Think of a lawyer. What comes to mind? If you’re like some of America, you may not necessarily be thrilled with the image. But throw that idea out the window because I want to tell you about my experience working as a summer associate at Gutwein Law.                   

While wrapping up my last days here at the firm, I was asked to write a blog post about my experiences. The truth is, I could probably fill much more than a 500-word blog post about what I learned this summer, but I’ve done my best to keep it short. Here it goes:

Whether we -- as attorneys -- like to admit it or not, there are a few areas of law that are somewhat unclear, and ultimately, difficult to navigate. The world of intellectual property (IP) law is one of those areas that hasn’t yet fully been explored in various jurisdictions. But at Gutwein Law, we like facing challenges head-on – no matter how murky the situation.

Take ownership rights in intellectual property between the employer and employee, independent contractor, or consultant, for example:

Lawyers, in a sense, are like doctors. You might even compare them to car mechanics. Before you disagree, hear me out:

If you’re like most people, you have a general practitioner or “family doctor.” You see them regularly for checkups, in the same way you may go to your local car dealer for routine maintenance like an oil change. But what if you need something outside of the scope of work they cover? Say a hip replacement or a new paint job? You go to someone who focuses on your area of need, right?

You wouldn’t put trust in someone that doesn’t do work in those areas on a daily basis. And it should be the same when it comes to your attorney.

You have an idea. You form a company. Now you want to raise money from investors (or even friends and family), maybe through the sale of ownership, borrowing money, or a loan that could convert into ownership in the future. Seems straightforward, right?

Well, all of those interests and rights that you are considering are almost certainly going to be classfied as “securities” under applicable law.  Selling securities, in fact, is a complex process that requires careful navigation and thoughtful representation to not only protect your position from an ownership and contractual standpoint, but to ensure you’re abiding by both federal and state laws, and regulations issued in connection with the same by enforcement arms such the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

When it comes to selling securities, you have essentially three options:

Roger Goodell. Adam Silver. Rob Manfred. You’ve likely seen them on TV, wearing well-tailored suits and reading meticulously-written speeches. One day they’re responding to a PR crisis involving a high-profile athlete, another delivering Draft Day selections. That’s the life of a League Commissioner – at least how the public generally sees it.

But, as a League Commissioner myself, I know first-hand quite a bit of work goes on beyond what airs on TV.

A successful League Commissioner must wear many hats: business person, speaker, politician, lawyer, and public figure, to name a few. They’re required to listen and respond to the demands of players, coaches, fans, and team owners.

Above all though, a League Commissioner must provide value to teams and their owners, while ensuring a consistent and positive fan experience across the league.

With that in mind, I’m here to shed light on what makes for a great Commissioner. Below are three things League Commissioners could, and should be doing, to help foster league success: