Tony Mulrain, ESQ. is a seasoned corporate and intellectual property attorney with a focus on sports and entertainment law. As co-chair of Holland & Knight’s Sports Law and Entertainment Law teams, he provides strategic guidance to clients navigating complex legal matters. We recently caught up with Mr. Mulrain to learn how he became one of the premiere sports and entertainment attorneys of this generation.
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AcknowledgeMINT: Let’s start at the beginning. Were you always interested in becoming an attorney?
Tony Mulrain: Absolutely not. When I started college, I really didn’t have a solid direction. My mother, who was an Information Technology Professional, encouraged me to pursue business. Accordingly, I studied Finance at Iona University.
When did you become interested in law?
During my first year of college, I took business law. That class primarily taught me about torts and contracts. It was amazing. I literally walked around thinking about the legal implications of everything around me. I loved it.
You caught the bug early. Where did you go from there?
I took a second business law class as I pursued my degree in Finance. I enjoyed the second business law class even more than the first. I graduated from college and went into Coca-Cola’s Financial Management Program. In that program, I learned quite a bit. But my interest in the law remained. In fact, it was enhanced as my uncle, who was an attorney, became a Judge.
And that put you on the path to Rutgers Law School. Did you know you wanted to be in the sports and entertainment industry?
Absolutely not. I wasn’t sure of the area I wanted to pursue. I just knew I wanted to be very good at it.
When did you become interested in entertainment and sports law?
When I was a third-year law student, I learned that a number of my high school classmates were thriving in the entertainment industry. That alone made me curious. However, I wasn’t sufficiently curious to take any real steps in that direction.
So how did it happen?
After doing a mix of transactional and litigation work for six years, my paralegal introduced me to her sister, actress Tichina Arnold. Once Tichina and I met, she decided that she wanted me to be her entertainment attorney even though I did not have much experience in that space. I have been her attorney for 22 years.
I read and saw something where you credit Tichina with really fueling your start in the industry. Who are some others that Tichina introduced you to?
The first person was LisaRaye McCoy, and I have been her attorney for 22 years as well. But there have been so many people to whom I have been blessed to advise and counsel for many years like AJ Johnson and Kenny Lattimore. These are relationships that have spanned decades.
So you were in the entertainment space first, and transitioned into sports. How did that happen?
Tichina Arnold introduced me to a young man who was the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft. I did a good bit of high-profile litigation for that client and it led to a myriad of other professional athletes engaging me.
A myriad? You have had 8 players picked number one overall in their draft, 4 Super Bowl champions, winners of 17 Olympic medals, winners of 24 NBA championships, and clients that have appeared in 101 NBA All Star games.
To be candid, I knew I represented eight players who had been the number one overall pick in their draft, but I was unaware of the other numbers. The number who had won Olympic medals and NBA championships. I didn’t know.
You have obviously been focused on putting in the work. Do you only represent professional athletes and entertainers?
Not at all. In sports, I also represent professional sports franchises and leagues in a variety of matters. In fact, for one particular league, my partner and I were outside general counsel to the league as it formed and began to contract with players. On the entertainment side, I represent production companies, studios, networks, and video gaming concerns.
You also practice in areas outside of sports and entertainment, correct?
Absolutely. The enterprises that I represent are quite broad. I spend a great deal of time in the venture capital, private equity, and emerging company spaces. In fact, I pride myself on connecting Hollywood Boulevard to Wall Street. I am also a trusted advisor to companies in the financial services, healthcare, and technology industries.
What about mentors? I’m sure you’ve had some powerful ones along the way.
I have had two professional mentors. One familial, and one non-familial. My familial mentor was the late F. Michael Giles. He was my uncle and a NJ Superior Court Judge. The other was the late Clarence Avant, a name with which most are familiar.
Yes, we are definitely familiar with Mr. Avant thanks to Netflix’s ‘The Black Godfather’ documentary. What did Judge Giles teach you?
Judge taught me to take the time to think deeply about business matters before deciding on the legal position to take for a client. That advice has served me well.
What about Clarence Avant?
Those breakfasts and lunches with Clarence over a 20-year period taught me something every time we met. One thing he taught me is to be dogged and absolutely unapologetic about what I demand in a business deal. That advise, too, has served me well.
What about lessons from your mom and dad?
Of course there were many. My mom taught me that integrity is the fuel that drives long-term business success. And my dad taught me not to ever lose because someone outworked me.
