practice Tracks Program, Lawyer Referral Service, and Call-A-Lawyer Program
• Chicago Sports Academy, Pro Bono Legal Counsel 
• American Bar Association, Judge, National Negotiation Competition  
• Chicago-Area Law School Consortium, Participant, Meet the Firms Reception
• Point of Hope- A Deron Williams Foundation, Event Committee, Illini Hoop Legends for Charity
• Chicago 2016/ World Sport Chicago, Volunteer
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, "Super 200" Fundraiser for 2010 Chicago MS Walk

Teaching and Speaking Engagements

• Columbia College, Adjunct Professor in the Arts & Entertainment Media Management Program teaching Sports Law I, Labor Relations, and Introduction to Marketing the Arts; Creator and Moderator/Panelist, annual Sports Industry Symposium
• Chicago Bar Association, Speaker, “Show Me the Money! The Effects and Costs of the Competing Intellectual Property Claims in the Business of Sports” -and- “An Insider’s Handbook-A Look at Trademarks, Licensing and Intellectual Property in Professional Sports” Sports Law Committee Seminars; Speaker, "Alternative Dispute Resolution for Media, Sports and Entertainment Clients" Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Seminar
• Valparaiso University School of Law, Guest lecturer in “Intellectual Property” course; Featured Speaker, “Get a Job 101” seminar; Participant in “Valpo Law Professional Development Day”; Featured Speaker, Sports & Entertainment Law Association Seminar
• DePaul University College of Law, Panelist, Sports/Entertainment Law Panel; Speaker, Annual Sports Law Symposium
• John Marshall Law School, Featured Speaker, Entertainment, Media & Sports Law Society's Speaker Series
• Chicago-Kent College of Law, Featured Speaker, Sports & Entertainment Law Society Seminar
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Featured Speaker, Sports & Entertainment Law Society panel
• Oklahoma City School of Law, Featured Speaker, Sports & Entertainment Law Association Seminar
• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Featured Speaker, Sports and Entertainment Law Society seminar(s)
• Sports is Education Foundation, Board Member & Panelist, Annual Symposium
• Sports Events Marketing Experience, Panelist, SEME Central 2008 
• Academie du Management des Organisations Sportives (Paris), Instructor, U.S. Summer Program

Publications

• A CALL FOR DRUG-TESTING OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETES, Marquette Sports Law Review, Volume 19, Number 1, Fall 2008, 325.

Prior Experience

• Arena Football League/ arenafootball2- League Development & Legal Affairs
   
• Illinois High School Association- Legal Intern, Executive Director
   
• Oakland Raiders NFL Club- Intern, Legal Department