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digitaldean
05-29-2007, 09:45 PM
Just heard this on a podcast of Mark Belling (a Milwaukee talk radio host)....

http://www.milwaukeeworld.com/blog/2007/05/no-license-for-brandt-packer-gc.html

Essentially states that the Packers' chief legal counsel for anything football related has NO LAW LICENSE. :shock:

He might have been in line to take over the spot John Jones was "booted" from. Given this, I'd think this would put that promotion into doubt.

IF this is true, it puts egg on the face of Bob Harlan at the end of his career. Now I still revere Harlan, but this just doesn't look good.

At the very least, the Packers' general board of directors needs to have more oversight over the CEO of the Green and Gold.

Below is the article...
_______
PACKER GENERAL COUNSEL NOT LICENSED

Brandt Suspended from D.C. Bar since 1991

By Michael Horne

Andrew D. Brandt, the Vice President of Player Finance / General Counsel of the Green Bay Packers since October, 2001 does not have a license to practice law in Wisconsin – or anywhere else, it appears.

Brandt, 46, is third in the Packers hierarchy, is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Law, in his native Washington, D.C., and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1986.

He was suspended from the D.C. bar on December 2nd, 1991, for non-payment of dues, and does not appear to have been licensed in any jurisdiction since that time. A spokesperson for the bar said “there is no link on his record to membership in other bar associations. He would be required to list this information.” [Brandt did not respond to a call for comment on this story.]

As milwaukeeworld.com has pointed out previously, a number of general counsels in Wisconsin are not licensed in this state. But it is rare to find a corporate lawyer, such as Brandt, who is not licensed anywhere. This is of particular interest since there are few corporations more iconic of Wisconsin than the Green Bay Packers, Inc., which is chartered by the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Its stock, doled out in small pieces to over 100,000 owners, does not appreciate in value, will never pay a dividend, and is structured to assure that the team remains in Green Bay, by far the nation’s smallest major league city. If a general counsel for an entity as closely linked to Wisconsin as the Packers need not have a license here then who should?

[Interestingly, since Brandt’s accession to the GC post in Green Bay, the firm has been delinquent twice registering its Certificate of Incorporation with the department. The first gap ran from January1st, 2004 to March 2nd, 2004 and the more recent one from January 1st, 2007 to January 30th, 2007, at which point somebody in the front office woke up and the team’s charter was restored. I wonder if that has an impact on the legality of any documents signed during that time.– Ed.]

Although he apparently is not a licensed attorney, Brandt’s 2006 biography, posted on the Packers website, touts his accomplishments and responsibilities, and, in fact, refers to him as “an attorney.”

“Brandt has primary responsibility in the organization for negotiating player contacts, dealing with player representatives and managing the and (sic) all-important [salary]Cap. … The most important contract work came in 2001, ensuring that franchise quarterback Brett Favre would retire as a Packer by virtue of a long-term contract extension.”

His biography continues:

“An attorney, he also handles football-related matters for the organization. Brandt serves as the club’s liaison with the NFL Management Council…”

Brandt is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Marquette University Law School National Sports Law Institute, which lists his Packers general counsel title.

In fact, it seems Brandt’s closest connection with the legal system of the State of Wisconsin lies with his frequent interactions with various law enforcement departments for traffic violations, mostly of a speeding nature, including a September 2005 stop for traveling 83 mph in a 55 mph zone. That cost him $205.30, in Brown County Circuit Court.

The Packers roster also lists a position called “Corporate Counsel.” That is held by Jason G. Wied, a 1998 graduate of Marquette University Law School, and a licensed Wisconsin attorney.

HarveyWallbangers
05-29-2007, 09:52 PM
I don't get the point. Why would he have to have a law license to do what he's doing for the Packers?

He hasn't practiced law since he before he became a player agent--which is what he was doing before he was hired by the Packers.

He doesn't have a license because he didn't pay the fees--probably because he was no longer practicing law.

HarveyWallbangers
05-29-2007, 09:57 PM
Isn't he the Vice President of Player Finance--not the Chief Legal Counsel?

No wonder Brandt hasn't paid his dues since 1991. He hasn't been practicing law since then.


In 1992, Brandt became the first GM of the Barcelona Dragons of the World League of American Football (now the NFL Europe League), then becoming the youngest general manager in a major professional sports league.

Brandt subsequently taught sports law and sports business at both George Washington and American University in Washington, D.C., and created a program in sports management/sports law at the University of Illinois, a program that now serves as a model for the Big Ten Conference.

