Frank Salzano is an accomplished attorney and trusted legal advisor with more than two decades of experience representing high-profile individuals, professional athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and businesses in complex litigation, sophisticated transactions, and high-stakes negotiations.
Combining the strategic sophistication of major international law firms with an intimate understanding of the business and commercial realities of his clients’ industries, Frank provides sophisticated legal counsel designed to protect his clients’ interests, maximize opportunities, and preserve long-term value.
Throughout his career, Frank has represented an extraordinary roster of internationally recognized entertainers, professional athletes, sports organizations, and industry leaders. His current and former clients include Michael Jackson, Prince, Ezekiel Elliott, Run-DMC, Matchroom Boxing (Eddie Hearn), Usher, Evander Holyfield, Lil’ Kim, Ruff Ryders, and the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, among others. His work has involved some of the most consequential contractual negotiations, commercial disputes, and legal matters in the entertainment and sports industries.
Professional background
Frank began his legal career at Jones Day, one of the world’s preeminent international law firms, where he represented Fortune 100 companies in complex commercial transactions and intellectual property matters. This experience established the foundation for his sophisticated approach to legal analysis, business strategy, negotiation, and dispute resolution.
He subsequently joined The McMillan Firm, a boutique entertainment law practice, where he represented prominent artists, athletes, management companies, and media businesses. His practice encompassed contract negotiations, intellectual property matters, commercial transactions, and complex industry disputes.
In 2007, Frank became an original founding member of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Entertainment, Media & Sports Practice Group, helping develop a practice that brought together sophisticated corporate legal capabilities and specialized entertainment and sports industry expertise. During this period, he developed longstanding professional relationships with leading agents, managers, executives, financiers, and other influential industry participants.
In 2011, Frank established his own private practice.
Sports, entertainment & high-value negotiations
As a certified NFL contract advisor, Frank has negotiated prominent professional sports contracts, including Ezekiel Elliott’s landmark $90 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019.
His sports practice extends beyond player contracts to encompass licensing, endorsements, sponsorships, commercial partnerships, intellectual property, and the broader business interests of professional athletes and sports-related enterprises.
His entertainment practice similarly encompasses the business and legal dimensions of film, television, music, talent representation, licensing, intellectual property, and commercial relationships.
A strategic approach to legal representation
Frank’s practice is distinguished by an approach that combines sophisticated legal representation with practical business judgment. He understands that the most important legal decisions frequently involve considerations extending well beyond the immediate dispute or transaction.
Whether representing a business in complex commercial litigation, negotiating a substantial business transaction, protecting valuable intellectual property, or advising an individual in a sensitive and high-stakes matter, Frank brings the same level of preparation, discretion, strategic thinking, and personal attention.
Frank remains personally involved in the matters he undertakes and draws upon an extensive professional network developed over more than two decades to identify opportunities, facilitate solutions, and advance his clients’ objectives.
His background at major international law firms, combined with his experience representing some of the most recognizable names in entertainment and professional sports, provides a distinctive perspective on complex legal and business matters.
Current practice areas
Frank’s practice encompasses litigation, transactional representation, and strategic legal counseling across a broad range of industries, including:
- Commercial & Business LitigationComplex commercial disputes, contract litigation, business torts, partnership disputes, and high-stakes negotiations.
- Entertainment & MediaFilm, television, music, talent representation, production, distribution, and related commercial matters.
- Sports LawProfessional athlete representation, club contracts, licensing, sponsorships, endorsements, and commercial partnerships.
- Corporate & Transactional MattersBusiness transactions, strategic partnerships, contract negotiations, and commercial agreements.
- Intellectual PropertyTrademark, copyright, trade dress, rights of publicity, and intellectual property protection and enforcement.
- Licensing & SponsorshipCommercial licensing, brand partnerships, endorsements, and related agreements.
- Trade Secrets & ConfidentialityProtection of proprietary information, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements.
- Privacy & Reputation ProtectionDefamation, libel, slander, privacy rights, and reputation-related disputes.
- Alternative Dispute ResolutionArbitration, mediation, and negotiated dispute resolution.
Frank’s philosophy is straightforward: sophisticated legal representation should be measured not only by the quality of the legal work, but by the results, opportunities, and long-term value it creates for the client.