James O’Connor's employment law practice involves consulting with clients on compliance matters and 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 documented marketing agreements for Student Athletes and drafted NIL policies for universities. He also has been a registered civil mediator for more than 13 years and has significant experience with negotiations of all kinds.

PODCAST: Simplified Podcast featuring Jason Russell, Nick Goins and Zach Thiele with Optimum Performance Sports simplifying NIL

PODCAST: Brett Rump with Sports Rush talks with James O’Connor of Barrett McNagy to talk about the situation at Tennessee, the situation at Dartmouth, and a look at the state of NIL in college as a whole

 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 and worker's compensation law- employers.
• 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, and
  • Defense Research Institute.
• Member, Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Athletics Advisory Board
• Member, Purdue Fort Wayne Community Engagement Board
• Director, Northeast Indiana Base Community Council Board 
  • 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 Womens National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) as a player representative/agent.
• NCAA Certified Agent
• Licensed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as a player representative / agent.
• NCAA Registered NIL 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