Page 8 - Briefcase V36 Number 1

FEBRUARY

NFL’s vice president of labor relations Brook Gardiner, NCAA’s Managing Director of Enforcement Investigations & Processing
Derrick Crawford, and Chairman and CEO of the Butler Lappert Williams Firm, M. Quentin B.L. Williams

NCAA, NFL 100 people who couldn’t
LAWYERS GIVE TIPS care less about you.”
ON WHAT MAKES Brook Gardiner, the
A GOOD SPORTS NFL’s vice president of
labor relations, advised
LAWYER AT UHLC the audience that being a
LECTURE successful sports lawyer has
Three attorneys with years little to do with supporting
of experience in the NBA, your favorite team.
NCAA and NFL shared “Being a sports lawyer is
tricks of the sports law not a lawyer who likes
trade during “Touchdown! sports, or is a fan of sports,”
A Sports CLE Program” at the University of Houston Law Center. Gardiner said. “It’s really a lawyer who’s passionate about understanding
M. Quentin B.L. Williams served as moderator for the opening panel the business of sports and having a deep understanding of the legal
discussion, “Being a Good Sports Lawyer and In-house Counsel.” issues involved in sports.”
Williams is the chairman and CEO of the Butler Lappert Williams Firm Derrick Crawford, the NCAA’s Managing Director of Enforcement
in New York. He previously worked as an FBI agent, former federal Investigations & Processing, encouraged aspiring sports lawyers to
prosecutor, and attorney for the NBA and NFL. prioritize the development of practical skills and networking. He also
“There’s no one recipe for getting into sports,” he said. “There are many echoed Gardiner’s sentiments about not showing your team colors.
different ways to do it. I’m a firm believer that relationship-building is “If you really want to get into sports, you really have to know people in
the way to go about business and to gain access to the sports world. If the industry,” Crawford said. “It’s super competitive. You really need to
you meet one person who really believes in you, it’s better than meeting develop good legal skills.

8 Briefcase 2018