2012-2013
Executive Board Members

  • President
    Jennifer Riso

  • VP of Entertainment Law
    Latonja Sinckler

  • VP of Sports
    Asha Velay

  • Treasurer
    Mike Fallings

  • Secretary
    Kelly O'Neill

  • Director of Alumni Outreach
    Sean Braun
  • 1L Representative

    Charles Frank

Contact: sports@wcl.american.edu

Follow us on twitter: @WCLSELS

Sports & Entertainment Law Society

The Sports & Entertainment Law Society seeks to provide students who have an interest in sports or entertainment law with a mechanism to become involved in and acquire a greater knowledge of the issues in these fields. The society sponsors numerous activities, both intra-school and inter-school, to familiarize students with the unique type of law practiced in these very specialized fields. SELS also cosponsors a career forum in which participants are given an opportunity to hear and speak with practitioners currently working in these areas of the law.

One on One with Karen Leetzow, NASCAR

  • Come and hear former WCL graduate Karen Leetzow talk about her experience as General Counsel/Vice President of NASCAR and how she broke the glass ceiling as a woman in a predominantly male field.
  • The event takes place on April 4th from 12-2 pm. Food will be provided, but please register. Click here for more details.

This Year's Upcoming Highlights: 2012-2013

General Body Meeting - August 30 from 12-1pm in room 101 (pizza provided)

Fall Symposium: October 16 from 4-6pm - Career Panel: How to Break into the Sports and Entertainment Industry.

We will also be hosting a Symposium during Spring Semester.

Spring Symposium :

    • The Rooney Rule at 10 years; Does it Work?

      The National Football League's (NFL) Rooney Rule requires all NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for a vacant head coach or front office position. Since the rule's implementation almost ten years ago, several teams have hired minority head coaches and general managers. Yet, over the years, the rule has been subject to many questions about its applicability and success. This symposium will provide a forum to discuss the impact of the Rooney Rule over the last ten years and whether the rule has been successful. Other questions the symposium will seek to answer include whether the rule is still needed?; What, if any, are the problems with the rule?; and whether the rule should be extended to other sports?

    Our esteemed panel includes:

    Andrew Brandt - An ESPN NFL Business Analyst, Lecturer at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, President of the National Football Post.

    Floyd Keith - Longtime head football coach of the Howard Bison and Rhode Island Rams and Executive Director of the Black Coaches and Administrators.

    Louis "Skip" Perkins -Howard's current Athletic Director, previously was AD at the University of Arkansas.

    Cyrus Mehri - Co-founder and counsel at the Fritz Pollard Alliance (a group of minority coaches, front office and scouting personnel), proponent of expansion of the Rooney Rule.

    To register for the event on February 27th from 11:30-1:30, click here and select "The Rooney Rule at 10 years; Does it work?" from the dropdown menu.


Entertainment Law-Actor's Ensemble :

  • Interested in Entertainment but unsure about law? Curious about how far a law degree can take you? Just want to know what your options are? This is a panel that might interest you. Within the entertainment industry, an actor needs more than just their good looks and talent to be successful in show business. An actor’s ensemble usually includes a multitude of individuals in differing professions, whom they must work with on a daily basis to practice their craft. Similarly our panel “The Actors Ensemble” will feature individuals who obtained a law degree and have used it to their advantage in various fields within the entertainment industry. Our panel will feature:

    Jonathan Lomma- A WCL alumnus and agent at one of the country’s largest talent agencies, William Morris Endeavor

    Laurence Kaye- A WCL alumnus a Broadway producer of shows such as How to succeed in business without really trying and American Idiot

    Joe Reinkemeyer-Screen writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Law and Order

    Eric Goldman- An Entertainment Lawyer in New York City and specifically the lawyer of Mr. Kaye.

  • To register for the event, click here and select "The Actor's Ensemble" on March 21st. We hope to see you there!