Shumaker has tapped former NFL executive Frank Hawkins to serve on its sports law team, where he will collaborate to represent coaches and athletic directors at NCAA member institutions, professional sports coaches, sports players and entertainers to create comprehensive career and financial plans.
Members of Shumaker’s sports law practice work with clients’ agents, accountants and financial advisors to ensure the best decisions for a thriving future.
Hawkins comes to the firm with an extensive résumé spanning legal, financial, media, technology and governance matters affecting the sports industry. He served 15 years with the NFL, including in senior leadership roles and alongside former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former President Neil Austrian.
Most recently during his NFL tenure, Hawkins was Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, where he served as principal counsel to the league’s Finance, Broadcasting, New Media and NFL Enterprises Committees.
Hawkins also worked closely on collective bargaining relationships and negotiations, particularly on salary cap matters.
Also during his NFL career, Hawkins also worked with Broadcast Committee Chairs Pat Bowlen and Robert Kraft to structure, negotiate and bid on NFL television and new media agreements in 1994, 1997-1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004-2005. Collectively, the agreements shaped new standards and media strategy for the league, increasing revenue generation.
Additionally, Hawkins worked closely with Finance Committee Chairs Tom Benson and Al Lerner on finance and governance initiatives, including developing and implementing debt ceiling and ownership policies that secured the NFL an “A” credit rating. Hawkins also had oversight of expansion and ownership transfers and club debt financings, and he structured credit facilities for member clubs.
Hawkins also oversaw stadium financing support through the NFL’s G-3 construction support program where he served as a principal architect and rating agency presenter.
“Frank’s experience at the highest levels of professional sports is truly exceptional,” said Bob Boland, Shumaker Partner and Hospitality, Leisure & Sports Industry Sector Co-Chair.
“He has been directly involved in some of the most transformative media, finance, and governance developments in modern sports history. His insight and strategic vision will provide tremendous value to our clients across the sports and entertainment landscape.”
After leaving the NFL, Hawkins co-founded Scalar Media Partners with former NFL CFO Tom Spock and cable industry pioneer and Comedy Channel founder Art Bell. There, he advised U.S. and international sports organizations, collegiate athletics programs and conferences, professional sports teams, and technology companies on media strategy, governance, labor matters, sponsorship models, and player performance data strategy.
Hawkins also taught Sports Economics and Sports Facility Finance for nine years at New York University’s Tisch Institute for Global Sport. He remains a frequent lecturer in sports law and business courses at leading graduate programs and is a sought-after speaker at sports law, media and entertainment industry conferences.
“Shumaker’s multidisciplinary Sports Law Team and its deep bench across corporate, finance, labor, tax, litigation, and emerging technologies create a powerful platform for clients operating in today’s rapidly evolving sports industry,” Hawkins said.
“I’m excited to join a firm that understands the intersection of sports, media, technology, and governance, and I look forward to helping clients navigate complex opportunities and challenges.”