Celebrating 5 Years of HEITNER LEGAL

5 years ago today, I created a law firm from scratch. I decided to call it HEITNER LEGAL. I liked the idea of personal branding in a field where personal touch should matter. I also wanted to stand out, and decided on using all-caps.

I launched HEITNER LEGAL after less than a full 4 years of practicing law. But I felt that I was ready to make the leap. I was made promises at my prior firm that were not kept, my clients told me that they didn't want anyone but me handling their work, and I was almost strictly spending time on clients that I had brought into the firm. It was time to make a move.

On June 17, 2014, I emailed the following to a select group of individuals:

"If you are receiving this email, it means that I have either performed legal work for you in the past or you are a member of my very close group of friends. The reason I am sending this brief email to you today is to privately announce the creation of a new law firm, HEITNER LEGAL.

After years of working at other law firms, I determined it was due time to create my own and bring my passion for the law and serving clients to the forefront of a new practice. Much will stay the same -- I will continue to emphasize a practice dedicated to quality care of clients, keeping an open line of communication and finding solutions to complex problems. The name of the firm and accompanying logo are different, but I am the same attorney who will do whatever it takes to effectively advocate on your behalf. It is likely that I also remain Of Counsel to Wolfe Law Miami, P.A. Further, if you have a legal matter still pending with Wolfe Law Miami then you will be getting a separate letter in the near future giving you the opportunity to check a box that states your intention to be represented by my new firm. We are in the process of getting such a letter finalized.

HEITNER LEGAL will handle both transactional and litigation matters.

The new website is https://www.heitnerlegal.com. As always, contact me if we can ever be of service."

I was up and running. I set up an operating account and a separate trust account to hold clients' funds. I filed for an EIN number with the IRS and started shopping for errors and omissions insurance and well as health insurance. It was a very exciting time, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't at least slightly stressed, and I'm someone who rarely shows any sign of anxiety.

5 years have truly blown by. I'm excited about what the next 5 years will bring. But I had to get a little nostalgic on a day like today. I dug up one of the first articles written about HEITNER LEGAL, authored by a long-time friend Mark Burns.

The article was published only 3 days after HEITNER LEGAL was launched, with the title, "Let success be your noise: Prominent sports, entertainment attorney forms own law firm." Here's the text of the article ... I hope you enjoy. The quote from Leon McKenzie, who remains a client and an amazing friend, makes me choke up a bit.

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The best moves in life are made in silence. Don't talk about it. Just do it and let them talk about it.

It is the beginning of an anonymous saying that speaks to quietly conducting one's business without the unnecessary verbal nonsense. Essentially, let success be your 'noise' is the underlying meaning.

We are approaching the halfway point of the calendar year and for some individuals, like sports and entertainment attorney Darren Heitner, that 'noise' has already been consistent throughout 2014.

Heitner's sports law book, How to Play the Game - What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, was published by the American Bar Association in late February. Just recently, Heitner received his accreditation as a National Basketball Players Association Certified Agent.

Now, the 29-year-old Heitner has decided to 'hang his own shingle', a phrase common in the legal community for someone launching his or her own firm. And yet for Heitner, the question marks and tension with such a bold career move, while fairly common in the industry, are not present as he begins Heitner Legal.

With his previous experiences, extensive clientele and a respected reputation in the industry, the decision to create his new venture seemed ripe in 2014.

"Heitner Legal presents an extremely exciting opportunity for me to continue my zealous advocacy for clients and offers a new outlet to help solve increasingly complex problems," said Heitner of the South Florida-based firm. "I have found that active communication has truly separated my practice from competitors. I plan on providing optimal service without forfeiting a personal touch to the practice of law."

Since graduating from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 2010, Heitner has represented athletes, entertainers, agents, small businesses and large corporations on both transactional issues and commercial litigation matters. Heitner Legal will offer a wide array of services from copyrights and trademarks to contracts, right of publicity disputes, estate planning and more.

"Darren has been one of the biggest pieces of our business protecting our interests and pointing out pitfalls and also helping us to increase our brand and presence," said Leon McKenzie, President and Founder of Sure Sports Lending. "When you combine a legal mind with marketing savvy business like Darren does, you can't help but flourish.

"We are excited to see him move on to forming his own firm and we will be there with him every step of the way."

Prior to launching his new firm, Heitner served as a Partner at Wolfe Law Miami and will remain Of Counsel there on an as needed basis. Heitner also currently serves as a contributor for Forbes.com where he covers the sports business beat, and as the Owner/Chief Editor of SportsAgentBlog.com. The founding of the well-respected niche publication in the winter of 2006 first allowed Heitner to gain a name for himself in the cluttered sports business landscape. Ever since, Heitner's work ethic and bold career decisions have continued to shape the South Florida native into one of the most prominent young legal minds in the sports and entertainment industry.

"Darren is an immensely passionate advocate for his clients," said Scott A. Shapiro, Owner of baseball agency, Praver Shapiro Sports Management. "He leverages his understanding of digital media to provide a depth of representation beyond a typical sports lawyer. Engaging Darren as counsel is the equivalent of adding five people to your staff: counsel, public relations manager, digital/social media manager, sports industry consultant and business developer. He is truly one of a kind."