Sports agent and lawyer Donald H. Yee ’87 will keynote a symposium focusing on problems facing the sports and entertainment industry on March 25 at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Sponsored by the Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal and the Virginia Sports Law Society, the symposium “Trending & Controversial: The Year’s Most-Debated Issues in Sports and Entertainment Law” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Caplin Pavilion.

Bringing together some of the biggest names in the sports and entertainment law field, the symposium will explore topics such as content distribution, fantasy sport leagues and the legal problems facing this year’s biggest international sports event, the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

"We chose thought-provoking topics that can dramatically shape sports and entertainment law," said symposium organizer Zachary Ray, a third-year law student. "We invited speakers with diverse experiences and perspectives, many of them UVA Law alumni."

A partner of Yee & Dubin, Yee represents NFL players and coaches, including New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. He will deliver his keynote address, "Why Sports Really Aren't About Sports Anymore," after lunch at 12:45 p.m. 

Yee, a graduate of UCLA, also counsels a diverse group of owners, leagues and sports business companies. An adjunct professor of law at the University of Southern California Law School and a visiting professor at UVA Law over the years, Yee frequently speaks on sports-related issues within the industry.

Trending & Controversial: The Year’s Mo​st-Debated Issues in Sports and Entertainment Law

Friday, March 25

9:30-10 a.m.          
Breakfast and Opening Remarks

10-11 a.m.          
Panel 1 | Evolution or Revolution: The New Nature of Content Distribution in Sports and Entertainment

  • Tom Ostertag ’81, Senior President and Special Counsel, Major League Baseball
  • David Denenberg, Senior Vice President, Global Media Distribution and Business Affairs, National Basketball Association
  • Kristi A. Dosh, Sports Business Analyst
  • Byron Marchant ’87, Former Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, Black Entertainment Television

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.        
Panel 2 | Can I Play? The Law and Legal Future of Daily Fantasy Sports

  • Marc Edelman, Associate Professor of Law, Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College
  • Dan Wallach, Shareholder, Becker & Poliakoff, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Kevin Cochran, Senior Legal Analyst, Gambling Compliance
  • Will Green, Writer, Sports Illustrated

12:15-12:45 p.m.       
Lunch

12:45-1:45 p.m.
Keynote Address
"Why Sports Really Aren't About Sports Anymore"
Donald H. Yee '87, Partner, Yee & Dubin

2-3 p.m.
Panel 3 | Rio 2016: Legal Hurdles Within the World’s Premier International Sporting Event

  • Mark Levinstein, Partner, Williams & Connolly; Outside Counsel to the U.S. Olympic Committee, 2003-07
  • Bob Latham ’83, Partner, Jackson Walker; Chairman, USA Rugby
  • Mark Conrad, Associate Professor, Law and Ethics; Director, Sports Business Program, Fordham University Gabelli School of Business
  • Becca Ward, Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senate; two-time Olympic medalist and eight-time World Champion Fencer

3-3:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks

3:15-4:15 p.m.
Reception

 

Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.