Economic Reality of Life in Professional Sports is Topic of First Sports Law Symposium, Feb. 26
January 23, 2009
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Baltimore Ravens President Richard Cass will lead a panel of sports agents, league attorneys, and active NFL players in a scintillating discussion of the economic lives of professional athletes on Thursday, Feb. 26, as the University of Baltimore School of Law hosts its first annual Sports Law Symposium. "From Rookie to Retirement: The NFL Universe in the New Economy" will take place beginning at 10 a.m. in the Venable Baetjer Howard Moot Court Room in the School of Law, 1415 Maryland Ave. Admission is free, but space is limited and registration is required. (Details listed below.)
Special guests scheduled to join the discussion include Harold Henderson, NFL legal counsel; Richard Berthleson, NFL Players Association legal counsel; Tom Condon, J.D. '81, an agent with Creative Artists Agency CAA Sports; Pat Moriarty, vice president of football administration for the Ravens; Tony Agnone, J.D. '78, an agent with Easter Athletic Services; Kristen Kuliga, agent for football legend Doug Flutie; Ira Rainess, J.D. '92, agent for Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis; and a number of current and former NFL greats to be named at a later date.
The group will discuss a variety of topics related to players' economic lives, including "Preparing the Rookie: Pre-Draft Prep"; "Negotiating the Contract and Salary Cap, Now and in the Future"; "Player Marketing in the New Economic Reality"; "Collective Rights and Benefits: The Future of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement"; and "Public/Private Partnerships." Cass will deliver the keynote address for the symposium at noon. The current agenda, still taking shape, is available here.
Through the leadership of Dean Phillip J. Closius and Associate Prof. Dionne L. Koller, the School of Law is carving out a niche in the growing realm of sports law, counsel and agency.
"This is an area that makes a lot of sense for us, beyond the fact that we are a two-sports town with a lot of dedicated professional athletes in our midst," Closius said. "We designed the sports law symposium as a place where we could explore the intersecting lines of athletics, contracts and trends in the business of competition. Over time you will see us not only looking at the more fascinating aspects of negotiations—but also at the trends in sports that put players in front of news cameras even when there's no game on."
"From Rookie to Retirement" attendees can register online for this event here. Additional information about the symposium is available by sending an e-mail to the School of Law Office of External Relations at lawevents@ubalt.edu.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.