Sports and Entertainment Agent Malpractice Lawyers
Professional athletes and entertainers routinely rely on agents and attorneys for effective representation. When these agents act inappropriately and fail to put their clients' interests first, this reliance can have negative consequences.
At the Florida law firm of St. Denis & Davey, we represent sports and entertainment professionals who have been harmed as the result of misrepresentation by their attorneys or agents.
For more information about legal malpractice claims or claims against your agents or professionals, contact our offices today. We can help you understand your rights and options. With offices in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, we serve clients throughout Florida.
Addressing Conflicts of Interests
An attorney is expected to provide vigorous advocacy on behalf of each client. When one attorney has two clients with conflicting interests, or personal interests conflicting with those of a client, the presumption is that the attorney will be unable to fully protect the rights of each client.
Accordingly, attorneys are encouraged to avoid conflicts of interests and to disclose such conflicts when they exist. In principle this is a straightforward matter, but in practice can be quite complicated, particularly in the areas of sports and entertainment law.
In the sports law arena, clients may have conflicting interests anytime one attorney is representing multiple players on the same team, or multiple players in the same position.
- Most professional sports have salary caps. If an attorney negotiates a great deal for one player on a professional football team, another player may be required to take a salary cut or leave the team.
Alternatively, if an attorney negotiates a deal for a point guard with one professional basketball team, the attorney may lose an opportunity to obtain a similar contract for another point guard. If both point guards are clients, this may amount to a breach of fiduciary duty or conflict of interest.
In the entertainment arena, two clients may have conflicting interests if an attorney represents more than one member of a band. The lead singer of a band and a bass guitarist do not necessarily have the same interests or concerns. When representing both, an attorney may sacrifice one client's interests on behalf of another.
When lawyers fail to avoid conflicts of interests, clients can suffer serious financial harm. If you have been injured as the result of an attorney's negligence or intentional wrongdoing or by decisions made by your agent or other hired professionals, we can help you. Contact our offices today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced attorney.
