James O’Connor practices employment law by consulting with clients on compliance matters and by advocating on behalf of clients in litigation matters. He has extensive experience with asserting and defending insurance-related claims and coached corporate clients through cybersecurity / data breach events. In the Name Image and Likeness space, he has drafted NIL policies for universities and marketing agreements for Student Athletes. He also has been a registered civil mediator for more than 13 years and has significant experience with negotiations of all kinds. 

PODCAST: Brett Rump with Sports Rush talks with James O'Connor about NIL and what is possible and not possible for student-athletes to do universities in the state of Indiana. 

 PODCAST: Kevin Tarca with the Sports Business Secrets podcast talks with James O'Connor about the ABC's of NIL.

PODCAST: Trine Center for Sports Studies Director, Brandon Podgorski talks with James O'Connor about all things NIL.

PODCAST: Anthony Juliano (Asher Agency) and James O’Connor discuss NCAA / NIL marketing issues. Recorded November 16, 2021; Released January 25, 2022

Professional Honors

• Selected for inclusion since 2021 in the Best Lawyers in America® publications for labor law-management.
• Selected for inclusion in the Indiana Super Lawyers® publication (2018).
• Recognized as a “Rising Star” by the Indiana Super Lawyers® publication (2011, 2014, 2015).
• AV® Preeminent* rated attorney based on Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review ratings since 2016.
• Selected as a “Future 40 Under 40” award recipient from Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.

Professional and Community Involvement

• Current or former member of the following organizations:
  • Allen County Judicial Nominating Commission,
  • Benjamin Harrison chapter of the American Inns of Court,
  • Allen County Bar Association,
  • Indiana State Bar Association,
  • Defense Research Institute, and the
• Member, Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Athletics Advisory Board
• Member, Purdue Fort Wayne Community Engagement Board
• Member, Northeast Indiana Base Community Council Board of Directors
  • Supports U.S. military bases and armories in the 11-county region of northeast Indiana.
• Member, Mad Anthony's Children's Foundation

* AV^® Preeminent™ is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. The AV rating is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her with a high level of professional excellence.

• Licensed by the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) as a player representative/agent.
• Licensed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as a player representative/agent.
• License by the Womens National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) as a player representative/agent.
• NCAA Certified Agent

Articles

• NCAA, Grant-in-Aid, and NIL: "Amateurism" vs. Big Sports

Seminars

• Presents at local, statewide and national seminars on topics, including:
  • Employment law policies,
  • Cyber security protection,
  • Data breach response,
  • Worker’s compensation matters,
  • Alternative dispute resolution, and
  • College Student Athlete’s Name, Image and Likeness.

Bar and Court Admissions

• Indiana
• U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana

Education

• B.A., Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta
  J.D., Loyola University College of Law, New Orleans