Bruce B Siegal

As of counsel in Greenspoon Marder’s Entertainment & Sports practice, Mr. Siegal is widely recognized for his ability to protect and enhance the value of some of the most iconic sports brands in the world. His work includes developing and executing comprehensive trademark enforcement programs for major events such as the NCAA Final Four and College Football Playoff, successfully clearing the marketplace of counterfeit and unlicensed merchandise through collaboration with event organizers, investigators, and law enforcement.

Mr. Siegal’s influence extends far beyond individual matters; he has shaped industry standards. During his tenure as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), he established CLC’s legal department, implemented company-wide risk management policies, and oversaw all litigation and anti-counterfeiting efforts. He was instrumental in founding CAPS, a groundbreaking trademark protection alliance among CLC and professional sports leagues including the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. His leadership also advanced corporate social responsibility in sports licensing through the creation of CLC’s labor code of conduct and monitoring program, ensuring licensed products were produced under fair and safe working conditions.

In recent years, Mr. Siegal has emerged as a leading voice on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, serving as an Adjunct Professor at Georgia Tech and speaking at numerous national conferences on athlete empowerment and brand protection. His thought leadership on NIL and intellectual property issues has positioned him as a trusted advisor to collegiate institutions, athletes, and brands navigating this rapidly evolving landscape. Additionally, he showcases his thought leadership on Greenspoon Marder’s Sports & NIL blog, sharing industry insights that have garnered over thousands of views. He continues to influence policy and practice through his role as Co-Chair of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Committee of the United States Intellectual Property Alliance and his active involvement in organizations such as the Sports Lawyers Association and International Trademark Association.

Mr. Siegal’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including recognition by Best Lawyers® in Sports Law, Intellectual Property Litigation, and Trademark Law, induction into the International Collegiate Licensing Association Hall of Fame, and previous inclusion in Lawdragon’s prestigious guide. His career reflects a rare combination of legal acumen, industry innovation, and unwavering commitment to ethical practices. Through his work, teaching, and advocacy, Bruce Siegal continues to set the standard for excellence in sports and entertainment law, making him an outstanding choice for this honor.

Professional/Community Involvement:

• Georgia Lawyers for the Arts, Volunteer
• Georgia Production Partnership, Member
• Intellectual Property Owners Association, Member
• International Anti-counterfeiting Coalition, Former Board of Directors and Legislative Task Force
• International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA), Former Legal Advisory Committee, Chair; Membership Committee
• International Trademark Association (INTA), Member
• Sports Lawyers Association, Member; SLA Learning and Education College Sports Sub-Commitee
• State Bar of Georgia, Former Vice Chair for Entertainment and Sports Law Section; IP Law Section; Corporate Counsel Section
• United States Intellectual Property Alliance, Board of Directors; Entertainment, Arts and Sports Committee, Co-Chair
• Atlanta Emory Ambassador
• Leadership Council of the Alabama Law Alumni Society
• Sponsor of Bruce B. Siegal IP moot court teams at the University of Alabama School of Law
• Georgia Institute of Technology, Sports Law and Public Policy, Adjunct Professor, 2022-Present

Speaking Engagements:

• Speaker, “The Politics of Play: Power, Profit, and Progress Through Sports,” Georgia Tech’s John H. Martinson Honors Program, October 23, 2025
• Speaker, “You, Me & IP,” GM Webinar, August 25, 2025
• Speaker, “Strategies to Protect Your Brand,” VidFest, August 23, 2025
• Speaker, “You, Me & IP,” GM Webinar, April 4, 2025
• Speaker, “College Sport Name, Image, and Likeness: Current Practices, Policies, and the Law Panel,” Georgia Tech, March 11, 2025
• Moderator, “Navigating the Changing Landscape of NIL,” Sports Lawyers Association, August 14, 2024
• Moderator, “Athlete Empowerment through NIL: Business Perspectives,” International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, May 21, 2024
• Speaker, “The Current State of College Athletics and NIL,” LinkedIn Live, March 25, 2024
• Speaker, “How Do We Exist With AI in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports?” United States Intellectual Property Alliance – USIPA EAS Virtual IP Roundtable, September 27, 2023
• USIPA Annual Meeting, United States Intellectual Property Alliance, October 20, 2022
• The Value & Protection of Image in Entertainment, Arts & Sports, EAS Virtual IP Roundtable, United States Intellectual Property Alliance, September 14, 2022
• Georgia Intellectual Property Alliance’s 18th Annual IP SpringPosium Conference, “Name Image Likeness (NIL) Laws, April 30, 2022
• MOBE 30th Anniversary Virtual Conference, “Name Image Likeness (NIL) Sports Deal,” April 22, 2022
• 10th Annual Mississippi Sports Law Review | NIL & IP Summit, October 25, 2022

Recognitions:

• Best Lawyers®, ” The Best Lawyers in America,” Litigation – Intellectual Property; Sports Law; Trademark Law 2023-2026
• Lawdragon, “Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers,” 2025
• Georgia Entertainment, The Creative Economy Journal, “200 Most Influential,” 2024
• International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA) Hall of Fame inductee
• Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite, Entertainment & Sports Law, 2012
• CLC Distinguished Service Award and Chairman’s Award of Excellence
• Bruce B. Siegal Award for Excellence in Advancing IP, Entertainment & Sports Award by Alabama State Bar (first recipient and now bestowed annually upon an outstanding IP attorney)

Publications:

• “Nearly Half of the Country Allows NIL Deals at the High School Level – Why it Should Matter to Colleges and Universities,” Lead1 Association, January 11, 2023
• “College Sponsorships in the Time of Covid-19 and What to Consider,” Sports Litigation Alert, November 20, 2020
• “Licensing Resource Book,” International Collegiate Licensing Association, October 16, 2020
• “From the Flea Market to the Online Marketplace: How Brand Owners Fight to Keep Infringers at Bay,” IPWatchdog, November 22, 2019
• “Top of Their Game – Collective Licensing Scores for US College Sports,” Trademark World
• “Collegiate Licensing: State of the Industry,” The Licensing Journal
• “Legal Issues Facing Collegiate Licensing Administrators,” The Licensing Journal
• “From the Stadium Parking Lot to the Information Superhighway: How to Protect Your Trademarks from Infringement,” The Journal of College and University Law
• “Developments in Counterfeiting Legislation and Enforcement,” The IP Litigator
• “Colorful Trends in Trademark Protection,” Entertainment and Sports Lawyer Collegiate Licensing, The Licensing Journal (recurring columnist)
• “Collegiate Trademark Licensing,” The Management of Sport: Its Foundation and Application, Chapter 15, Times/Mosby