Matthew Mitten is a Professor of Law and the Executive Director of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School whose courses include Amateur Sports Law, Professional Sports Law, and a Sports Sponsorship Legal and Business Issues Workshop.
In this Q&A, Mitten discusses his experience in sports-oriented disputes.
Q: What is your background in sports-related disputes?
Mitten: In addition to my arbitration experience, I have served as a consultant or expert witness for professional and college athletes, the NCAA, an NHL club, a golf club manufacturer, and high school districts as well as represented sports entities, the YMCA, sports physician organizations, and a local government in a wide variety of sports cases.
Q: What kinds of matters do you most often see as an arbitrator or mediator in the sports industry?
Mitten: Doping violations, team selection, competition results, governing body rules violations, and sports association membership disputes.
Q: What drew you to ADR work in this space, and what do you find most rewarding about serving on the AAA’s Sports Conflicts Panel?
Mitten: Sports arbitration work provides me with an opportunity to use my extensive sports law expertise and experiences to fairly and efficiently resolve a wide variety of disputes arising in the sports industry. One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is the ability to contribute to the rapidly developing body of Olympic and international sports law jurisprudence.
Q: What advice would you give parties preparing for arbitration or mediation in complex sports disputes?
Mitten: Please be cooperative and cordial despite your dispute. Also, concisely and precisely summarize the material and relevant facts (including any undisputed ones) and clearly identify your respective legal claims and defenses along with the evidence proving or disproving their elements or factors.