Founding & Managing
Member Licensed in NC & IL
Founding Member
Licensed in NC & MI
Partner
Licensed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and NC
Licensed in NC
Executive Assistant
Accounting Manager
Associate Attorney (anticipated August 2024)
Licensed in NC & NY
Business Development Director
Founding & Managing Member
Licensed in NC & IL
melinda@apollogrouplaw.com
310.892.7561
Melinda has consistently been named a Super Lawyer in the areas of Sports and Entertainment, and Top 50 Lawyer, placing her among the top 5% (and one of the very top women) Sports, Entertainment, and Media lawyers in the country.
Melinda has been recognized in the media as “a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment and sports industry”. She is a sought-after speaker and TV commentator on entertainment and sports matters, most recent on CourtTV as an expert in the Ed Sheeran lawsuit, and Melinda was recently featured in the national “Sports Business Journal”.
She represents sports teams, celebrity estates, media companies, entertainment companies, avatar production, music publishers, team owners, best-selling authors, motorsports, on-air personalities, sanctioning bodies, sports leagues, and celebrities and professional athletes who trust her with their brands.
Melinda has an extensive network of relationships with film studios, media executives, agents, TV networks, sponsors, and Fortune 500 companies, with whom she has participated in the negotiating, structuring, and closing of a variety of high-profile transactions valued in excess of $21 Billion.
Melinda started her career in Chicago at Thompson Coburn LLP and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP. She earned her B.S. with Honors in Economics & Business from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and her law degree Cum Laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Melinda is a member of Women Executives, NCBA Sports & Entertainment Section Council Member, Sports Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar, American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment & Sports, and an SBJ Thought Leader.
Melinda splits her time between Charlotte & Los Angeles. When not practicing law, Melinda enjoys exotic cars, exercise, and world travel.
Lauri is a Founding Member of Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group.
Lauri's primary area of practice is sports law with a concentration on advising a variety of sports clients on legal matters, business matters, and risk management. Her clients include sports facilities, motorsports properties, sanctioning bodies, race teams, media companies, entrepreneurs, and athletes. Lauri was general counsel of Speedway Motorsports and Charlotte Motor Speedway for over 12 years, including during the pedestrian walkway collapse at Charlotte Motor Speedway. She also advised on capital raising and corporate transactions valued in excess of $5 billion. She has been awarded the 2007 Charlotte Businesswoman of the Year Award, 2004 Business North Carolina Legal Elite Award, and the Charlotte Business Journal Women in Business Award.
Lauri currently serves on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Motorsports Association and North Carolina Motorsports Foundation, the May 20th Society and Mecklenburg Trail of History. She is also a World Racing Group (WRG) Appeal Board Chairperson, a FASTRAK Appeal Board Member, and the Co-President of the Women in Sports and Events (WISE)- Charlotte Chapter. She earned her law degree from Wake Forest University where she co-founded the Sports and Entertainment Law Association and is a Cum Laude graduate of Cedar Crest College. She is also a self-professed history geek.
Licensed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and NC
lance@apollogrouplaw.com
Lance is a “Super Lawyer - Rising Star” in sports and entertainment law, placing him among the top 2.5% of attorneys.
Lance has a concentration in intellectual property and music law. Lance advises, identifies, develops, and manages intellectual property plans and portfolios for sports leagues, NASCAR race teams, the Porsche Carrera Cup race team, celebrity estates, media companies, podcasts, music streaming services, athletes, artists, musicians, authors, YouTube channels, and other corporate, sports, and entertainment clients. Lance advises clients in connection with the registration, licensing, exploitation, protection, and recapture of their intellectual protection, and manages significant portfolios of US and international registered trademarks.
With an understanding of the complexities surrounding intellectual property and music contracts, royalties, publishing, and licensing, Lance advises clients and helps them navigate the intricacies of the music industry, ensuring their creative works are protected and their financial interests are maximized.
Prior to Apollo Law, Lance worked for Edison Nation Inc., where he evaluated intellectual property of inventors, prepared IP assignments and licenses, and filed for trademark protection. Lance also worked with US Sports Management Inc., where he protected, managed, and obtained intellectual property rights for NFL and other professional athletes, and worked in compliance for NCAA, NFL, and NFLPA.
Celeste
Robin graduated from Appalachian State University where she studied Accounting and Business Marketing. Robin obtained her MBA while pregnant with her first born and takes pride in her relationships, partnerships, and work ethic. Robin loves helping other people to succeed in life.
Mary Gamble, Esq. earned her joint JD/MBA from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut with honors in 2010. During law school Mary studied at the University of Florence in Italy. She led the Sports and Entertainment Law Society for three years, and was involved in the Society for Dispute Resolution, earning a Certificate in Mediation. Mary was also very involved in the academic community, helping to bring the first Relay for Life to Quinnipiac and participating in the local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Prior to Law and MBA school, Mary graduated from Clemson University with a BA in 2006, Cum Laude and was on the Dean's List for all four years. While at Clemson, Mary played and coached Clemson's club women's lacrosse team.
Mimi Sabates
Business Development Director
T: 704-334-7741
Mimi Sabates has been involved with the NASCAR community since her youth when her father, Felix Sabates, formed Team SABCO. Mimi became a NASCAR team owner when she co-founded HighLine Performance, which fielded a car in the Busch Series and had a successful season. HighLine Performance partnered with NFL legend Terry Bradshaw to become FitzBradshaw Racing. FBR fielded several teams in the Nationwide Series, Camping World Truck Series, and the Camping World East Series, and was a featured team on the Speed Channel reality show NBS 24-7.
