World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2026 provides a timely lens through which to examine the increasingly complex role that intellectual property (IP) and commercial rights play across the sports industry. Far beyond traditional questions of trademark, copyright, patent, and design protection, the modern sports ecosystem is shaped by layered rights and contractual structures governing athlete branding, sponsorships, media distribution, data, venue technology, and emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-driven uses.
Tech & Sourcing @ Morgan Lewis
TECHNOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, OUTSOURCING, AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS NEWS FOR LAWYERS AND SOURCING PROFESSIONALS
In our May 2025 blog post, Study Finds Average Cost of Data Breaches Significantly Increased Globally in 2024, we highlighted the key findings of the Ponemon Institute’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024. The Ponemon Institute has now published its Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025, showing a decrease in data breach costs, driven by faster identification and containment. Each year, the report sets forth a vast dataset analyzing data breaches at hundreds of organizations to spot trends and developments in security risks and best practices.
Please join us for our fifth annual Artificial Intelligence (AI) Boot Camp. Throughout the series, Morgan Lewis lawyers will explore the latest in AI developments, insights, usage, and integration, as they may impact companies of all sizes and across industries. Discussions will examine key challenges and opportunities presented by AI from a business and legal perspective.
Get ahead of the game by joining partner Don Shelkey and associates Charlotte Cavendish and Jesse Taylor on March 4, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET, for a discussion on emerging trends in sports business transactions. From artificial intelligence–driven fan engagement to innovative sponsorship models shaping the future of sports transactions, the Morgan Lewis team will explore the trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping these transactions.
Please join us on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 12:00–1:00 pm ET as Morgan Lewis partners Don Shelkey and Heather Egan explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how business operate, innovate, and deliver value. The Tech & Sourcing team will dive into legal, commercial, and other strategic issues shaping AI adoption with topics ranging from contracting to compliance.
In an era defined by economic volatility, supply chain disruptions, rapid technological change, and geopolitical risk, outsourcing remains an attractive strategy for businesses seeking efficiency and scalability. At the same time, uncertainty has fundamentally changed what clients expect from their outsourcing agreements. Rigid, long-term contracts that assume stable market conditions are increasingly misaligned with business reality.
As the sports industry looks ahead to 2026, sponsorship agreements are becoming more complex, more strategic, and more closely scrutinized. We sat down with Doneld “Don” Shelkey, a leading sports sponsorship and commercial agreements lawyer at our firm, to discuss what he’s seeing in the market and what sponsors and rights holders should be thinking about now.
As technology transactions continue to evolve rapidly, staying ahead of trends, innovations, and regulatory shifts is crucial. Join our Tech & Sourcing Webinar Series on January 22 at 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT for an insightful discussion on Tech Transactions: The Year Ahead. This session, featuring Doneld G. Shelkey, Marina G. Aronchik, and A. Benjamin Klaber, will delve into developments in artificial intelligence, data-driven deals, and new sourcing models, providing key insights to help navigate the changing landscape in 2026.
The holiday season often brings an increase in events featuring Santa Claus, themed characters, or other performer—but have you ever thought about the contractual clauses Santa agrees to in connection with his appearances at these events? Like with any performance agreement or event contract, Santa and the event host will need a complete, well-written contract to properly set expectations and allocate responsibility so no one ends up on the naughty list. In the spirit of the holidays, this post highlights some key considerations in performance and event contracts.