Sports Law Alumni Reflect on Villanova Experience
The Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law is a hub for Villanova’s innovative sports law programs and curriculum, including a formal concentration established in 2021. The Moorad Center is one of only a handful of US institutes dedicated to studying sports law.
Under the leadership of Moorad Center Executive Director and Professor of Practice Andrew Brandt, Sports Law Concentration students are guided by rigorous academic studies, innovative fellowship and internship opportunities and scholarship and research. Concentration students also help produce The Brandt Report, an annual sports law white paper, and support the annual Moorad Symposium, which brings together industry experts to discuss topical issues and changing dynamics in the field. Students can apply the concentration after their 1L or 2L years.
In addition to the concentration, a student-run, student-organized Sports Law Society gives all students opportunities to plan and oversee events related to the industry, organize prominent speaker engagements, manage athletic competitions benefiting local charities and contribute to the student-run NovaSportsLaw blog. After their 1L year, students may also try out for the Sports Law Negotiation Team, which features sport-specific student teams that compete across the US and internationally. Students may also pursue working with The Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal, a national legal periodical published twice yearly.
The combined curriculum and programmatic offerings have created a thriving sports law community at the law school.
“I am honored to lead our practical and experiential sports law program at Villanova, where we prepare students to move seamlessly into the changing landscape of sports,” said Brandt, a nationally recognized former sports executive who represented athletes and managed the Green Bay Packers. “As our programs continue to grow, I could not be prouder to see our graduates making tangible impacts in the industry and beyond.”
We connected with three sports law alumni to hear how their experience at Villanova contributed to their success.
Kristin Dolan ’22
Of Counsel, Playfly Sports
“Going into Villanova Law, my main objective was to take advantage of every opportunity that would allow me to develop my business skillsets to advance my career in the sports industry, which led me to the Sports Law Concentration. My experience in the concentration and Sports Law Society not only allowed me to gain hands-on experiences, like various sports-related externships, but also hone critical skills such as contract drafting and negotiation – two foundations of the majority of the work I do today as an in-house lawyer for a sports marketing and media company. Whether through this concentration or some other opportunity, I always encourage students to take advantage of any opportunity they can that is aligned with their passions – its helps build confidence in your skillset and excitement for your future career path.
Alex Ott ’18
Vice President, Baseball, Wasserman
“I couldn’t have asked for a better experience in the Sports Law Program at Villanova Law. Emphasizing the importance of the intersection between business and law is something I encounter daily in my present field. Looking back, I am so thankful for how the curriculum prepared me to become a better negotiator, achieve critical practical skills and experience real-world and industry scenarios. One example was the opportunity to represent Villanova Law at the annual International Baseball Arbitration Competition held at the Tulane University School of Law – that experience was the single most impactful moment of my law school career. Getting to return this year as a judge and watching the next generation of Villanova sports lawyers take home the title showed just how far our program has come!"
Khalil Wilkes ’19
Business and Legal Affairs Executive, Sports at WME (William Morris Endeavor)
“As a former NCAA and professional athlete, I entered Villanova Law determined to improve the sports industry and the lives of athletes, fans and stakeholders. I quickly realized the Sports Law Program would allow me to achieve that goal. The experience allowed me to gain hands-on experiences like writing for the Moorad Sports Law Journal, holding membership in the Villanova Sports Law Society student group and getting directly involved with the annual Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal Symposium. These experiences introduced me to various sports law careers and additional foresight into legal issues present within the industry. I left Villanova Law ready to make an impact in the sports law industry, and, most importantly, I left knowing I could one day be a leader in the future of sports.”