Sports Law

The sports industry is one of the most dynamic, high-stakes legal environments in the world. Contracts are complex, timelines are unforgiving, and the decisions made at critical moments can shape careers, livelihoods, and legacies for years to come.

At Bertholomey Law, my sports law practice is grounded in 12 years of front-line experience as an attorney and sports agent.

As an MLBPA certified agent who has spent over a decade at two of the world's premier sports and entertainment firms, I've sat at the negotiating table, worked through arbitration hearings, structured endorsement deals, and guided athletes through the full arc of their careers, from college recruitment to their long-term legacy and post-career planning.

That depth of experience means my clients receive counsel that is not only legally sound, but informed by the realities of how deals actually get done at the highest levels of collegiate and professional sports.

Services

My sports law practice serves a broad range of clients across the sports ecosystem - professional and amateur athletes, coaches, NIL collectives, and sports-focused businesses- with a depth of experience that is particularly concentrated in baseball.

  • At the heart of any athlete's career is the contract. We bring extensive experience negotiating professional contracts across levels of play, with a particular depth of expertise in baseball. Whether you are entering your first professional deal, approaching a pivotal extension, or navigating free agency, we provide the preparation, market knowledge, and advocacy to ensure you receive what you have earned.

    My services extend beyond players to coaches and other sports professionals seeking experienced counsel in their own contract negotiations and employment matters.

  • Salary arbitration is one of the most nuanced and high-stakes processes in professional sports. Building a winning case requires meticulous preparation, a command of comparable contracts and performance data, and the ability to present a compelling argument under pressure. I have extensive experience in arbitration and approach every case with the rigor and advocacy that the moment demands.

  • The NIL landscape has fundamentally changed college athletics, and with it, the legal complexity facing student-athletes, their families, and the collectives and brands looking to work with them. I provide comprehensive NIL counsel across all sides of this evolving space.

    For student-athletes, I help evaluate opportunities, structure agreements, and ensure that deals are built to protect your eligibility, your brand, and your financial interests.

    For NIL collectives, I provide legal guidance on structure, compliance, and the contractual frameworks that govern relationships with athletes, helping collectives operate effectively in a landscape where the rules are still being written.

  • An athlete's earning potential extends well beyond their playing contract. I have extensive experience structuring and negotiating endorsement agreements across the full spectrum, from major national brands to memorabilia deals, trading card agreements, and equipment partnerships. Every deal is reviewed with the same attention to detail and advocacy, regardless of size, because your name and likeness have value that deserves to be protected.

  • The business of sports is growing faster than ever, and the legal needs of sports-focused companies are as specialized as the industry itself. Bertholomey Law works with entrepreneurs and startups operating in the sports space, providing practical, experienced legal counsel on business formation, contracts, and the unique regulatory and transactional issues that arise at the intersection of sports and commerce.

    Whether you are building a technology platform, a media company, a training facility, or any other sports-adjacent venture, I bring an insider's understanding of the industry to every engagement.

  • Agents navigating a transition between firms face a unique and often treacherous set of legal issues. Non-solicitation agreements, client contact restrictions, and employment contract obligations can create significant exposure for those who don't approach a departure carefully. I provide experienced counsel to agents seeking new opportunities, helping them understand their obligations, protect their interests, and make transitions that are legally sound.

    I also represent agents and sports executives in grievance proceedings and employment disputes with former employers, bringing a practitioner's understanding of how these relationships, and their endings, actually work.