Biography:
Marc was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, a city about 45 minutes north of New York City. Marc attended King School in Stamford, Connecticut, graduating with high honors and earning ten varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball. Marc attended The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, graduating in the top quarter of his class while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in both International Relations and Hispanic and Italian Studies.
While at Johns Hopkins, Marc played varsity baseball, worked as an Admissions Representative, and was a brother in the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. After college, Marc went directly to law school and graduated with cum laude honors from Tulane Law School. At Tulane, Marc excelled in mock trial competitions; he was selected for the ATLA national trial team in his first year of law school and competed on the team each year of law school. Marc won the Phelps Dunbar Senior Trial Competition, a mock trial competition among all Tulane third-year law students. Marc worked on juvenile delinquency and dependency cases in Orleans Parish Juvenile Court under Professor David Katner and earned the highest grade in the Juvenile Litigation Clinic.
Marc passed the bar on his first attempt and was admitted to practice in California on December 12, 1995 and subsequently in United States District Court, Southern District of California, on July 26, 1999. Marc began his professional legal career as a deputy public defender for the County of San Diego, representing indigent persons charged with crimes. Marc founded Total Care Sports Management (TCSM) in 1998 and was certified as a player-agent by the Major League Baseball Players Association in 2000. In an effort to better build TCSM, Marc opened his own private criminal defense firm in June 1999 and has practiced criminal defense and represented professional baseball players since. During his years as a litigation attorney, Marc has been lead counsel on over 40 criminal jury trials.
Marc has superior negotiating skills, having negotiated multi-million dollar guaranteed major league contracts and seven figure amateur draft signing bonuses.
Marc has volunteered as a youth baseball coach for many years. From 1999-2004 Marc founded and managed the San Diego Aces, a wood bat summer team for 16-18 year olds, comprised of some of the top high school players in the county, many of whom now play professionally. These days, Marc volunteers his time coaching his sons' little league baseball teams and their other youth sports teams.
Marc holds a 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a Practitioner 4 Rank in Krav Maga, and enjoys playing basketball, golf, and running.
Marc is married to Laura, also an attorney, and they have been blessed with two sons (8 and 6) and a daughter (8).
Question and Answer:
What was your favorite class and/or professor at Tulane?
I liked many classes, but I think Criminal Law as a 1L with Professor Force solidified early in my law school career my aptitude and interest in that field and directed me on my initial career path.
What was your favorite thing to do in New Orleans?
Listen to the live local bands.
What's your fondest law school memory?
Earning a spot on the ATLA Moot Court trial team as a 1L. This introduced me to our alumni practitioner coaches and forced me to learn trial advocacy as a 1L. I found my love of trial work, and it was the springboard for me pursuing a career as a public defender out of school. Our practitioner coaches were Chris Aubert, David Schexnaydre, and Pat DeRouen, and they taught me how to really work up and try a case with all their tested techniques. We spent countless hours together, and the trips to Dallas, Palm Beach, and Los Angeles were great fun. This trial team helped me win Senior Trial as a 3L with my partner Andrea Hoeschen, and when I got to the public defender’s office, I knew how to completely try a case except picking a jury. I was so prepared.
Why did you choose Tulane?
It was one of the better ranked schools that accepted me. I loved the city and the campus.
What are the ways in which Tulane helped to prepare you for your career? Which courses and professors were the most important for you?
I enjoyed contracts and remedies with Professor Fuller as well as Sports Law with Professor Gary Roberts. I had Professor David Katner for Professional Responsibility my 1L year and enjoyed that course very much. I joined the Juvenile Clinic my 3L year with Professor Katner and gained valuable real world case experience. The Clinic made my 3L year and prepared me in so many ways for my law career.
What made you want to work in sports law?
I played college baseball, and so did my brother. We were a jock family and I always thought one day I would be able to blend my love for baseball and the law as an agent. This all came together in 1998 when I started representing players.
How would you describe a typical work day?
My day varies every day. Some days I’m on the road recruiting or visiting clients. Other days, I’m working through e-mails, doing research, ordering gear for players, working on deals, or taking care of any various crises that pop up. During the off-season, I’m very busy with arbitration cases, free agency, and draft recruiting.
What is the best part of your job?
Depositing the checks.
What is the worst part of your job?
The constant concern over ensuring clients are happy and well serviced.
What do you like best about your career?
Being part of boyhood big league dreams.
If you could give one piece of career advice to current students, what would it be?
ALWAYS be honest and forthright. Your reputation is your most valuable asset. Lots of people will do incredible things for you if they like you--you would be surprised. It’s not really about “who you know” as much as it’s about “how much you know” and “how you treat the people you know.”
What do you think a law student's biggest misconception may be about practicing sports law?
It’s easy to get a job and it’s always roses.
What do you think is the biggest issue in sports law/business today?
For baseball players, it’s performance-enhancing drugs. The big league season is a grind, you will see a decline in performance and abilities the more the game is cleaned up.
What do you think will be the biggest issue in sports law/business in 5 years?
Keeping a fan experience at the ballpark/stadium to something Americans can afford. It’s a very expensive endeavor for a family of four to attend a game.
Which areas of the law are most germane to your practice?
Labor, arbitration, right of publicity, contracts.
|