IP and Sports Panel at McGeorge

The Intellectual Property Student Association over at McGeorge School of Law was kind enough to invite our group to their IP and Sports Panel back in October. The guests were some big names including: Keir Beading, Ryan Hilbert, and Jon Velie. [bios below are taken from the IPSA event's promotional flyer].

The event was an interesting look at the differing jobs in sports law. The panelists talked about everything from athletes trademarking various slogans ("Fear the Brow") to classifying ski instructors as "experts" to obtain the proper non-immigrant visa (either O or P) to allow them to remain in the US.  Read on for bios of the panelists.

Keir Beading is the the founder and CEO of Evolve Sports, LLC where he has managed the careers of athletes at the pinnacle of their sports careers. He is also the co-founder and Managing Partner of Mavericks Surf Ventures, LLC, where he transformed an elusive, regional surfing event into an international media property.

Ryan Hilbert is the special counsel at Sheppard Mullin in the Intellectual Property and Litigation Practice Groups in the firm's Palo Alto office and is a member of the firm's Sports Industry Team. Mr. Hilbert practices in the areas of sports, intellectual property, and commercial litigation. Mr. Hilbert has extensive experience in all aspects of complex civil litigation, especially in the areas of trademark and unfair competition, copyright, trade dress, rights of publicity, domain names, and consumer protection. He has litigated disputes in federal and state courts nationwide, as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Jon Velie is licensed as a sports agent who specializes in sports-related immigration law. He has over 30 international clients in the sports and entertainment industry competing and performing across the United States. Mr. Velie has testified in court as an expert in immigration law and has authored expert letters for immigrations cases. He was featured in: Lawyer's Weekly in July 201 "Taking the Law Firm Website to the Next Level," International Gymnast Magazine "Immigration Men" and in Rugby Magazine, "Rugby Immigration Experts." Mr. Velie authored the article, "Immigration Issues and Solutions for the Ski Industry." Mr. Velie launched onlinevisas.com, was awarded the ABA's Louis M. Brown Legal Access to Justice Award, and was declared an innovator in the legal industry.