The St. Thomas University School of Law Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium brings
together some of the most powerful agents, lawyers, front office executives, and other sports and
entertainment industry professionals from around the country to discuss and debate pertinent
legal and business issues in sports, entertainment, the arts, and the media. The Symposium
allows law students and lawyers from all over South Florida to join the forum discussion, as well
as network and connect with some of the best the sports and entertainment industry has to offer.
Founder/CEO of Goal Line Football, Inc.
Brian Levy has been a certified NFLPA Contract Advisor since 1990. He received both his BA
and MBA at George Washington University, where he graduated with distinction. His work has
been widely praised for the acceleration of career paths of Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike
Tomlin and Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason. Throughout his career, Levy has represented
clients drafted in every round of the NFL Draft. His contract negotiation successes have been
chronicled many times in major national news.
Alexander Esteban
Partner and Agent at Arran, Correa, and Guarch
Alexander Esteban graduated from Florida International University in 2007 with a major in
Marketing, and then enrolled at the St. Thomas University School of Law, where he graduated in
2012. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Mr. Esteban went on to work for the Miami
HEAT, and soon thereafter founded a sports agency with a focus in representing professional
baseball players before attending St. Thomas Law. Mr. Esteban is an MLBPA Certified Player
Agent and has negotiated over $20 Million in professional baseball contracts. Mr. Esteban is
quoted and featured in several print and digital publications including ESPN.com, MLB Trade
Rumors, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and The Sports Business Journal, where he has been
interviewed on several topics concerning the representation of professional athletes, and matters
affecting the sports and entertainment industries.
Ron Butler, NFLPA
Contract Advisor at Impact Sports Management
After receiving his degree from Florida International University, Ron joined Impact Sports
Management and immediately made his mark within the sports representation world. As a
licensed NFLPA contract advisor, he has attracted many of the league’s top young players to the
company and negotiated record-breaking contracts, including Lavonte David’s contract extension
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Robert Raiola
Director of the Sports and Entertainment Group at PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP
Robert Raiola is the Director of the Sports and Entertainment Group, with more than 20 years of
experience in both the public and private sector. He provides business management services, tax
planning and business consulting to high net worth individuals and their families in the sports
and entertainment industries. Robert co-authored the AICPA book, Winning Tax Strategies for
Athletes & Entertainers, and has lectured nationally on the topic. In addition, Robert was a
founding trustee of the Chatham Athletic Foundation, an organization based in Chatham, NJ
which is focused on promoting youth athletics and safety in athletics through public education
programs.
Leon C. McKenzie
President and Founder of Sure Sports Lending
Leon C. McKenzie is Founder and President of Sure Sports Lending. He launched Sure Sports
Lending in 2009 to focus on an underserviced market of providing athletes in the NFL, NBA,
MLB, NHL, and MLS with competitive credit facilities. He earned his Bachelor of Science in
Finance at West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 1999, before attending Villanova
University’s MBA Program. Leon’s professional background includes – Financial Analyst, Sr.
Commercial Credit Analyst and Head of Financial Underwriting for regional banks, private
lenders and commercial real estate developers.
Erik Burkhardt, Keynote Speaker
Co-Head of Select Sports Group
Erik Burkhardt received his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University before attending
the St. Thomas University School of Law where his received his J.D. and a Master’s in Sports
Administration. Mr. Burkhardt began representing NFL athletes while in law school, and has
now built Select Sports Group into one of the industry’s giants. With athletes on his roster like
Andy Dalton, Jay Ajayi, Danny Amendola, D’Onta Foreman, and many others, Mr. Burkhardt is
one of the best football agents around.
Entertainment Law Panel Speakers
Allen Jacobi- Moderator
President of The Law Office of Allen Jacobi
Allen Jacobi, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the University of Miami School of
Law, has represented some of the largest entertainment law transactions in the history of the
State of Florida. On behalf of his music clients, Mr. Jacobi has been awarded gold and platinum
records from such internationally acclaimed artists as The Eric Clapton Band, Trick Daddy, Inner
Circle, Gloria Estefan, The Miami Sound Machine, Marilyn Manson and 2 Live Crew. Mr.
Jacobi may be best known for his defense for the obscenity charges against 2 Live Crew. Mr.
Jacobi has spoken as an expert in the entertainment industry at The Washington DC Music
Forum, The Winter Music Conference, ASCAP Seminars, East Coast Music Forum, North
American Entertainment Sports & IP Law Summit and other music conferences and
symposiums.
Richard Wolfe
President of Wolfe Law Miami
Richard C. Wolfe has a Juris Doctor and LL.M. from the University of Miami School of Law and
he spent 10 years as a Certified Public Accountant. For the past 5 years, he has been recognized
as a Super Lawyer ™ and as an outstanding lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide in the areas
of Entertainment Law, Probate, and Business Litigation. Some of the artists he has represented
include The Beatles, 2 Live Crew, Marilyn Manson and members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, among
many others. In the music industry, he has provided representation to over 40 major and
independent record companies, publishing companies, distribution companies, numerous
prominent artists and producers on transactions and litigation matters.
