Speaker details

Biography

Ellen M. Zavian began her career in sports when she was a student at the University of Maryland where she worked in the university’s intramural sports and recreation department while working at the Maryland Race Tracks in the promotional department on weekends. While earning her law degree, she interned at the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Soon after graduation, Ms. Zavian became the first female attorney/agent in the NFL. She has represented the US Women’s Soccer and Softball gold medalists and extreme athletes, collectively, and held the title of Commissioner for the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (NCAA). Ms. Zavian served as coordinator for the NFLPA’s Native American project, a nationally recognized journalist, and a court expert in licensing/sports agreements. She also created the United Breakin Association, a global association for competitive break dancers and was instrumental in getting Break dancing in the Olympics (Youth Olympics 2018 and Paris Olympics 2024). She has served on many sports-related committees, including the DC Bar’s Arts, Entertainment, Media, and Sports Section, and co-created the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Sports & Entertainment Committee. She serves on the Board of Trrustees for SafeSport International, DEI Committee of FIFPRO, appointed neutral on Fairsports, and Commissioner of the Maryland Horse Racing Commission, to name just a few. She teaches sports law, negotiations, leadership, and entrepreneurship at the George Washington University School of Business and George Washington Law School, while serving as USA Lacrosse's first General Counsel, s they march to National Governing Body status for the LA28 Olympic Games.