Profiles in Sports Law: Orpheus Sports and Entertainment Company

Many of our readers are interested in pursuing sports law careers, so when we know persons who have actually pursued that career, it's worthwhile to describe their work and how they got to where they are. Our good friends Joe Rosen and Chris Brown are two such persons. With 14 years of law practice between them, Joe and Chris recently started the Orpheus Sports and Entertainment Consulting Company in Boston. They also maintain a separate law practice, Brown and Rosen LLC.

So what do Joe and Chris really do as sports agents? Are they basically living the lives of Jerry Maguire and Arliss? Well, Joe and Chris are engaged in a number of interesting activities, including the negotiation of individual player contracts, endorsement contracts, and personal appearance contracts. They also provide media coaching, and offer a network of advisors for referrals. Remarkably, despite starting Orpheus less than two months ago, Joe and Chris have already secured a bevy of clients, including San Francisco Giants pitching prospect Ryan Shaver, former University of Mississippi basketball star Justin Johnson, and former University of Idaho basketball star Dandrick Jones.

So what makes Orpheus Sports and Entertainment work, and why has it worked so quickly? Keep in mind, the instant success of Joe and Chris is unlike the experience of most sports and entertainment companies; many sports agents have no clients: In 2002, the National Football League Players' Association reported that while there were 1,196 certified football agents, more than 800 had no clients--meaning that more than 2/3 of NFL licensed agents had no NFL clients (granted, some may have had clients in other sports, but you get my point).

I suspect the uniquely fast start exhibited by Joe and Chris has to do with at least three professional and personal assets.

1) Practical Experience & External Awareness

For seven years, Joe practiced corporate law and sports law at two prominent Boston law firms (Goulston and Storrs and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault). During that time, he was able to receive "big firm" training, while also making important contacts in the sports and entertainment industry. Through those contacts, he was able to bring in his own clients. In fact, Joe was the driving force behind the implementation of the sports and entertainment division of Goulston and Storrs' corporate group. He also partook in less traditional external activities, such as writing for the Pro Football News Network, and contributing commentary to Sports Law Blog, Off Wing Opinion, and main stream media. In other words, Joe used his time at a big firm to learn how to practice law and to cultivate an outside network of industry contacts.

Like Joe, Chris brings with him seven years of big firm practice. He served as Chairman of the Sports & Entertainment Group at the law firm of Murtha Cullina in Boston and was a senior associate in the firm's litigation department. And like Joe, Chris was able to parlay a big firm experience into learning how to practice law in a setting rich in resources, while simultaneously making important contacts in the sports and entertainment industry. Through those contacts, he too was able to bring in clients at an early stage of his career.

Both Joe and Chris also attended conferences and meetings, including the annual Sports Lawyers' Association conference, and they have or will be speaking at assorted symposia (e.g., this November, Joe and I will be speaking at the Case Western Reserve School of Law's symposium "Sports and Eligibility: Who is Eligible to Play?"). In short, they received valuable training at their big firms, while also being engaged in professional activities that were "external" to their big firm experience, such as broadening awareness of their talents and developing industry contacts. Thus, for those seeking to enter into sports law, remember that it is important to "network" at functions outside of the firm, and make those in the industry aware of your talents--including through on-line contributions.

2) Teaching Experience

In addition to their legal practice, both Joe and Chris serve as adjunct professors of law at Boston College Law School, where they teach sports law and entertainment law courses. By teaching, Joe and Chris likely stay on top of emerging issues in sports law, which can enhance the quality of their representation and boost their awareness of new strategies for client recruitment. Indeed, by engaging in frequent debate and discourse, teaching law can dramatically improve one's negotiating skills. Moreover, teaching likely makes them better communicators, and more capable responders to questions. All of those benefits likely bolster their sports law practice.

3) Decency and Work Ethic

Many people dismiss sports agents as unethical and unsavory, but I suspect most agents are, like most people, decent folk. Joe and Chris are no exception. I can vouch for their honesty and generosity, as well as their work ethic, and I suspect those traits translate well when recruiting prospective clients and appearing credible to the families of those prospective clients. The fact that Joe and Chris have so quickly secured clients appears to evidence that point. Those traits also increase the likelihood that Joe and Chris can develop long-term relationships with general managers, and thus be able to more readily place clients than can other sports agents.

For more on Orpheus Sports and Entertainment, check out their website. Especially for those of you interested in becoming sports agents, Joe and Chris would be great guys to contact (and they would welcome your calls and e-mails).

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