LaShawn Thomas
Founder of Miami Entertainment Law Group
LaShawn Thomas earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a Minor in International
Relations and a concentration in Caribbean Studies from Florida International University. She is
a graduate of Florida International University College of Law, and her entertainment practice
includes drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements, coordinating relationships with outside
counsel and providing due diligence for investment opportunities. Her clientele includes
entertainment companies, music labels, models, singers, photographers, promoters, performing
artists, actors, authors, and music and film and television producers. Ms. Thomas also provides
services as the business manager for several of her clients, where her duties include ensuring
proper payment for services rendered by the client.
Gregory Bloom
Attorney at ChaseLawyers
Gregory Bloom earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his J.D.
from Florida International University. His practice areas include television & film, copyrights,
radio, trademarks, intellectual property law, corporate law, entertainment, sports and leisure law,
and internet. He has represented numerous high level athletes in both boxing and Mixed Martial
Arts, and has handled complex, high-profile contract negotiations, sponsorship and endorsement
deals, and brand recognition opportunities for his clients. Before joining ChaseLawyers, Mr.
Bloom worked on Wall Street for nine years, where he gained a deep knowledge and
understanding of corporate and transactional matters that prepared him to deal with the rigors of
the 21st-Century sports and entertainment landscape.
Alexander Esteban
Partner and Agent at Arran, Correa, and Guarch
Alexander Esteban graduated from Florida International University in 2007 with a major in
Marketing, and then enrolled at the St. Thomas University School of Law, where he graduated in
2012. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Mr. Esteban went on to work for the Miami
HEAT, and soon thereafter founded a sports agency with a focus in representing professional
baseball players before attending St. Thomas Law. Mr. Esteban focuses his practice in the areas
of commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Esteban has represented a major
Venezuelan television network in a multi-national copyright dispute over the ownership rights to
an Emmy-winning T.V. show, a leading electronic cigarette manufacture in a trademark
infringement claim that resulted in their competitor removing all products bearing infringing
trademarks from the marketplace, and several other companies in commercial and contractual
disputes.
Sports Law/Team Panel Speakers
Jeffrey Kominsky- Moderator
Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Jeffrey Kominsky, a graduate of the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University
School of Law, currently serves as South Florida's Chapter President of the Florida Sports Law
Association as well as a Regional member for the Sports Lawyers Association’s Outreach
Committee. In both 2015 and 2016, Mr. Kominsky was recognized as a "Florida Rising Star" by
Florida Super Lawyers Magazine. From 2002 through 2005, Mr. Kominsky interned with the
Minnesota Vikings, reporting directly to former Vikings owner, Red McCombs. Mr. Kominsky’s
interest in sports law/business continued into his studies at law school as the Founder & Chair of
the Inaugural Sports Law Symposium at The Ohio State University.
Sean Flynn
CEO of Miami FC
Sean Flynn currently serves as the CEO of the Miami FC, an NASL soccer team in Miami,
Florida. Having previously served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Event Booking
with the Miami Marlins and Vice President of Marketing with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mr.
Flynn led award-winning advertising and promotional efforts that have been replicated
throughout the industry. He returns to soccer, a sport where he started his career as the Director
of Marketing and Sales for the United Soccer League. Flynn received his Master's in Sports
Administration from St. Thomas University in Miami, and completed his undergraduate work in
Accounting at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.
Chase Carlson
Attorney at Carlson & Associates
Chase Carlson graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Finance in 2007. While in law school at Florida International University, he obtained a Master
of Science degree in Finance in 2009, and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2010. Chase has
represented many professional athletes in various legal matters and has recovered money for
over a dozen that were victims of investment fraud or mismanagement. His athlete clients have
included Rudi Johnson, Larry English, Keyon Dooling, John St. Clair, Javier Arenas, Pat Sims,
Guy Whimper, Glenn Holt, and Johnny Williams. Mr. Carlson focuses his practice on
investment fraud litigation, corporate disputes, and partnership disputes.
Claire Zovko
Professor at University of Miami
Claire Zovko received a B.A. in Business Administration and Mathematics minor from Pacific
Lutheran University, where she played collegiate basketball, and a J.D. from University of
Miami School of Law. Ms. Zovko is the Founder of Sports Law Chat, a Twitter Chat & Blog,
dedicated to informed discussions on relevant topics of sports law. Previously, Ms. Zovko
served as Of-Counsel at Buckner Sports Law, as well as in the legal and operations department
with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ms. Zovko’s legal experience includes professional and
collegiate sports experience including in-house legal affairs, D-I compliance, and legal counsel
for professional athletes and agents.
