Media Contact: Lucie Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; lucie@eafocus.com; 248.925.6726
Troy, Mich.— April 1, 2025— As the legal landscape of sports evolves at breakneck speed, intellectual property law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC is strengthening its playbook with an expanded sports law practice—enhancing its existing capabilities by bringing in specialized expertise. Led by powerhouse attorney and serial entrepreneur Deb Schneider, this strategic move deepens the firm’s bench strength in name, image, and likeness (NIL), Title IX, athletic sponsorships, and licensing—key areas shaping the future of sports business. The announcement was made by firm co-managing partner Michael Stewart.
“We are thrilled to add Deb Schneider to our starting lineup,” Stewart shared. “She is a sports law powerhouse, with an unmatched understanding of the intersection between intellectual property and athletics. With her leadership, we are not only broadening our expertise but also ensuring continuity in our legal services through her deep knowledge and mentorship of our team. As sports law continues to gain prominence, Deb will drive our firm’s growth in this dynamic and expanding field.”
Schneider’s legal career spans both private practice and in-house roles, including serving as chief legal officer for Champion Auto Racing Teams, Inc. and outside counsel for major sports organizations. She has also founded and led multiple multi-million-dollar businesses, including CrossFire Group and MedNational Staffing Inc. Her role as an adjunct professor of sports law at Wayne State University Law School and Michigan State University College of Law has further solidified her influence, with several current members of Fishman Stewart’s sports law practice having been her students—demonstrating a seamless expansion of knowledge and service continuity within the firm.
A frequent speaker on sports law, Schneider notes that IP plays a pivotal role at every level of athletics—from youth and high school sports to college, professional leagues, the Olympics, and international competitions like golf, tennis, and auto racing. She emphasizes the importance of legal counsel for athletes and their families navigating NIL deals, contracts, and sponsorship agreements.
Outside of her legal and business ventures, Schneider co-hosts the podcast The Pro and the Prof alongside former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Lomas Brown and co-manages the RSF Foundation, which helps individuals overcome employment barriers. She also serves on the boards of The Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation, Tanzacare, Auli.tech, and Mi.Bank. She holds a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Economics from Stanford University.
About Fishman Stewart PLLC
Fishman Stewart helps turn client creativity into valuable intellectual capital. Since its founding in 1996, the firm has obtained tens of thousands of patents and trademark registrations and represented clients in hundreds of cases in Federal Court. As strategic advisers to CEOs and senior executives, Fishman Stewart attorneys develop IP management strategies for U.S. and foreign-based companies to safeguard their business assets throughout the world. To discover how Fishman Stewart leverages intellectual property to effectively increase enterprise value, visit fishstewip.com.
