Sports & Entertainment
Stites & Harbison's sports and entertainment attorneys have a thorough understanding of the complex legal issues impacting the sports and entertainment industries on a daily basis. We have worked with everyone from team owners, agencies, sports associations, universities, and players, to record labels, recording artists, television stations, arenas, and stadium facilities. These multimillion dollar industries are ever changing and require seasoned attorneys with a deep understanding of the landscape. Stites & Harbison’s multidisciplinary approach to servicing the needs of its clients allows us to provide full legal representation to our sports and entertainment clients in the areas of:
- Antitrust;
- Complex Financings;
- Construction;
- Contract Negotiations and First Amendment Rights;
- Employment
- Estate Planning
- Intellectual Property, Copyright Law, and Royalties;
- Licensing;
- Mediation, Arbitration, and Litigation;
- Name, Image and Likeness (NIL);
- Real Estate; and
- Tax.
Stites & Harbison sports and entertainment attorneys have represented clients in negotiating contracts, advised clients regarding compliance with the rules and regulations of the National Basketball Association, National Collegiate Athletic Association, as well as other conferences, and have assisted clients in a variety of other day-to-day legal matters.
Our team has also been heavily involved in planning, design, and construction of large scale sporting venues across the United States. These include arena and stadium facilities for Division 1 universities, Major League Baseball, and the National Football League.
In addition, we have provided advice to clients relating to the various state and federal regulations associated with intercollegiate and professional athletics. While we prefer to help clients mitigate risk, we also assist clients with internal investigations, NCAA investigations, and the defense of their interests in court.
We maintain a deep understanding of the entertainment industry including copyright law, music publishing, contract negotiations, record labels, media and technology, television, radio, and general corporate matters. Clients include entertainment industry artists, songwriters, and other entities engaged in the use of creative works.
Our firm’s team approach benefits clients, assisting them in these globally popular industries with complex and often high-profile legal issues. Stites & Harbison sports and entertainment attorneys are included in some of the most prestigious legal rankings and publications including but not limited to The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation and Martindale-Hubbell®.
Samuel F. Miller Rejoins Stites & Harbison in Nashville
Stites & Harbison, PLLC welcomes attorney Samuel F. Miller back to the firm’s Nashville, Tenn., office where he started his legal career in 2003. He rejoins the firm as a Member (Partner) in the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group.
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana Appoints Donovan D. Gibbs II to Advisory Board
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana recently appointed Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Donovan D. Gibbs II to its Young Professionals Advisory Board.
Who Owns TRAVIS KELCE?: An Example of the Legal Issues that Arise When Related Entities Apply for Similar Trademarks
The Lanham Act bars the registration of similar trademarks (or “marks”) that are likely to cause confusion with existing marks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). This concept of “likelihood of confusion” is a foundational principal of trademark law and one of the most beneficial aspects of acquiring a federal registration. IP attorney Donovan Gibbs takes a look at those benefits in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Thad Barnes and Michael Denbow Appointed to Lead Stites & Harbison’s Business Litigation Service Group
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Thad M. Barnes and Michael Denbow have been appointed to Co-Chair the firm’s Business Litigation Service Group. Each attorney will continue their diverse legal practices in business litigation.
Taylor Stuckey Appointed Chair of Stites & Harbison’s Trusts & Estates Service Group
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Taylor J. Stuckey has been appointed Chair of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Service Group.
Is That Tattoo Infringing? The Complicated Copyright Questions Surrounding Tattoos
Tattoos have been at the core of several copyright cases over the last few years. One of the earliest well-known examples was a suit by Mike Tyson’s tattoo artist over the use of Tyson’s face tattoo design in the movie The Hangover Part II, which settled out of court in 2011. However, several more recently undecided cases have raised issues tied to tattoos and copyright infringement. TJ Mihill takes a look at this issue in the latest Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Stites & Harbison Welcomes Donovan D. Gibbs II to the Louisville Office
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC welcomes attorney Donovan D. Gibbs II to the firm based in the Louisville, Ky., office. He joins the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group.