Melinda Morris Zanoni, Esq. is the Managing Member of the nationally-known and Chambers ranked Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group, a member of the prestigious GGI Global Alliance. 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, recently on CourtTV and featured in the national “Sports Business Journal”. She also has been named a Super Lawyer in the areas of Sports and Entertainment, placing her among the elite 5% (and one of the very top women) Sports, Entertainment, and Media lawyers in the country.
Melinda represents sports teams, celebrity estates, media companies, team owners, sports leagues, on-air personalities, entertainment companies, avatar production, music publishers, record labels, best-selling authors, celebrities, & professional athletes who trust her with their brands. She has an extensive network of relationships with media executives, agents, film studios, TV networks, sponsors, & Fortune 500 companies, with whom she has participated in the negotiating, structuring, & closing of a variety of high-profile & international transactions valued over $21 Billion. Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law is a HUB-certified law firm with an emphasis on advising and managing the cutting-edge business & legal affairs of its clients in complex transactions such as AI commercialization, stadium licenses, NIL rights, eSports, sports betting, NCAA compliance, broadcast agreements, music publishing, player contracts, network agreements, naming rights, corporate endorsements, licensing deals, interactive media, and intellectual property protection, as well as acting as production counsel for feature-length films and TV shows.
When not practicing law, Melinda enjoys her family, exercise, and world travel.
Select Representative Transactions
- Estates of Hollywood Legend AVA GARDNER and Grammy Award winner 100M records sold JUAN GABRIEL
- CHECKERS HOCKEY sale to Zawyer Sports + Entertainment
- HORNETS minority owner rep to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall
- AMERICAN CORNHOLE LEAGUE –ESPN
- MICHAEL JORDAN 23XI Racing; television commercial for Novant Health
- RENEE RAPP – pop star/ actress; Star of Mean Girls BROADWAY
- Attorney for top influencers+ first viral social media stars who played a role in what is now called “influencer culture”
- Celebrity Avatar production
- Universal, Spotify & Virgin music; Sony & Columbia Pictures Music Licensing incl Here Comes the Boom; Film & TV attachments incl Mall Cop, Magic Mike XXL, and Fargo; Televisa, Plan B, Netflix
- DannyGo! #1 YouTube videos
- Celeb Meteorologist JIM CANTORE representation and endorsements
- COWBOYS & CAROLINA PANTHERS Quarterbacks: NoBull/ Bose/ Fanatics/ TopGolf
- RIHANNA’S Fenty, COCA-COLA, Dolce & Gabbana, Target, AMAZON & BARBIE deals
- IMG College; NECA collectibles; Live Nation; Inner Circle Sports transactions
- Signature Sports 5 Clubs NBC Golf Channel
- World Champion/ Hall Of Fame/ Sports Illustrated Cover / ATHLETES
- MOTORSPORTS teams, athletes, sanctioning bodies, media, facilities
- KATHY IRELAND skincare endorsement
- ESPN 30 for 30 and league broadcast deal; NYT Best-Selling books
- NC, SC, and TN LOTTERY TICKET licensing and endorsement deals
- Broadcasters including NBA Analysts; ESPN anchors
- Top athlete PODCASTS including Follow The Truth MICHAEL JORDAN
Professional Affiliations/ community Service
- Chambers ranked 2025
- Super Lawyer: Sports & Entertainment (2022-present)
- Official Law Firm of Ascent FC (Professional Soccer)
- GGI Global Alliance member Firm
- NCBA (Sports & Entertainment Council Member); Illinois State Bar Association
- Sports Lawyers Association; ABA Forum Entertainment & Sports
- R.A.K.E.S., Dress for Success, WINGS, CLT Film Board, Urban Ministry, CMPD
- SBJ Game Changer; SBJ Thought Leader
- Women Executives; WISE (Women In Sports and Events)
- Trusted Advisors (L.A.)- invite only network of advisors for A-list celebrities, musicians, and athletes
CLEVER. CREATIVE. CONNECTED
Practice Areas | Sports Law | AI Law| Entertainment Law | Media Law| Business Law| Intellectual Property| Music Law
Education
- B.S. University of Illinois (Economics
- J.D. University of Illinois College of Law
Work Experience
- Thompson Coburn LLP (Chicago)
- nelson mullins riley & scarborough, LLP
- apollo sports & entertainment law group (2008- Present)
