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3rd Annual Sports Law Conference

Sports Law Banner Updated

 

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Santa Clara Sports Law Conference presented by Habbas Law! Come enjoy a full-day of sports law programming and take advantage of the opportunity to network with some of the country's most prominent attorneys working in the sports industry. Speakers will include attorneys from professional teams, leagues, brands, and other sport-related organizations.

What: 3rd Annual Santa Clara Sports Law Conference presented by Habbas Law

When: Friday, March 27, 2026 - 8:30am to 5:00pm

Where: Santa Clara University School of Law - Charney Hall (conference will be in-person only, no online option)

Cost: FREE for students and $100 for attorneys (4 hours of general MCLE credit will be available)

Registration Link (Deadline to Register is 3/20/26): https://mysantaclara.scu.edu/law---2026-sports-law-conference-registration-page 

***  Conference includes Breakfast, Lunch, and Reception

Read recaps of our 1st Annual and 2nd Annual conferences from years past.  

Please see the Conference Speakers & Agenda below. 

Speakers

(In order of appearance)

Rich Brand
Richard Brand - Managing Partner and Head of Sports Practice Group, ArentFox Schiff

Woodie Dixon
Woodie Dixon - Chief Legal Officer, Golden State Group

Sapna Pandya - Red Bull
Sapna Pandya - EVP & General Counsel, Red Bull

Lauren Strackbine Headshot
Lauren Strackbine - SVP & General Counsel, Sharks Sports & Entertainment

Marissa John - Seattle Seahawks
Marissa John - VP & General Counsel, Seattle Seahawks

Thiadora Pina
Thiadora Pina - Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence; Clinical Professor of Law, Santa Clara University School of Law

Myka Bell
Myka Bell - Counsel, PGA Tour

Kim Davis - headshot
Kimberly Davis - Sr. EVP of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs, National Hockey League

Anne Doepner Headshot
Anne Doepner - Sr. Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Minnesota Vikings

Nona Lee
Nona Lee - Founder/ CEO, Truth Is.; former Executive VP, Chief Legal Officer, Arizona Diamondbacks

Shayn Skov - 49ers
Shayne Skov - Former San Francisco 49ers Linebacker, Executive Associate Athletics Director, Strategy, Stanford University

Katie Steiner Headshot
Katie Steiner - Vice President, Senior Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs, OneTeam Partners

Catherine Chow - Canucks Sports and Entertainment
Catherine Chow - Chief Legal Officer, Canucks Sports & Entertainment

Jen Flynn - PWHL.
Jen Flynn - SVP, Business Affairs & General Counsel, Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)

 

Kate Porter - Bay FC
Kate Porter - General Counsel, Bay FC (NWSL)

Derrick Davis Jr. - Angel City FC
Derrick Davis, Jr.
- General Counsel, Angel FC (NWSL)

Linsey Krolik Headshot
Linsey Krolik
- Assistant Clinical Professor, Santa Clara University School of Law

Marykaren Ripple - MLS
Marykaren Ripple - Associate Counsel, Business Affairs (Data Privacy), Major League Soccer

Michelene Rabbitt - Snowflake
Michelene Rabbitt - Global Industry & Strategy Leader (Sports, Betting, and Music), Snowflake

Kate Sheets - Headshot
Kate Sheets - SVP, Strategy & Business Affairs, AEG Global Partnerships

Joth Bhullar Headshot
Joth Bhullar (SCU '16) - Deputy General Counsel, San Jose Sharks

Schedule

Friday - 3.27.2026 (All Times Pacific)

8:30–9:00am  Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00–9:30am

Opening Remarks

9:45–10:45am

Panel #1: Sports Lawyers Leading the Game (1 hour MCLE Credit) - Speaker Bios and MCLE Materials

  1. Moderator: Richard Brand, Managing Partner and Head of Sports Practice Group – ArentFox Schiff
  2. Panelists:
    1. Woodie Dixon, Chief Legal Officer – Golden State Group
    2. Sapna Pandya, EVP & General Counsel – Red Bull
    3. Lauren Strackbine, SVP & General Counsel – Sharks Sports & Entertainment
    4. Marissa John, Vice President & General Counsel –  Seattle Seahawks
11:00am –12:00pm

Panel #2: Diversity & Inclusive Excellence in Sports (1 hour MCLE Credit) - Speaker Bios and MCLE Materials

  1. Moderator: Thiadora Pina, Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence; Clinical Professor of Law – Santa Clara University School of Law
  2. Panelists:
    1. Myka Bell, Counsel – PGA Tour
    2. Kimberly Davis, Sr. EVP of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs – National Hockey League (NHL)
    3. Anne Doepner, Sr. Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Minnesota Vikings
    4. Nona Lee, Founder/ CEO – Truth Is. Consulting; former Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer –  Arizona Diamondbacks
12:15pm –1:15pm

Lunch and Keynote Speaker: Shayne Skov

  • Executive Associate Athletics Director, Strategy – Stanford University
  • McKinsey & Company – Associate Partner
  • Former NFL Player – San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Stanford Football – 2009 to 2013
1:30pm-2:30pm

Panel #3: It’s Our Time - Women’s Sports Is Here To Stay (1 hour MCLE Credit) - Speaker Bios and MCLE Materials

  1. Moderator: Katie Steiner, Vice President, Senior Counsel – Business & Legal Affairs – OneTeam Partners
  2. Panelists:
    1. Catherine Chow, Chief Legal Officer – Canucks Sports & Entertainment
    2. Jen Flynn, SVP, Business Affairs & General Counsel – Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)
    3. Kate Porter, General Counsel – Bay FC (NWSL)
    4. Derrick Davis, Jr., General Counsel – Angel City FC (NWSL)
2:45pm–3:45pm

Panel #4: Hot Topics in Sports Law – AI/Tech/Data/Privacy (1 hour MCLE Credit) - Speaker Bios and MCLE Materials

  1. Moderator: Linsey Krolik, Assistant Clinical Professor — Santa Clara University School of Law
  2. Panelists:
    1. Marykaren Ripple, Associate Counsel, Business Affairs (Data Privacy) – Major League Soccer
    2. Michelene Rabbitt, Global Industry & Strategy Leader (Sports, Betting, and Music) – Snowflake
    3. Kate Sheets, SVP, Strategy & Business Affairs – AEG Global Partnerships
    4. Joth Bhullar (SCU ’16), Deputy General Counsel – San Jose Sharks
4:00pm–5:00pm

Networking and Reception!