Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Evans.
Hi Jeremy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in and around Los Angeles County. I had always had a passion for film and television along with playing and watching sports. California is a wonderful place to grow up and explore, especially outside the big city in smaller communities. I had always wanted to be involved in the law and politics, and television series like “Law & Order” gave me insight into that world.
However, after having internships in law school in criminal defense, with civil litigation firms, and eventually as a graduate law clerk with the Superior Court, I realized that I wanted to do something more or different. I went back to my passions as a child, entertainment and sports, and began investing time and energy into those practice areas by seeking mentors, competing and founding sports and entertainment negotiation competitions, exploring volunteer opportunities, researching, writing, and establishing a law practice.
Today, I am an award-winning attorney and industry leader based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. I am an expert in best practices and negotiations in entertainment, media, and sports. I represent entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual and intellectual property negotiations with a focus on dealmaking. My clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to entrepreneurs, advertising and production companies, studios, agencies, talent, and more.
I am the CEO, Founder, and Managing Attorney of California Sports Lawyer®. I write a weekly column at CSLlegal.com and host the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast with Jeremy Evans on the Bleav Network, which focuses on the latest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law.
Within the community, I previously served as President of the California Lawyers Association (CLA), one of the largest voluntary bar associations in the world. I currently serve as President of the California Lawyers Foundation, the non-profit arm of the CLA, and as Chair of CLA’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. I am also a member of the Board of Advisors for the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, a centennial campaign for the Rose Bowl Stadium, where I host the California Sports Lawyer® Negotiation Competition at the Rose Bowl every year. I also serve as an advisor to entrepreneurs in entertainment, media, and sports for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and teach as a member of the faculty of law at the California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in the Graduate Program in Sport Management.
I received my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. Additionally, I hold a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law from Pepperdine University’s Rick J. Caruso School of Law and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Entertainment, Media, and Sports Management from Pepperdine University’s George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being an entrepreneur is one of the most rewarding and challenging opportunities in business. The journey is never easy but worth it. You must find what you are good at and stick with it. Tenacity, consistency, and longevity are very important attributes.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love building things and business is one of them. Being an entrepreneur is very rewarding. My law practice has grown from nothing and no investment to something beautiful, fun, and growing. I am a transactional attorney negotiating and writing contracts for talent, studios, companies, and more in the entertainment, media, and sports law space.
One of the things I am proud of is my involvement and commitment to the community. As I mentioned earlier, I currently serve as the President of the California Lawyers Foundation, the non-profit arm of the California Lawyers Association. From 2021-2023, I served as President of the California Lawyers Association (“CLA”), one of the largest voluntary bar associations in the world. During my presidency, I increased membership as the organization’s third president and oversaw the membership and worked with the board, oversaw the CEO/ED, and participated in and led three ED search committees going back to 2018 when the organization launched as a legislative separation between the State Bar of California and the Sections. I led CLA through a massive marketing campaign to increase visibility and membership and for the public to get to know CLA. I also participated in legislative advocacy, planned and launched the annual gala, hosted many signature events, and served on the Blue Ribbon Commission for the Future of the Bar Exam, the Civility Task Force, and currently chair the CLA’s task force on Artificial Intelligence. I also serve on the Executive Council for the National Conference of Bar Presidents.
I have written and been involved with bar associations since law school. I led the San Diego County Bar Association’s Diversity Fellowship Program for two years and was the Outreach Captain in Southern California for the Sports Lawyers Association. I have had the blessing of being able to speak at conferences across the United States and the globe on leadership, entertainment, media, and sports law.
I reside in Corona del Mar, California (CdM) and serve as Co-Chair of the General Plan Advisory Committee for the City of Newport Beach and on the CdM Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Previously, I served as President of the Student Bar Association in law school and president of the alumni association, where I planned and hosted many events, including several successful charity golf tournaments. My leadership style is one driven by values, humility, vision, collaboration, and patience.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Genuineness, morals, ethics, values, faith, and consistency.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.csllegal.
com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ californiasportslawyer/; @ jeremymevansesq
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/CSLlegal - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/ jeremymevansesq/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/
CASportsLawyer; @ jeremymevansesq
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/ UCdF1B528PGxqZlcVJ7PLs1A - Other: https://bleav.com/
shows/the-california-sports- lawyer-podcast-with-jeremy- evans/
