At the Top of their Game - in Sports Law 2

Category: Sports Business | Specialism: Sports Law

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A career in sports law highlighting individuals who have made a success in this relatively new field

The following article has been reproduced with permission from the USC Gould School of Law:
At the Top of their Game by Maria Iacobo and Gilien Silsby
(USC - the University of Southern California, USA).

This is the second in a series of articles covering successful sports lawyers. This week features Amy Trask, the Chief Executive of NFL team the Oakland Raiders.

There is no set path to a career in sports law. A high-profile industry, sports spans the globe and legal landscape with increasingly complex and dynamic issues A couple of decades ago, a sports law class offering was a rarity in most law schools, and the American Bar Association’s only sports-related member-group was at its inception.Today, USC’s sports law curriculum is typical of programs around the USA that teach students from multiple-edition sports law textbooks. Not only is the ABA’s sports-related member-group booming, but another national sports lawyers association boasts hosting its 34th consecutive annual meeting in 2008. The sports industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and is rapidly expanding even in today’s shrinking economy.USC Law graduates have created their own game plan to achieve roles in some of the world’s most recognized sports organizations and they use these positions to shape the industry and its players. Breaking into sports law takes more than just being a fan. Legal knowledge and business savvy are required to navigate the multitude of subjects including contracts, torts, real estate, franchising, insurance, global marketing, employment, collective bargaining and intellectual property.

Amy Trask
THE ULTIMATE TEAM PLAYER

When Amy Trask ’85 landed a job with the Oakland Raiders, many thought she was a business person who happened to get a job in football. In truth, Trask is a longtime football – and Raiders – fan who happened to land a job in the business world.“A lot of people think I developed an interest in football after I joined the Raiders,” says the team’s chief executive. “That’s a very big misperception.”

Today Trask is the only woman to head a football team in the NFL, and one of the youngest to rise to chief executive. Trask called the club’s El Segundo headquarters nearly 25 years ago, offering to serve as an unpaid intern while she was a second-year law student. She joined the Raiders as an attorney in 1987, and team owner Al Davis named her chief executive a decade later. “Al Davis would be quite bothered that I’m saying this, but I think it’s important: I don’t think there’s another sports organization that would have given me – or any young woman – an opportunity 21 years ago,” says Trask. “Al Davis and this organization are blind to race, religion, gender and age. There’s a track record of diversity and inclusiveness here – Al hired the first Hispanic head coach and the first modern-era black head coach, and the first woman chief executive. He doesn’t do it for the recognition. He simply hires whomever he thinks is right for the job without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity or age.”

Trask oversees the massive Raiders business operation, which employs about 100 people, not including the players and coaches. She directs all aspects of the Raiders corporation, including finance, marketing, ticket sales, internet operations, broadcasting, and multi-cultural and youth initiatives. She travels extensively to NFL meetings, where she deals with fellow executives and team employees. “Don’t ask me what a typical day is like,” she says with a laugh. “Every day in my 21 years here has been different. That’s one thing that I love about my job.”

Despite her reputation as a tough-as-nails football executive, Trask also is the ultimate team player.“

When things are busy, it’s all hands on deck,” she says. That may mean answering the phone – side by side with hourly employees – on busy ticket sales days. She also makes trips to the stands, where she greets and mingles with Raiders fans before each road game.Trask’s love for football – “It’s an amazing game that combines strength, speed, power and a strong intellectual component that I love” – began in high school; she periodically took her father to Rams games.As an undergraduate studying political science at the University of California, Berkeley, Trask became captivated by the Raiders. She was drawn to the team’s unconventional, maverick quality. She also admired Al Davis for his tenacity, resilience and independence. “The Raiders is an organization with a renegade feel to it,” Trask says. “That’s what attracted me. You don’t have to fit a certain mold.”

Coincidentally, when Trask went on to USC Law, the Raiders relocated to Los Angeles, playing at the Coliseum – home to USC football. Trask says she never intended to practice law, but went to law school for the education. She chose USC because it was small and intimate –something she desired after attending a large university. At USC Law, she met Robert Trask ’84, now an investor. They married after law school. “I thought law school would give me an advantage in business,” Trask says. “Law school offers a tremendous education. I liked the economic focus and business approach to studying law at USC. I was impressed by the professionalism and quality of exchange between students and professors.”Constitutional Law, taught by Michael Shapiro, was one of her favorite courses. “Professor Shapiro really stood out,” she says. “He is an amazing, intelligent human being. He has a great mind. Shapiro –and law school overall – taught me critical thinking. No matter what you end up doing, that’s going to help you.”Shapiro, who has followed Trask’s career, agrees. “Our teaching methods, whether in con law or tax or licensing, are calculated and well-designed to qualify people for the CEOship of major sports franchises, and possibly for other high offices.”

While Trask attended USC Law, she regularly cheered on the Raiders at the Coliseum. In her second year of law school, Trask called the organization about internship opportunities. “They didn’t know what to say other than to explain that they had never had interns,” Trask says. “But, they let me come over and work.”The Raiders didn’t have any openings when Trask graduated from USC Law, so she joined a Los Angeles law firm and practiced transactional law. Then a call came from the Raiders’ general counsel, Jeff Birren, who had previously hired Trask as an intern. The team was looking for a young person to help with transactional matters. “I told him I could be there in 20 minutes,” Trask says. “I just had to give notice.”

When Trask isn’t cheering on the Raiders, she is likely to be found at the stables visiting her horse, Championship Game. Trask purchased the horse in 2003 just before the Raiders went to the Super Bowl. For years, the pair competed in equestrian events. “I find it extremely relaxing when I am riding,” Trask says. “It’s something I’ve done since elementary school, and I truly enjoy.” Trask doesn’t tout her role as the only female chief executive in the NFL.“The Raiders environment encourages young people to grow,” she says. “That’s the culture of the organization. As far as my gender, I don’t think about it for one minute. If you don’t want gender to be an issue, don’t make it an issue. It’s as simple as that.”

Many have said Trask may one day be recruited to the top football job – NFL commissioner – a position openly coveted by many, including Condoleezza Rice. But for now, Trask isn’t thinking about anything except the upcoming football season and, ultimately, the Raiders’ first Super Bowl win since 1984.

“Our business is football,” she says. “I don’t look at what’s next –other than the next football season.”

Keith
Keith Irving
iStadia