Sports Law

Darren A. Heitner, Esq. wrote the book on Sports Law titled, How To Play The Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs To Know and then completed a Second Edition of the popular book in February 2018 before having a Third Edition published in December 2021. He regularly handles sports arbitration matters, litigation, transactional work, and intellectual property matters for clients, consults for university athletic departments, taught Sport Agency Management at Indiana University Bloomington teaches Sports Law at the University of Florida and University of Florida Levin College of Law while also teaching Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law.

Darren does a tremendous job. Darren is an outstanding lawyer, has helped a lot of our clients, is an asset to the industry, and I respect and appreciate him. – Drew Rosenhaus, Rosenhaus Sports Representation

In 2019, Heitner was asked to help draft and support legislation in the State of Florida to allow, for the first time, college athletes to earn money from their names, images and likenesses. In early 2020, the legislation passed both the Florida House and Senate on its way to becoming law, causing Florida to be the first state to make effective an NIL law with a July 1, 2021 effective date.

Heitner was extensively counted on and quoted thereafter with regard to NIL and was a leading voice in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of NCAA v. Alston.

Many athletes, agents, brands, and universities have counted on Heitner for guidance on NIL since July 1, 2021.

Individuals and entities represented by Heitner Legal’s Sports Law practice include the following:

  • Aaron Turner
  • Al-Farouq Aminu
  • Alex Avila
  • Alex Katz
  • Alexa Noel
  • Alli Phillips
  • American Top Team
  • Andre Reed
  • Andrei Kirilenko
  • Andrew Alvidrez
  • Andrew Van Ginkel
  • Andrew Wiggins
  • Angel Reese
  • Anna Kournikova
  • Anthony Davis (NFL)
  • Anthony Richardson
  • Antonio Brown
  • Antonio Hamilton
  • Antrel Rolle
  • Armani Watts
  • Aroldis Chapman
  • Arron Afflalo
  • Atari Bigby
  • Athlete Originals
  • Austin Rivers
  • BEGREAT Sports
  • Benjamin Joyce
  • Big Health
  • Bill Raftery
  • Bismack Biyombo
  • Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST)
  • Bobby McCain
  • Bommarito Performance Systems
  • Bouna Ndiaye
  • Brandon Baker
  • Brandon Brown
  • Brandon Joseph
  • Brandon Marshall
  • Braxton Miller
  • Brent Suter
  • Brian Elfus
  • Brian Poole
  • Brice Butler
  • Bryce “Thugnasty” Mitchell
  • Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Byron Maxwell
  • Calijah Kancey
  • Casey Ferguson
  • Celine Boutier
  • Chase Claypool
  • Chris Olave
  • Chris Pronger
  • Christopher Morel
  • Chuba Hubbard
  • C.J. Stroud
  • Cleodis Floyd
  • Cole Seely
  • Cre’Von LeBlanc
  • CrossCheck Sports
  • Dalton Brooks
  • Damien Lewis
  • Damon Arnette, Jr.
  • Danuel House
  • Darius Garland
  • Darius Leonard
  • Daulton Varsho
  • David Njoku
  • Davon Godchaux
  • D.C. Pickleball Team
  • D.J. Moore
  • D.J. Reed
  • Dan Fegan
  • De’Aaron Fox
  • Dede Westbrook
  • Derrick Morgan
  • Des Linden
  • Devin Funchess
  • Dewayne Dedmon
  • Dominique Easley
  • Donovan McMillon
  • Doug Gottlieb
  • Draymond Green
  • Duke Johnson
  • Dwight Howard
  • Dylan Disu
  • Dyron Dye
  • Ed Barham
  • Eddy Pineiro
  • Elandon Roberts
  • Erik Swoope
