Motorsports
Motorsports law is not so much a description of the type of law practiced, but rather the type of client serviced. The majority of work within our motorsports practice is similar to that of our general corporate practice. It involves the negotiation of contracts and licensing agreements, dispute resolution, litigation, and corporate counseling.
It is a mistake, however, for a motorsports client – whether that client is a race team, a driver or some other motorsports entity - to engage a firm that does not maintain a specialty of representing other entities within the sport. For instance, the language of the sport is unique. Terms that are seen in everyday motorsports contracts (“hard card” is a good example) are unknown to attorneys without experience in the industry.
To retain the wrong law firm means to retain an attorney without knowledge of industry standards in areas as crucially sensitive as driver earnings and licensing percentages – a potentially long-term and damaging mistake for the unsuspecting client.
Bray & Long, PLLC works with race teams, drivers and industry players throughout NASCAR and beyond. Our attorneys have handled transactions and disputes in circuits as wide-ranging as ARCA and the Champ Car Series. The firm’s emphasis is on the general corporate representation of drivers and teams, and on the litigation and dispute resolution that often occurs in a sport where considerable dollars – and emotions – are invested.
In relation to NASCAR, we represent or have represented teams and drivers in all three major circuits – Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck. In addition, we work with clients in other series, such as Rally America, ARCA, Indy Car and the American Power Boat Association. Our efforts have been recognized within the industry, as evidenced by the election of William Bray to serve as the Chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association for 2006-2007. In this role, Mr. Bray coordinated and served as host of the first-ever continuing education seminar dedicated to motorsports law, Law in the Fast Lane, held at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina, October 12-13, 2006. Mr. Bray has further served as a program coordinator and speaker at each of the first three TRAC conferences, and at the 2011 conference will again act as a speaker on a panel discussing litigation matters in motorsports.
The unique combination of a motorsports practice and an entertainment practice has furthermore begun to gain the firm a reputation as a facilitator between the worlds of racing and entertainment, which are becoming more entwined as NASCAR develops a cross-cultural appeal. Our attorneys are routinely consulted on ventures that bridge the gap between these two industries, and maintain the necessary contacts to assist their clients in this respect.
Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bray & Long, PLLC is in a geographically ideal location to represent business interests in the world of NASCAR and beyond. Our attorneys frequently attend races, both in Charlotte and elsewhere, in an effort to better understand the specific needs of our clients and the industry in which they participate. If you have come this far and are considering a law firm for assisting you through the sport of racing, take the extra step and contact us today for a consultation.
Resources and Articles:
North Carolina Lawyer's Weekly - September 2007
North Carolina Lawyer's Weekly - November 2009
NASCAR Scene Daily - Jeremy Mayfield Anaylysis
NASCAR Scene Daily - Driver Retaliation Analysis