Gregg E. Clifton

Gregg E. Clifton is a Principal in the Phoenix, Arizona, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is Co-Leader of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Practice Group and serves as the editor of the firm’s sports law blog.

Mr. Clifton has extensive experience in the collegiate and professional sports world. He has advised numerous professional franchises on general labor and employment issues, including Title III ADA regulatory compliance and wage and hour issues. He serves as lead counsel for several Major League Baseball teams in their salary arbitration matters and has represented NCAA and NAIA collegiate clients regarding rules compliance, investigatory matters and in disciplinary hearings. In addition, he has handled Title IX investigations and compliance issues for NCAA and NAIA member institutions. Mr. Clifton has also worked extensively in the area of agent regulation and enforcement in professional and college sports and regularly provides counsel on issues relating to NCAA and NAIA amateurism issues and athlete eligibility questions. He has also served as an expert witness in matters involving sports agents’ work and responsibilities, as well as athlete compensation issues.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, he spent six years as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Team Sports for Gaylord Sports Management. He also served as President of the Athlete and Entertainment Division for famed sports attorney Bob Woolf’s firm, Woolf Associates, in Boston.

Mr. Clifton began his career as an Associate at Jackson Lewis where he focused his practice on traditional labor law. He continues to counsel clients in the areas of collective bargaining negotiations, representation cases, arbitrations and National Labor Relations Board matters.

Mr. Clifton frequently serves as an expert speaker to law schools, including Harvard University, Boston College, Hofstra University and Arizona State University, and bar associations regarding sports law issues, including agent regulation and salary arbitration. He is often called upon by national news media as a source for his commentary and opinion on legal issues in sports.

Published Works

•“In the Arena, A Sports Law Handbook,” New York State Bar Association (June 2013) [Co Author]
•“U.S. Department of Education’s “Dear Colleague Letter” Highlights Schools’ Responsibility for Accommodating Disabled Students in Extracurricular Activities (March 2013) [Co-Author]
• Sexual Harassment and Professional Sports Organizations,” Professional Sports and the Law, Vol. 1, Is. 6 (January-February 2011) [Co-Author]
•“U.S. Department of Education Eliminates Title IV Safe Harbors: Questions Remain On Compensation for Athletic Personnel Legal Issues In College Athletics, Vol. 12, Is. 3 (January 2011) [Co-Author]
•“MLBPA Issues New Sweeping Regulations Governing Agents,” Professional Sports and the Law, Vol. 1, Is. 5 (November-December 2010) [Co-Author]

Gregg E. Clifton In the News

Gregg Clifton Discusses Impact of Force Majeure Clause During COVID-19 Pandemic

May 23, 2020 • Detroit Free Press

Gregg Clifton Discusses Prospect of NCAA Group Licensing for College Football Video Games

May 5, 2020 • Sports Illustrated

Gregg Clifton Discusses the Future of Sports Law After COVID-19

May 5, 2020 • Sports Lawyers Association

Gregg E. Clifton Publications

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Pending State Bills Propose to Limit Ability of Transgender Student-Athletes to Compete

January 15, 2020

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House Seeks to Block Proposed Amendments to Title IX Regulations

December 12, 2019

newsletter

Title IX Alert Fall 2019

August 23, 2019

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The NCAA and the New World of Name, Image and Likeness Rights for Student-Athletes

1 - 2:00 PM EST
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2018 NCAA Committee on Infractions Cases: A Review, Trends and What to Expect in the Year Ahead

1 - 2:00 PM EST
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Don’t Roll the Dice - Best Practices for a New Era of Legalized Gambling

12 - 1:00 PM EST
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Gregg E. Clifton Blog Posts

COVID-19 Workplace Law Advisor

Administration Offers Exemption from Restrictions on Entry to Foreign Professional Athletes

May 29, 2020
Collegiate & Professional Sports Law

Administration Offers Exemption from Restrictions on Entry to Foreign Professional Athletes

May 29, 2020
Immigration

Administration Offers Exemption from Restrictions on Entry to Foreign Professional Athletes

May 29, 2020