The 2025 Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal Symposium, 04/11
Financing the Future: Sports Investing and Name, Image and Likeness
Friday, April 11
9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Arthur M. Goldberg ’66 Commons
John F. Scarpa Hall
The 2025 Moorad Symposium will explore the rapidly changing landscape of sports investing and the evolution of name, image and likeness (NIL). Industry experts will examine key financing trends in the new asset class of sports investment. College athletics experts and lawyers will discuss the seismic impact of the House v. NCAA settlement on college sports.
The Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board has approved this event for 3 Substantive in-person CLE credits. Please note the event is open for general admission, but registration is required for CLE credit.
The Moorad Symposium is sponsored by Morgan Lewis.
Agenda
*Subject to change
Panel 1: Navigating the New Era of Sports Investments
Panelists will examine the changing sports investment industry, the rise of private equity and the challenges in negotiating, drafting and structuring sports investments in this new landscape.
- Connor Barwin, Head of Football Development and Strategy, Philadelphia Eagles
- Susie Cirilli, Founder, Cirilli LLC
- Steven Graham, CEO and Senior Managing Principal, Graham Partners
- Wayne Kimmel, Managing Partner, SeventySix Capital
- Andrew White, Partner, Morgan Lewis
- Moderated by Andrew Brandt, Professor of Practice & Executive Director of the Moorad Center, Villanova Law, and Jeffrey Moorad ’81, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP & Principal, Morgan Lewis Consulting
Panel 2: Evolving Strategies in Sports Investments
This panel will examine sports investing from a broader view, analyzing how leagues, teams and investment firms are now funding this asset class and the challenges of rising valuations across professional and college sports.
- David Connolly, Chief Legal Officer & Chief Corporate Officer, PlayFly Sports
- Stephen Elmore, Vice President, Morgan Stanley
- Larry Ferazani, Deputy General Counsel, NFL
- Michael Senders, Partner, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
- Kenneth Shropshire, Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- Moderated by Lindsay Zimmerman '25 and Nick Pilny '25, Members of the Sports Law Concentration
Panel 3: The Future of College Sports
The final panel will address the most pressing legal issue of the moment: the changing landscape of college sports with the pending NCAA v. House settlement, which has a final approval date of April 7.
- Andrew Brandt, Professor of Practice & Executive Director of the Moorad Center, Villanova Law
- Angelica McDonald, Co-founder, Rise HBCU & Managing Attorney, McDonald Law PLLC
- Olivia Nuss, Head of Legal and Business Affairs, Student Athlete NIL
- Eric Roedl, Vice President & Director of Athletics, Villanova University
- Arun Thottakara ’21, Senior Manager, Talent Marketing NIL, Excel Sports Management
- Moderated by Jacob Deradoorian '25 and Chandon Pierre '25, Members of the Sports Law Concentration