On Thursday, June 13, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on H.R. 8534, entitled “The Protecting Student Athletes’ Economic Freedom Act” (“Act”). If passed, the Act would declare that student-athletes are not employees with respect to any federal or state law (including
Adam Lupion
Adam Lupion is a partner in the Firm’s Labor & Employment department and a member of the Labor Management Relations, Sports Law and Employment Litigation Groups. Widely recognized as a leading labor and employment attorney, Adam has been named a “Power Player” by Sports Business Journal, a “Top 50 L&E Litigator” and “Labor & Employment Star” by Benchmark Litigation, as well as numerous other accolades.
A trusted litigator and counselor, Adam has developed a particular expertise representing sports leagues and teams. He has been at the center of many of the most significant labor and employment matters in the sports industry.
For example, Adam helped guide Major League Baseball (MLB) through its most recent work stoppage with players, represented MLB in grievance arbitrations challenging player discipline for violations of the league’s domestic violence and drug policies, successfully defended MLB against discrimination claims brought by Angel Hernandez, and defended MLB and its member Clubs in class and collective actions involving pay practices of minor league players and claims of age discrimination by scouts. In addition, Adam has handled several litigations and arbitrations for the National Hockey League and National Football League, and has advised college athletic conferences and universities across the broad spectrum of labor and employment laws.
Adam also leads the Firm’s MLB Salary Arbitration practice, and is one of the most sought-after practitioners to represent Clubs during contract negotiations and at arbitration hearings against some of the game’s most prominent players.
Adam’s practice extends far beyond the world of sports, as he has extensive experience representing healthcare, higher education, financial services, media and entertainment, telecommunications, energy, retail and hospitality clients in a wide variety of labor and employment law matters in state and federal court, and before administrative agencies.
He has lectured on labor and employment law at Cornell University, New York University School of Law, and Cardozo Law School. He frequently represents the Firm and the Sports Law Group on panel discussions and at career seminars for current and prospective lawyers.
UPDATE: NLRB Regional Director Issues Complaint Against USC, Pac-12, and the NCAA
On May 18, 2023, Region 31 of the National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) issued an unfair labor-practice complaint against USC, the PAC-12, and the NCAA for allegedly misclassifying college athletes as non-employees and suppressing their Section 7 rights under the National Labor Relations Act (“Act”).
While significant, this development comes…
“Fight On”; NLRB’s Regional Office Pursuing Unfair Labor Practice Charges on Behalf of College Athletes against USC, Pac-12, and NCAA
On December 15, 2022, the Regional Director of the Los Angeles Region of the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) found “merit” in the unfair labor practice charges filed by football and men’s and women’s basketball players against the University of Southern California (“USC”), the Pac-12 Conference, and the…