In 1996, Brandt became vice president of Bob Woolf Associates, a leading player representation firm located in Boston and, in that role, was responsible for the football division, representing players such as Heisman Trophy winner running back Ricky Williams, former Packers quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and Super Bowl hero kicker Adam Vinatieri.

digitaldean
05-29-2007, 09:59 PM
I don't get the point. Why would he have to have a law license to do what he's doing for the Packers?

He hasn't practiced law since he before he became a player agent--which is what he was doing before he was hired by the Packers.

He doesn't have a license because he didn't pay the fees--probably because he was no longer practicing law.

I thought if he is providing legal counsel to the team on football related matters, it would be important to be a licensed attorney.

digitaldean
05-29-2007, 10:02 PM
http://www.packers.com/team/staff/brandt_andrew/

"An attorney, he also handles football-related legal matters for the organization."

I am not knocking his work on the cap and other team matters. I just am curious if this does not look that good at a time when Jones' dismissal this weekend raised some eyebrows.

the_idle_threat
05-29-2007, 10:23 PM
Interesting ... and I stand corrected. (I should know better than to doubt GBM. :oops: )

Although it's true that a law license is not needed for what Brandt is doing for the Packers---in terms of being a management guy and a cap guy---it's unusual for a person without a law license to be a corporation's general counsel (as is stated in the article). He cannot practice law on behalf of the organization without a law license, or at least that would be my understanding. Sounds like this Jason Wied guy should actually be named the organization's general counsel.

falco
05-29-2007, 10:47 PM
FROM PFT:

BRANDT'S CANDIDACY UNDER ATTACK?

Only a day or so after his name was mentioned as a potential replacement for Packers COO John Jones, who was in line to replace CEO Bob Harlan, Packers V.P. of Finance and General Counsel Andrew Brandt is facing a potential smear campaign because (gasp) he currently isn't licensed to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction.

Folks, we don't know the difference between Andrew Brandt and Gil Brandt, and we don't care whether either of them ends up running the Packers. But the idea that Brandt is in some way unfit for his current position because his District of Columbia law license lapsed in 1991 is flat-out goofy.

There's no requirement that in-house counsel be an active member of any state bar, unless in-house counsel is going to be actively serving as the mouthpiece of the company in legal matters, or (arguably) if in-house counsel will be providing specific advice about a specific aspect of the law of a specific state.

We think there's someone inside or outside the organization who doesn't want to see Brandt get in line to succeed Harlan, and that this clerical matter was leaked in order to derail Brandt's candidacy before it gets rolling.

Scott Campbell
05-29-2007, 11:40 PM
Doesn't Nick Barnett have a bar license?

MJZiggy
05-29-2007, 11:43 PM
Brett Favre has a drivers license (I think).

oregonpackfan
05-30-2007, 12:07 AM
Please don't tell the President about Andrew Brandt! He may want to appoint Brandt as White House Chief Counsul or a Federal judgeship.

The President has been accused of selecting individuals for positions where loyalty is valued over competance in that particular field. :)

The Leaper
05-30-2007, 09:04 AM
This is much ado about nothing.

Who the hell cares if Brandt has a law license? Does that change the fact that he is still highly knowledgeable in the area of law? His primary job function with the Packers pertains to finance and business...NOT legal matters. He merely also helps out there BECAUSE of his background. For 99% of legal matters the Packer organization will face, Brandt will serve just fine as a legal consultant who allows others who DO have licenses to practice law to stand before the court.

Why spend a bunch of extra money on a lead counsel who simply has a "legal license" when you have someone on staff who has just as much expertice in that area, but has chosen to pursue a slightly different career path at present? The Packers merely are making a financially shrewd business move by utilizing a smart guy (Brandt) in two different areas. It's not like the Packer organziation is Exxon or some other major corporation that spends a vast sum of money on legal issues.

Note that NOTHING in the team's listing of Brandt's job functions pertains to something where an active law license is necessary to complete.

So again...WHY THE HELL DO WE CARE ABOUT THIS?

The Leaper
05-30-2007, 09:11 AM
I thought if he is providing legal counsel to the team on football related matters, it would be important to be a licensed attorney.

Why?

Is he not experienced from his background to consult on the majority of legal issues that the Packer organziation will face?

The Packers do have a CORPORATE COUNSEL with an active license who can represent the organization. However, if you have a guy on your staff like Brandt...who has a STRONG BACKGROUND in this stuff...why would you refuse to utilize his knowledge and abilities?

IMO, it would be MORE STUPID for Harlan to merely keep Brandt on the tab simply as a finance/business guy...and neglect to tap his legal knowledge and resources.