  • Ervin Santana
  • Euro Motorsport
  • Evan McPherson
  • Everett Sports Marketing
  • Evlution Nutrition
  • FanHold
  • FanJam
  • FanMouth
  • First Round Management
  • Fourth Quarter Sports Group
  • Frank Gore
  • Fred Taylor
  • Fred VanVleet
  • Gary Player Group
  • George Pickens
  • Gervon Dexter
  • Goal Line Football
  • Greg Hardy
  • Haanif Cheatham
  • Hanna and Haley Cavinder
  • Happy Walters
  • Hendon Hooker
  • Hot Shot Sports Management
  • Iman Shumpert
  • Isaac Okoro
  • Isaiah Pead
  • Jadeveon Clowney
  • Jalen Carter
  • Jalen Hurts
  • Jalen Mills
  • Jamaal Williams
  • Jamil Wilson
  • Jayson Ademilola
  • J.J. Barea
  • J.J. Hickson
  • Jack Johnson
  • Jack Scharf
  • Jake Burger
  • Jakob Johnson
  • Jakobi Meyers
  • Jalen Hurts
  • Jamal Adams
  • Jason Belmonte
  • Jason Demers
  • Jason Mercier
  • Jerami Grant
  • Jim Tomsula
  • John Jenkins
  • Johnathan Cyprien
  • Johnny Manziel
  • Jon “Bones” Jones
  • Jonathan Kuminga
  • Jonathan Taylor
  • Jonnu Smith
  • Jordan Addison
  • Jordan Phillips
  • Jordan Poyer
  • Jordan Reed
  • Jose Bautista
  • Jose Ramirez
  • Josh Hader
  • JuJu Smith-Schuster
  • Jumaine Jones
  • Justin Ademilola
  • Kayvon Webster
  • Keith Smith
  • Kenny Omega
  • Kenny Pickett
  • Kevin Samples
  • Keyontae Johnson
  • Kira Lewis
  • Kiyan Anthony
  • Kwon Alexander
  • Kyle Hamilton
  • LaDarius Gunter
  • Landry Shamet
  • Lawrence Timmons
  • LeGarrette Blount
  • Legends Hospitality
  • Leonard Armato
  • LIFT Sports Management
  • Logan Hall
  • Luis Castillo
  • Luther Davis
  • Mac Jones
  • Malcolm Butler
  • Maliek Collins
  • Marc Lillibridge
  • Marcus Morris
  • Marcus Robertson
  • Mark Recchi
  • Martavis Bryant
  • Manny Ramirez
  • Marcus Stroman
  • Markeef Morris
  • Marlin Chinn
  • Mario Manningham
  • Matt Ramker
  • Max Strus
  • Melvin Ingram
  • MGT Capital Investments
  • Miami Sports Consulting
  • Micah Parsons
  • Michael Badgley
  • Mike Daniels
  • Mike Silverman
  • Mike Spinner
  • Mike Williams
  • Monique Billings
  • Montrezl Harrell
  • Morgan Advisory Group
  • Moves Media
  • Nakobe Dean
  • Nevin Lawson
  • Nick Chubb
  • Nigel Hayes
  • Nijel Pack
  • Official Brands
  • Pablo Sandoval
  • Paige VanZant
  • Panda eSports
  • Pepsi (Gatorade)
  • PJ Hairston
  • Playmaker
  • ProSource Sports Management
  • Quincy Acy
  • Quinshon Judkins
  • Rafael Furcal
  • Rashad Butler
  • Rashod Bateman
  • Richard Goodman
  • Ricardo Louis
  • Richardson Sports Management
  • Rick Pitino
  • Rick Ware Racing
  • Robenson Therezie
  • Robert Turbin
  • Rosenhaus Sports Representation
  • Russian Basketball Federation
  • Sean Davis
  • Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Shaka Smart
  • Shane Bieber
  • Shane McElrath
  • Shaun Bradley
  • Socios
  • SportsCastr
  • Sportsmanias
  • STARS Sports Training
  • Stetson Bennett
  • Sure Sports Lending
  • Terrance West
  • Terrell Owens
  • Terry McLaurin
  • Terry Rozier
  • The Players’ Impact
  • Tim Donaghy
  • Tim Settle
  • Top Dawg Entertainment
  • Trai Turner
  • Trevor Bauer
  • Trey Sermon
  • Tyler Faoro
  • Tyler Van Dyke
  • Tyreek Hill
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • Ventrell Miller
  • Vinnie Pasquantino
  • Vinny Milano (“Bald Vinny”)
  • Wendell Moore, Jr.
  • Wilin Rosario
  • Xavien Howard
  • Young Money APAA Sports
  • Yuandale Evans
  • Zaire Franklin