Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Olympic Swimmer's Counsel on Client's Legal Concerns

By Melea VanOstrand
August 01, 2021

When 2020 came and went without the Tokyo Olympics, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coral Gables, FL, lawyer Alan Fertel watched as many of the sponsorships and deals he'd negotiated for one of the world's fastest swimmers expired.

Sports and entertainment attorney Fertel is a partner with Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, where he represents U.S. Olympic swimmer Caeleb Dressel, a Floridian considered a threat to Michael Phelps' gold medal records. Dressel is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and 13-time world champion who specializes in the sprint events. The 24-year-old represents the Cali Condors, part of the International Swimming League and is a former Junior World Champion, NCAA All-American, and multi-time National Age Group record holder.

But in October 2020, as many of the deals Fertel had secured for Dressel expired after what would have been the Olympics, Fertel had to work around force majeure clauses to get them extended. "The triggers for his bonus also had to be renegotiated since he didn't have the Olympics to swim last year, and those bonuses of course were related to the Olympics," Fertel said.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
How Secure Is the AI System Your Law Firm Is Using? Image

In a profession where confidentiality is paramount, failing to address AI security concerns could have disastrous consequences. It is vital that law firms and those in related industries ask the right questions about AI security to protect their clients and their reputation.

COVID-19 and Lease Negotiations: Early Termination Provisions Image

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some tenants were able to negotiate termination agreements with their landlords. But even though a landlord may agree to terminate a lease to regain control of a defaulting tenant's space without costly and lengthy litigation, typically a defaulting tenant that otherwise has no contractual right to terminate its lease will be in a much weaker bargaining position with respect to the conditions for termination.

Pleading Importation: ITC Decisions Highlight Need for Adequate Evidentiary Support Image

The International Trade Commission is empowered to block the importation into the United States of products that infringe U.S. intellectual property rights, In the past, the ITC generally instituted investigations without questioning the importation allegations in the complaint, however in several recent cases, the ITC declined to institute an investigation as to certain proposed respondents due to inadequate pleading of importation.

The Power of Your Inner Circle: Turning Friends and Social Contacts Into Business Allies Image

Practical strategies to explore doing business with friends and social contacts in a way that respects relationships and maximizes opportunities.

Authentic Communications Today Increase Success for Value-Driven Clients Image

As the relationship between in-house and outside counsel continues to evolve, lawyers must continue to foster a client-first mindset, offer business-focused solutions, and embrace technology that helps deliver work faster and more efficiently.