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Professor Kenneth L. Shropshire

Director

Wharton Sports Business Initiative

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For over a quarter of a century, Kenneth L. Shropshire has been the David W. Hauck Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Faculty Director of its Wharton Sports Business Initiative.

 

Prof. Shropshire served as Chairman of the School’s Legal Studies and Business Ethics department from 2000-2005. He joined the Wharton faculty in 1986 and specializes in sports business and law, sports and social impact, and negotiations. At Wharton among other things, he is researching antitrust issues, contracts, negotiation and dispute resolution, sports law, and the sports industry. His current research focuses on sport and social impact. He is particularly interested in how sport has been used to impact social conditions in the United States and around the globe. This research has taken him frequently to South Africa, where he focuses on the Royal Bafokeng Nation, as well as Brazil and Jamaica.

 

When the NFL sought to revive its Career Symposium, Prof. Shropshire assisted them in hosting the event at Wharton. This after leading the Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program for NFL players at Wharton since 2004.

 

He is also teaching the Coursera course, The Global Business of Sports, to tens of thousands of students around the globe.

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Prof. Shropshire’s consulting roles have included a wide variety of projects including work for the NCAA, National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the United States Olympic Committee. In 2000 the mayor of Philadelphia appointed Prof. Shropshire to chair Philadelphia’s stadium site selection committee and, later, projects focused on future Philadelphia bids for the Olympic Games. He has also served since 2004 as the Academic Director of Wharton’s Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program for NFL players focusing on their transition away from the game. He is experienced as an arbitrator in sports related matters. Issues have included disputes regarding employment, agents, payments and eligibility. He has served as an arbitrator for the NFLPA and USATF.

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The most recent of Prof. Shropshire’s ten books are Negotiate Like the Pros: A Top Sports Negotiator’s Lessons for Making Deals, Building Relationships and Getting What You Want, The Business of Sports, and Being Sugar Ray: The Life of America’s Greatest Boxer and First Celebrity Athlete. His works include the foundational books In Black and White: Race and Sports in America and The Business of Sports Agents. Related to these works Prof. Shropshire has provided commentary for a number of media outlets including Nightline, CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and Sports Illustrated.

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Prof. Shropshire serves as Special Counsel at the global law firm Duane Morris LLP, working primarily on sports related matters. His blend of legal and business consulting clients include the National Football League and Major League Baseball.

 

His legal work also includes contract negotiations for sports related matters with an emphasis on executive contracts. He also works extensively with sports entrepreneurs ranging from an entity focused on cutting edge scouting for hockey to the representation of the creator of a new sports league.

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