Shook, Hardy & Bacon Scores Sports Law Pros

Shook, Hardy & Bacon Scores Sports Law Pros, Expands Business Law & Litigation Capabilities with Addition of Intercollegiate & Amateur Sports Practice 

Kansas City, MO, May 12, 2014 —Corbyn “Corby” Jones and William “Bill” Odle have joined the Kansas City office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. (SHB) as Of Counsel and members of the newly established Intercollegiate & Amateur Sports Practice.

Corby’s practice has focused on sports law and corporate/real estate transactions.  Corby is admitted to the state courts of Missouri and the district courts of Kansas and western Missouri.  He received his J.D. and Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“I’m looking forward to working with my Shook colleagues as we bring new clients into the firm mix,” Corby said.  “I know many Shook attorneys and appreciate their legal expertise and the depth of their experience and leadership in the profession.”

An experienced litigator and trial lawyer, Bill Odle has been admitted to practice before federal courts at all levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fifth, Eighth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the district courts of Kansas and western Missouri.  Bill earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School and two B.A. degrees from the University of Kansas.

Bill was equally enthusiastic about his future as an SHB lawyer.  “The opportunity to develop a new practice area in such a collegial organization was something I couldn’t pass up,” he said. 

“With their proven legal skills and professional accomplishments, Corby and Bill bring many valuable assets to the firm,” said SHB Chair John Murphy.  “We’re delighted to welcome them both to SHB and are confident their dynamic Intercollegiate Sports Practice will further enhance Shook’s broad and well-integrated national litigation practice and the array of services we provide to clients.”

Bill and Corby bring unique personal and professional experiences to the firm.  Corby played football at both the collegiate and professional levels, including as the starting quarterback for the University of Missouri-Columbia where he was honored as a GTE Academic All-American in 1998.  Since ending his professional sports career and pursuing the practice of law, Corby has retained an interest in sports law.  He has appeared as an analyst on Fox Sports Network and served as a contract advisor for the NFL Players Association.  Bill has broad experience in the entertainment industry as a musician and songwriter as well as his professional experience counseling clients in the music, filmmaking and literary publishing industries.  He has also practiced education law, counseling both school districts and universities on a variety of issues.  Their demonstrated legal skills, personal experiences and professional accomplishments make Bill and Corby especially qualified to introduce SHB’s Intercollegiate Sports Practice.

Corby and Bill come to SHB from Spencer Fane Britt & Browne L.L.P., where they both practiced Sports and Entertainment Law along with a variety of other areas of law. 

Founded in 1889, Shook, Hardy & Bacon has 11 offices in the United States and Europe with more than 450 lawyers meeting the needs of a diverse client base.  www.shb.com