Please do not send an email or any communications containing confidential or sensitive information if you have not already retained Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group to represent you. Sending an email does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please accept these terms below.
Email us at [email protected] for more information | 704-334-7741
- Home
- Sports Law
- Entertainment Law
- Music Law
- Intellectual Property
- Media Law
- Corporate Law
- Artificial Intelligence
- Motorsports Law
- Department Heads
- Featured Press
- Social Feed
- Contact
Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group
contact
Lance S. White, Esq.
Partner and MemberLicensed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office
[email protected]
Lance White is a Member and Partner at Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law (apollogrouplaw.com) and a recognized Super Lawyers Rising Star in sports and entertainment law, a distinction awarded to only the top 2.5% of attorneys nationwide. With more than a decade of experience, Lance represents clients at the highest level across sports, entertainment, music, media, and corporate sectors, offering strategic, business-focused counsel that supports the protection and strengthening of brands, intellectual property, and business interests.
Over the course of his career, Lance has represented an international portfolio of clients, ranging from professional athletes and celebrity talent to multinational media companies, sports teams, and entertainment startups. His cross-industry and cross-border experience allows him to navigate complex legal and commercial issues, delivering strategic counsel designed to help protect his clients’ interests while supporting their growth.
Sports Law Practice: Lance’s interest in sports and entertainment law began as a football player in college and later working with sports agents, where he gained firsthand insight into the critical role attorneys play in managing contracts, intellectual property, and compliance for athletes. This experience shaped his career focus on sports law, where he now provides comprehensive counsel to athletes, teams, agents, and sports organizations.
Lance assists clients with:
- Player contracts and employment agreements, negotiating fair terms and compensation.
- Endorsement, sponsorships, and brand partnerships, seeking to maximize commercial opportunities while protecting rights.
- Licensing and intellectual property, including name, image, and likeness (NIL) protection.
- League and team compliance, advising on compliance with governing and sanctioning bodies.
Intellectual Property and Music Law: Lance’s practice is also rooted in intellectual property law and music law, where he has built and managed international trademark and IP portfolios for professional sports leagues, NASCAR and Porsche Carrera Cup race teams, celebrity estates, streaming platforms, podcasts, multinational media companies, and global entertainment brands. He advises on registration, licensing, enforcement, exploitation, and monetization strategies, working to protect his clients’ rights both in the U.S. and worldwide.
In the music industry, Lance represents artists, songwriters, producers, production companies, publishers, distributors, and rights holders in connection with:
- production and shopping agreements
- recording agreements, publishing, administrative, distribution and licensing agreements
- touring contracts
- merchandising
- Catalog sales or acquisitions
- Performance rights and royalties, streaming and digital media deals
- Protection of name, image, and likeness, including in connection with emerging issues around artificial intelligence and deepfake technologies
Lance works to safeguard his clients’ creative works and advance their financial interests.
Corporate & Business Counsel: Beyond sports, intellectual property, and music law, Lance provides corporate counsel to businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors. He advises on business formation, governance, joint ventures, sponsorship agreements, endorsement deals, talent contracts, and compliance matters. His ability to integrate legal protection with business strategy has made him a trusted advisor to both established organizations and emerging ventures.
Previous Experience: Prior to joining Apollo, Lance worked with Edison Nation, Inc., where he evaluated and help secured intellectual property rights for inventors, and with US Sports Management, Inc., where he advised NFL athletes and sports professionals on trademark protection and NCAA/NFL/NFLPA compliance matters. From the very beginning, Lance knew he wanted to focus on sports and entertainment law—there was no option B. That focus and dedication continue to guide his career, enabling him to help clients protect and grow their brands, creative works, and business interests at the highest level.
Summary: Today, Lance leverages 10+ years of experience and broad industry insight to deliver practical, results-driven counsel. Whether managing international trademark portfolios, negotiating music and entertainment contracts, or advising on corporate strategy, Lance provides clients with the legal foundation they need to succeed at the highest level.
