Entertainment & Sports Law

Client-Centered Service In New England Since 1983

As the entertainment industry continues to expand, legal disputes have become increasingly complex. Melick & Porter, LLP can help you navigate through difficult legal issues. Our entertainment attorneys are highly skilled in contract negotiations, civil litigation, labor and employment law, tort law, and insurance law. This allows us to diligently represent our clients in entertainment law as well as in related legal issues. We advise and defend a wide variety of clients, including production companies, movie theater chains, radio stations, theater groups, cast and crews of television shows, celebrities and comedians, bars and restaurants, and casinos.

Our entertainment and sports lawyers have a long track record of success that you can depend on. Contact us online or by calling (617) 523-6200 today!

Common Types Of Entertainment & Sports Legal Issues

When you work in the entertainment or sports industry, you know that legal issues frequently arise. There are always contracts to discuss, as well as labor and employment law matters.

Common types of legal concerns our lawyers help with include:

Contract issues: Professional athletes, entertainers, and artists have high stake contracts, and some may look for loopholes so they can seek free agency. Common contract issues also include licensing agreements and intellectual property.
Labor disputes: Workers in the entertainment and sports industries tend to work long hours and irregular scheduled. Many may have wage and hour violation claims for not being paid properly such as disputes with overtime or tips. Additionally, artists and athletes may file claims alleging poor or toxic working conditions.
Personal injury claims in sports: While in the past, many athletes were prevented from filing personal injury claims because of their contracts, some courts are now allowing injured athletes as well as fans to seek compensation for injuries sustained as a result of negligence.
Copyright issues: Many entertainers want to protect their creative work and file claims citing copyright violations.

A Multidisciplinary Approach To The Law

Again, our multidisciplinary approach provides our sports law clients with a distinct advantage. Of particular relevance, we have extensive experience in the defense of personal injury and general negligence claims. In addition, our strong insurance law practice enables us to navigate complex insurance and indemnification issues. We represent professional and amateur sports, including teams, facilities, athletic associations, and sponsors.

We provide a variety of legal services for issues including internal investigations, Title IX compliance, contract negotiations and disputes, compensation and pay equity, misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, ADA compliance, and insurance. With more than 40 years of demonstrated success, you can trust us to provide the counsel you need to make informed decisions on behalf of your business.

For entertainment and sports legal matters, we serve clients throughout New England. Contact us online today!

Key Contacts

Nationally-Recognized & Award-Winning Trial Attorneys

Brian C. Davis
Partner

Brian is a partner in Melick & Porter's Boston office. He focuses his practice on defending individual and corporate clients in complex civil litigation matters including general liability, hospitality and restaurant litigation, entertainment and sports litigation, construction litigation, and transportation litigation. He is admitted to the state and federal court of Massachusetts.

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Douglas L. Fox
Of Counsel

Doug provides counseling and trial advocacy for the sports and entertainment industry and counts among his clients some of the premier sports and entertainment franchises in Massachusetts. He has extensive experience defending claims arising out of activities at NFL and MLB events, concerts, triathlons, marathons, hockey rinks, dance clubs, and commercial trucking.

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Christian H. Hinrichsen
Partner

Christian has extensive experience in complex litigation matters, including bench and jury trials, arbitrations, administrative proceedings, and mediations. His corporate counseling includes risk assessment and contract review. He is admitted to the state and federal courts of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Christian's practice has earned him selections as a “Massachusetts Super Lawyer.”

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Michael J. Mazurczak
Member

Maz has been at Melick & Porter his entire legal career. He began as a Law Clerk in the summer of 1988 and joined the firm as an Associate in the fall of 1989. Maz has extensive experience in complex civil litigation matters, representing clients in both federal and state courts for over 30 years. A significant portion of his practice involves employment law and includes providing major national corporations with oversight and defense of their employment litigation.

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Robert P. Powers
Member

Bob joined the firm in 1984 after graduating from law school and has made it his professional home. In the years since, he has tried numerous jury cases in both federal and state courts involving a variety of civil matters, including professional malpractice, insurance coverage, and general liability claims. Bob oversees our firm's appellate practice and has successfully argued cases before the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Holly G. Rogers
Partner

Holly Rogers has earned a reputation as a zealous and effective advocate. She practices from our Connecticut Office, which she also manages. Holly has extensive experience in complex litigation matters. She devotes the majority of her practice to representation of clients in employment and professional liability matters. Holly represents clients in both federal and state courts in Connecticut and New York, as well as before federal and state agencies. Holly has arbitrated and mediated numerous claims before the American Arbitration Association and other dispute resolution entities. She has authored articles on a variety of legal topics and has spoken on topics of interest before client groups and legal peers.

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Syd A. Saloman
Partner

Syd is a cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and a cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School. During law school, he was the recipient of the Goodwin Scholarship for Best Trial Advocacy. Syd previously practiced at Regan & Kiely LLP and Tucker, Heifetz & Saltzman in Boston.

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