Michael Marino and Ivan Smith Serve as Keynote Speakers at Fordham Sports Law Forum 29th Annual Symposium

Seyfarth's Michael Marino and Ivan Smith, partners in the firm's Labor & Employment department, served as keynote speakers at the Fordham Sports Law Forum 29th Annual Symposium: The New Era of College and Professional Sports – Antitrust, Labor, and Governance on January 30, 2026.

In their fireside chat, Smith and Marino discussed how college sports has evolved from its amateur roots into today’s money-driven “wild west.” The discussion traced the historical foundations of amateurism, examined the modern pressures reshaping the industry, and evaluated why federal legislation alone is unlikely to provide a lasting fix. 

An article expanding upon the discussion, written by Michael Marino and legal intern Milo Young, was published in the New York State Bar Association's Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Journal on March 3, 2026:  “Back Between the Lines: Can Collective Bargaining Provide a Playbook To Frame the NIL Moneyball?”