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The Hollingsworth Sports & Entertainment Law Firm

Perlesta Hollingsworth is a graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Connecticut Law School. He is partner and heads up the Business, Sports and Entertainment sections at The Hollingsworth Law Firm, PLLC in Washington, DC. Mr. Hollingsworth has advised clients on a variety of entertainment issues and been involved in structuring and negotiating deals and advising clients on all contracts from artist-label agreements and publishing agreements to all aspects of intellectual property, including copyrights and trademarks issues. Mr. Hollingsworth has represented actors, professional football and basketball players and musicians in contract negotiations, talent agreements and business startup, including operating agreements, articles of organization, and the creation of non-profit entities.

Mr. Hollingsworth has been a regulatory attorney with the Federal Communications Commission participating in FCC proceedings and providing counsel on the Telecommunications Act of 1996

He also served as an attorney in the administration of former President William J. Clinton with the Rural Utilities Service providing advice and counsel on rural telecommunications and regulatory issues in underserved communities. Mr. Hollingsworth is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and Connecticut. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and National Bar Association and certified as a National Football League Players Association and National Basketball Players Association as an agent.

Mr. Hollingsworth has advised clients on a variety of entertainment issues and been involved in structuring and negotiating deals and advising clients on all contracts from artist-label agreements and publishing agreements to all aspects of intellectual property, including copyrights and trademarks issues. The Hollingsworth Law Firm represented actors, professional football and basketball players and musicians in contract negotiations, talent agreements and business startup, including operating agreements, articles of organization, and the creation of non-profit entities.

Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams, Client Operations, has been involved in the sports representation business since 1998. His background in coaching and as a competitor gives him insight in evaluating the skills and abilities of prospective players for the NFL and NBA. Ryan’s work and association with several professional players has enhanced his ability to work effectively and successfully with aspiring athletes in the sports representation business. Ryan joined the HSE Team in 2009 and is intimately involved in the HSE’s negotiating, recruiting and player maintenance, while specifically handling the day-to-day cultivation of a wide range of marketing and public relations accounts to benefit HSE clients. Ryan attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he majored in Finance and Pre-Law. He enjoys playing golf, coaching youth sports, traveling, attending social events and staying involved with his church

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Cephus Richard

Cephus Richard III, Managing Partner, Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas, and Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Memphis, has spent the majority of the last decade as a Trial Lawyer helping victims of catastrophic injuries get their lives back on track. Cephus has a background in Customer Service from his time as an Engineer and Customer Service Manager Assist Group at Federal Express, where he received a Bravo Zulu award for his exceptional work. Cephus carried over this work ethic to his practice of law where he has resolved cases for families up to over $1 million while being named Missouri Lawyers Weekly 2013 Up & Coming Lawyer, Super Lawyer’s 2015 Rising Stars, National Trial Lawyers Association Top 40 Under 40, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys Top 10 Client Satisfaction Award, and a BV Distinguished Rating from Martindale – Hubbell signifying an excellent rating for a lawyer with experience by his peers.

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Henry Searcy

At HSE, each athlete is an individual with a unique vision for their future. Our team works with clients to help them achieve their fullest potential both on and off of the field. Our singular blend of experience, creativity, intelligence, and candor allows us to bring unparalleled strategic management and career advisory services.We understand that every athlete has different needs, both personally and professionally. Our services are tailored to meet those needs and enable the athlete to concentrate on their profession. At SSE, our primary objective is to provide our clients with the information and options to assist them in reaching their goals. Our philosophy is centered on the athlete making the final decisions regarding their career. As advisors, we do everything possible to make sure the athlete is completely informed before making a decision. 

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AREAS OF PRACTICE

Sports & Entertainment Management

For Footballers and Basketballers, we have been in the sports management business for over 12 years. In an ultra-competitive industry, we have built a formidable team to compete, including attorneys, NFL, NBA, MLB, and FIBA certified agents/contract advisors, marketing advisors, and client development reps. We utilize all of our relationships with NFL, NBA, and MLB front office personnel and scouts to ensure our clients receive maximum compensation and exposure: Contract Negotiation, Marketing Agreements, Pursue and Negotiate Sponsorships and Endorsements, Maximize endorsement opportunities, Appearances, Pursue Philanthropic goals.

SPORTS

For Artists, Actors, Music Producers, Songwriters and others, the challenge is how to Capitalize on your creativity. At HSE, we advise our clients how to do just that, ensuring our Client’s intellectual property is protected and allowing them to do what they do best, be creative: Contract Review/Negotiation, Clear and Protect Copyrights/Trademarks, Publishing Right, Resolve Disputes, Structure media deals, Business Incorporation/Articles of Incorporation/Operating Agreements.

ENTERTAINMENT

Name, Image and Likeness also referred to as NIL is are the three elements that make up “right of publicity”, a legal concept used to prevent or allow the use of an individual to promote a product or service. An NCAA's policy changes now allows college/university athletes to earn money from their name, image or likeness, just as legislation in several states, was about to take effect. will remain in place until federal legislation or new NCAA rules are adopted. But athlete beware, the state where your school is located likely has rules regarding who is eligible for NIL and what kinds of NIL deals an athlete can sign or what types are off limits (think tobacco products, gambling, marijuana and other illegal drugs), which school official should be notified and when, and what must be included in the NIL contract language. With NIL now an option don’t risk your college career by not following the rules, contact our office to help advise you of the NIL rules pertaining to your state. provided the activity is in accordance with state laws and school policy.

NAME, IMAGE & LIKENESS

At HSE, our goal is to ensure that our clients and families are physically and financially healthy upon completion of their sports careers. We interview those financial investment providers to ensure they share our client’s goals of preserving and managing wealth and post career financial security. We also seek out and advise our clients to take advantage of each leagues financial retirement plans, and internships, and other opportunities that helps expose our clients to careers outside of the playing field.

POST-CAREER