Entertainment & Sports Law

This lawyer can fight for you in court or the cage

It’s not that personal injury lawyer Victor Demesmin Jr. was looking for a fight, exactly. But he was certainly looking for a challenge. That’s just the kind of guy he is—so throwing himself into the ring as a bare-knuckle fighter is on brand for the South Florida father of three. “The idea of going into a ring, bare-knuckled, it was the scariest thought for me,” says Demesmin, 37. “And because it was so scary for me, I decided I would have to do it.”

Apr 9, 2026 10:37 AM CDT

Manual labor and college football shaped the trial lawyer he is today, litigator says

Before I ever stood in front of a jury, I stood on the turf at Georgia Tech as a college football player. I’ve also dug graves, worked on offshore oil rigs and branded cattle as a ranch hand. At first glance, none of these roles seem to have much in common with the world of high-stakes trial law that I’ve occupied for nearly 40 years. Yet each one instilled lessons and forged qualities that have been invaluable in the courtroom.

Apr 7, 2026 1:26 PM CDT

University of New Mexico students present heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali as legal champion

Ten years after he died, many still call Muhammad Ali the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. But for students at the University of New Mexico, it’s his championing in the courtroom that made him a knockout.

Apr 2, 2026 2:15 PM CDT

Legal services provider 8am and NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers announce partnership

Coming soon to the Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers: the 8am Club. The legal services provider announced in a joint statement with the team on Thursday that it will be the official professional services partner of the Buccaneers, and it will receive naming rights for one of the stadium's two premium lounge seating sections.

Apr 2, 2026 12:27 PM CDT

Potomac Power Play: Annual charity hockey game pits lobbyists against lawmakers

The annual game pits a team of lobbyists, including lawyers from Holland & Knight and Steptoe, against a team of lawmakers, featuring FBI Director Kash Patel, also a lawyer, playing defense. Michelle MacGregor, a senior strategist for global law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, made the deciding goal in favor of Team Lobbyists.

Apr 2, 2026 9:15 AM CDT

One of NFL’s first female officials sues for alleged gender discrimination, termination

A woman who had a pioneering position as an NFL game official is suing the league for its alleged sexist treatment of her.

Apr 1, 2026 1:47 PM CDT

Billboards and the Billable Hour: A lawyer’s take on a Netflix series about Las Vegas litigation

Every so often, a legal show comes along that makes me ask one important question: WTF am I watching? That’s roughly the experience of viewing Strip Law, the latest legal comedy on Netflix.

Mar 30, 2026 8:41 AM CDT

Supreme Court finds internet service providers not liable for users’ pirated music

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that internet service providers are generally not responsible for the illegal distribution and downloading of music on their services, a blow to the music recording industry’s efforts to curb online piracy.

Mar 25, 2026 10:00 AM CDT

Musicians in this state are suing AI companies under biometric privacy law

Musicians who argue that artificial intelligence companies have used their songs without permission are bringing litigation under a unique law in Illinois.

Mar 23, 2026 1:39 PM CDT

Did They Know the Score? Amid March Madness, questions remain about college athletes indicted in fixing scheme

March Madness is underway. But alleged madness of a different sort hit men’s college basketball in January when federal prosecutors charged 20 current and former players with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery in sporting contests. The indictment in U.S. v. Smith alleges a group of “fixers” agreed to recruit NCAA players who would help ensure their teams failed to cover the point spread of the first half of a game or an entire game. But will the wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges lead to convictions?

Mar 23, 2026 12:40 PM CDT

As fans look ahead to new baseball season, judges look back at game’s history

When confronting a dispute with a connection to baseball, some judges have turned nostalgic, poeticizing about the game’s history, players and traditions before taking a swing at the issues.

Mar 19, 2026 10:58 AM CDT

Plessy, Brown and the first Jackie Robinson

This year’s Major League Baseball opener is an upcoming Wednesday night game between the New York Yankees and the Giants in San Francisco. That game marks 150 years since the first official opening day, when the Boston Red Stockings defeated the Philadelphia Athletics on April 22, 1876. A great deal of major league history followed, both on and off the field.

Mar 19, 2026 10:01 AM CDT

How can creators protect themselves in the AI era?

Identity protection has become a huge issue for creators, many of whom may be losing control of their names, images and likenesses in business disputes, brand deals and even divorce, according to a Texas attorney who spoke Sunday at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.

Mar 17, 2026 9:09 AM CDT

DOJ settles antitrust lawsuit with Live Nation and Ticketmaster; 25 states vow to continue fight

The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to settle an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster for $280 million. However, the show might not be over yet.

Mar 10, 2026 12:27 PM CDT

3 generations of Vince Lombardi go to law school; 1 becomes a famous football coach

In an ABA Journal interview with Vince Lombardi’s son and grandson, they discussed their careers and connections to the Hall of Fame coach. The two are certain of one thing: If Lombardi had been a lawyer, his days would not have been spent parsing the tax code. “He would have commanded the courtroom,” Lombardi Jr. tells columnist Randy Maniloff.

Mar 4, 2026 9:04 AM CST