Artie’s primary areas of practice are business/corporate organization, management, and contractual matters, with a wealth of experience and knowledge from over 23 years in the sports and entertainment industry, particularly in motorsports and college sports. Prior to joining Apollo Law, Artie was VP of Business Affairs for the Race Team Alliance for six years, after two years in college sports as Associate General Counsel for IMG College. Artie’s auto racing career also involved various industry players and encompassed a wide range of legal and business work in the fields of sponsorship and licensing, employment, intellectual property, multi-media rights, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate transactions. Artie has been General Counsel for various race teams (Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Red Bull Racing), and prior to that worked for NASCAR as Licensing and Sponsorship Counsel. He is a graduate of Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and Suffolk University Law School (Boston, MA), and is licensed in both North Carolina and Massachusetts.
Darren Angell, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Basketball Department Head
Darren Angell is a sports and business attorney who advises clients across the sports, entertainment, and media landscape on transactions, strategic initiatives, and regulatory matters, with a particular depth in collegiate athletics. His practice operates across a broad range of the sports industry, with experience representing teams, universities, athletes, coaches, administrators, and sports-related businesses.
Darren brings a differentiated perspective shaped by experience in both private practice and Division I athletic departments, where he has been directly involved in men’s basketball business operations, revenue generation, and NIL strategy. That combination allows him to deliver practical, business-oriented counsel that aligns legal strategy with operational realities facing clients across the sports industry. He regularly advises governance, joint ventures, sponsorship and endorsement agreements, commercial transactions, NIL, and NCAA-related matters. He also serves as outside general counsel to sports-related businesses and emerging ventures, counseling them on strategic opportunities within the rapidly changing sports business ecosystem.
Prior to joining Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group, Darren led the Sports Law practice at Wyche, a law firm based in South Carolina. He also served as Chief of Staff for the Furman University Men’s Basketball program, where he oversaw business operations, led NIL initiatives, and managed the program’s VIP donor group. During his tenure, Furman achieved one of the most successful seasons in program history, winning the Southern Conference Championship and advancing in the NCAA Tournament with a victory over the University of Virginia. Prior to Furman, Darren held coaching and business operations roles at Indiana State University and Chicago State University.
Darren began his legal career in Chicago, where he represented professional basketball players and advised universities on NCAA compliance and eligibility matters. He also developed substantial experience in complex commercial transactions.
In addition to his legal practice, Darren co-hosts the SoCon Fast Break podcast and frequently speaks on the evolving business of sports, including NIL, NCAA developments, and the changing structure of collegiate athletics. Darren earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Mercyhurst University, where he served as team captain of the men’s basketball team and as the program’s representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Robin, Accounting Manager
Robin graduated from Appalachian State University where she studied Accounting and Business Marketing. Robin earned her MBA and takes pride in her relationships, partnerships, and work ethic. Robin loves helping other people to succeed in life.
Mary Gamble joined Apollo Law in 2012 and advises clients across a range of business and transactional matters, with a focus on corporate, international, and technology law. With a multi-disciplinary background that bridges law, business, and emerging technologies, she helps clients navigate issues involving business continuity, brand development, cross-border deals, and operational strategy.
Mary earned joint JD/MBA degrees with Honors from Quinnipiac University, where she also earned a Certificate in Mediation and served as President of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society. Before business and law school, she graduated cum laude from Clemson University, where she was a player and coach for the women’s club lacrosse team.
Her practice focuses on legal considerations surrounding technology commercialization, emerging digital platforms, and innovative business models, particularly those involving virtual environments, identity simulation, and tech-focused applications. She regularly contributes to client engagements involving intellectual property, licensing, sponsorship, and risk management.
Mary is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and New York.
Alexandra has 10 plus years experience in event management, PR, social media, and sponsorship coordination working with Monster Energy, Front Row Motorsports, TriStar Motorsports, and Hattori Racing Enterprises. Alexandra has a Bachelor of Science in Sports & Entertainment Event Management from Johnson & Wales University.
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.
Prior to her NASCAR career, Mimi worked for the Charlotte Hornets as the local Marketing Director and for the Charlotte Checkers as the Promotions and Merchandising Manager. Mimi is well-known for her civic work and serves on the Board of Directors of several charitable organizations, including the Duke Cancer Institute Board of Overseers, Foundation for the Carolinas, St. Jude, Chair of the Ambassador’s Ball for Allegro, and Victory Junction.