With the ascension of a new president and general counsel at the NCAA over the last two years, Gregory L. Curtner and his team of sports law attorneys at Miller Canfield have a couple reasons to be nervous about his group’s continued relationship with the NCAA, its marquis client.
However, the powers that be at the association had no intention of jumping ships.
“We have had a pretty good run for the NCAA,” Curtner recently told Sports Litigation Alert. “That, I’m sure, was a factor.”
That successful run may also have been a factor in another decision by Curtner et al. — to join Schiff Hardin LLP.
“We were looking for a more national platform that would allow us to take our sports, entertainment and antitrust practice to the next level,” said Curtner. “Miller Canfield is a fine Michigan firm. But it was no longer working very well.
“Schiff Hardin is a little more national in scope, with offices all over the country. They already have a number of attorneys with a sports law practice, whether it is in player representation or facility financing. It seemed like a good fit for what we were trying to do, which is compete for more national business.”
Ronald S. Safer, Managing Partner of Schiff Hardin, knows what he is getting in Curtner’s group.
“Our coast-to-coast offices and our national and international clients will greatly benefit from their leading-edge counsel, and our accompanying new office in Ann Arbor expands our Midwest presence as an emerging national law firm,” said Safer.
And there will always be the NCAA. Curtner and his team, who will reside in Ann Arbor, are currently representing the association in a number of matters, such as: In re Student-Athlete Likeness Litigation; Agnew v. NCAA; and Aloha Sports, Inc. v. NCAA. And doing it well.
“Greg and his team have been trusted advisors and excellent litigators for the NCAA for over 15 years,” NCAA General Counsel Donald Remy told Sports Litigation Alert. “Schiff Hardin is a well-respected national law firm with a tradition of superior service to its clients. We are excited about combining the unique knowledge of the Association with the stellar platform at Schiff Hardin and receiving the same high quality legal service for years to come.”
The bios of Curtner and the rest of his team — Frederick R. Juckniess, Kimberly K. Kefalas and Robert J. Wierenga – follow:
About Gregory L. Curtner
A trial attorney of national repute, Mr. Curtner concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation involving matters of antitrust, sports; corporate contracts, transactions and business torts; securities law and allegations of fraud and conversion; intellectual property and patent infringement; and media law, invasion of privacy and defamation. His clients range from commercial businesses, manufacturers, and financial services firms to athletic organizations and academic institutions, as well as individuals. In the course of representing athletic equipment manufacturers, sports associations and academic athletics programs, Mr. Curtner has cultivated a particular area of knowledge in sports law. Additionally, he frequently serves as lead counsel in nationwide antitrust disputes and class actions, and has appeared pro hac vice in numerous state and federal courts. A former chairman of the Antitrust Section of the State Bar of Michigan, he was a primary drafter of the Michigan Antitrust Reform Act. Mr. Curtner graduated from the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1970) and the University of Michigan (B.B.A., 1967).
About Frederick R. Juckniess
Mr. Juckniess focuses his practice on antitrust and trade regulation, intellectual property, and litigation and dispute resolution. His recent cases include defense of associations, tying claims, antitrust injury issues and group boycott. Mr. Juckniess also regularly provides antitrust consulting in connection with business practices, marketing including pricing (MAP/MSRP), joint ventures, and mergers in a broad span of industries. Additionally, he consults on matters concerning intellectual property relating to patents, trademarks and trade secrets. Mr. Juckniess graduated from the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1995) and the University of Colorado at Boulder (B.A., Economics, with distinction, 1992).
About Kimberly K. Kefalas
Ms. Kefalas has extensive litigation experience relating to antitrust law, contracts and commercial torts, voluntary associations, and the sports and entertainment industries. Her practice is focused on complex commercial cases and class action litigation, primarily antitrust. Ms. Kefalas graduated from the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2002) and the University of Michigan – Dearborn (B.A., 1999).
About Robert J. Wierenga
Mr. Wierenga’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on antitrust litigation and class action defense. He has a wide range of experience in counseling large and small clients on antitrust, intellectual property, and fair trade issues arising under federal, state and foreign law. He has represented clients in antitrust cases, consumer class actions and other complex disputes in courts around the country, and has assisted clients who have been contacted by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Canadian Competition Bureau and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Competition. He also regularly counsels clients involved in litigation or arbitration arising out of complex commercial contracts or partnership agreements. Mr. Wierenga graduated from the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 1995) and the University of Michigan (B.A., 1991).
