Jeremy M. Evans, CEO, Founder, and Managing Attorney of the law firm California Sports Lawyer®, is an influential fixture in the sports law community, where he his work has earned the praise of clients and co-counsel, alike.
One reason for that acclaim is that he possesses great expertise in best practices and negotiations in entertainment, media and sports. Through the years, Evans has and continues to represent entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual and intellectual property negotiations with a focus on dealmaking. His clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to entrepreneurs, advertising and production companies, studios, agencies, talent, and others.
Evans has a strong editorial pedigree as evidenced by his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. Additionally, Evans holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law from Pepperdine University’s Rick J. Caruso School of Law, and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Entertainment, Media and Sports Management from Pepperdine University’s George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management.
What follows is an interview with the accomplished Evans.
Question: How did you get into sports law?
Answer: My path into sports law was initially not intentional. I grew up in and around Hollywood and had a love for film, entertainment, television, and sports. I played sports as a child and teenager, and particularly loved and was pretty good at baseball. I also did some acting in plays. However, once my career trajectory and passions moved towards public service and the law after working in the California Legislature and earning a political science degree from UCLA, I did not initially see how entertainment, media, and sports could be combined with other passions.
However, while in law school, my initial goal of wanting to be a district attorney, likely from watching “Law & Order” episodes on television, I began to experience the actual practice of law from watching attorneys and through internships. I learned that while I loved the acting part of being in the courtroom, I much rather preferred being a peacemaker and dealmaker. I enjoyed bringing people, concepts, and deals together as opposed to breaking people and things up.
In that moment, I was able to find the marriage of passions between entertainment, media, sports, politics, public service, and statesmanship. I owe much of the eye-opening to the Tulane Law School International Baseball Arbitration Competition that I competed in and coached the National Champion in 2012, while also leading two additional teams to the Quarter and Semi Finals. That experience led me to create the National Sports Law Negotiation Competition and later the California Sports Lawyer® Negotiation Competition at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Those experiences gave me further confidence to move forward in starting and establishing my law practice, California Sports Lawyer® after being licensed to practice law. This opened me up to opportunities to write a weekly column and podcast.
Q: Were there mentors along the way and who were they?
A: Mentorship is essential to success in this business, or any business. Being self-made requires learning from others. I have had many mentors and for someone who grew up in a large family (youngest of nine siblings) and the first to go and graduate from college, let alone graduate school, mentors were essential to my learning, experience, and success. I would point to Phil Shapiro (now passed), Don Cooperman, and others. Interestingly, both were not sports lawyers, but taught me a lot about life and the law. I also had lots of colleagues that I would consider mentors.
Q: How would you describe your practice?
A: Based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. I focus on best practices and negotiations in entertainment, media and sports. I represent entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual and intellectual property negotiations with a focus on dealmaking. My clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to entrepreneurs, advertising and production companies, studios, agencies, talent, and more. Boiled down, contracts, intellectual property, and dealmaking for entertainment, media, and sports clients.
Q: What’s the best part about being a sports lawyer?
A: I love being an entrepreneur that allows me to be tested and offers learning experiences to grow and reach for excellence. It is not for everyone, but I love that there is always room for experience and growth. I love that I get to practice my passion and get to choose clients based on personality and mission, not money. This means there are ups and downs, but with good planning and tenacity, it is worth it. It is interesting, I often get asked how I got into sports and entertainment, by students and seasoned attorneys, but the fact that we get asked I think is proof that at the least combining your passion, what you are good at, and to be able to make a living is an incredible opportunity and experience.
Q: What trends are you watching closely for the rest of 2024 and why?
A: Artificial intelligence in entertainment media, and sports, sports betting limitations and discipline, the structure of NCAA sports through changes in NIL, paying players, classification, American and international growth of sports, and on-going antitrust matters that may change the trajectory of the industry through broadcasting and streaming.
