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Dennis M. Coleman
Partner
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Dennis Coleman leads a nationwide sports, media, and entertainment practice, with an emphasis on representing individual coaches and broadcasters, athletic institutions and associations. Dennis works with a variety of sports industry clients, such as the National Football League, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and a variety of head football and basketball coaches in contract, sponsorship, and endorsement matters. Dennis’ clients include over 30 head coaches in basketball and football, including Jamie Dixon of the University of Pittsburgh, Phil Martelli of St. Joseph's University, Fran Dunphy of Temple University, Johnny Dawkins of Stanford University, and Jim Caldwell, quarterbacks coach with the Baltimore Ravens. Dennis also represents 14-time Emmy Award Winning broadcaster Dick Enberg and Tony Dungy, sportscaster and former head coach of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
In addition, Dennis works regularly with partners across the firm to solve complex problems for sports industry clients, such as compliance and enforcement issues with government enforcement partners and intellectual property and licensing issues with IP partners.
Representative Clients and Matters
- Negotiated one of the first ever “Succession Plan Contracts” in the NFL by negotiating the deal that took place when Jim Caldwell succeeded Tony Dungy following Dungy’s retirement as head coach of the Colts
- Represented Gillette in connection with the naming rights of Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots
- Represented Reebok in connection with sponsorship and licensing agreements with the National Football League and the National Basketball Association
- Currently serves as general counsel to the National Association of Basketball Coaches, providing a wide range of advice on issues such as licensing, sponsorships, patent, trademarks, real estate, and contract negotiations
Professional & Civic Activities
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Brown University Sports Foundation
- Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Athletics Committee, Monmouth University, Long Branch, New Jersey
- Board of Directors, Sports Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors, The Wheeler School
©1996-2012 Ropes & Gray LLP. All rights reserved.
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Education
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JD, Georgetown University Law Center, 1978
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AB, Brown University, 1975
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 2010
- Rhode Island, 1979
Courts
- U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
Memberships & Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Sports and Entertainment Forum
- Boston Bar Association
- Rhode Island Bar Association
- Thurgood Marshall Law Society
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