Taylor Porter Partner and sports law attorney Bob Barton served as a presenter and panelist this morning at the Louisiana Law Review and Pugh Institute for Justice symposium, "Blurring Lines - Emerging Trends and Issues in Sports and Gaming Law," held at the LSU Law Center.

Barton presented, “Full Cost of Attendance, Other Potential Benefits, and What the Future Holds After O’Bannon v. NCAA," and was joined on the "Current Issues in Sports Law" panel by Marc Edelman, Associate Professor of Law at Baruch College CCNY, and Abigayle C. Farris, attorney at Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C.

In this Symposium, the LSU Law Center, the Pugh Center for Justice and experts from across the country gathered to discuss and analyze important, complex, and evolving legal issues in sports and gaming law, including employment contract issues for professional athletes; college athlete, class action litigation cases involving the seeking of payment for play; regulatory and licensing requirements and admiralty issues associated with riverboat gaming; online gaming; fantasy sports; and recent sports athlete protests and civil rights.

Other panels and panelists included:

• "Gaming in Louisiana: Issues and Trends" - Dean A. Sutherland, Of Counsel at Jeansome & Remondet, Adjunct Faculty, LSU Law Center; and Paul S. West, Shareholder at Baker Donelson, Adjunct Faculty, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
• "Current Issues in Sports Law" -  Josephine Potuto, Professor of Law, University of Nebraska College of Law; William Berry, III, Associate Professor of Law, University of Mississippi School of Law; and Matthew Mitten, Professor of Law, Marquette University Law School
• "Civil Rights and Sports: A National Conversation" - Todd J. Clark, Professor of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law; Laura R. McNeal, Associate Professor of Law, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law; Josephine Potuto, Professor of Law, University of Nebraska College of Law; and Roger M. Groves, Professor of Law, Florida Coastal School of Law

Barton is an adjunct professor teaching a course on Sports Law at LSU Law Center, and he is a former member of the LSU National Collegiate Athletic Association Re-accreditation Committee. For more than 20 years, Barton has practiced in commercial litigation and transactions, regulatory and compliance matters, and general litigation, including sports law. He represents colleges and universities in matters pertaining to NCAA, NAIA, and conference rules and regulations, and in other litigation, contract and compliance matters concerning their athletic departments. He also has represented the NCAA in litigation with a former student-athlete claiming concussions and other injuries allegedly resulting from intercollegiate athletic practice and competition. Barton has represented universities in Title IX issues, and related dealings with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights.  

​Barton serves as vice-chairman of the Taylor Porter Executive Committee and co-leader of the Business and Commercial Litigation practice. He is an active member of the Business Development Committee of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.