Jon Fetterolf_bio
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Jon R. Fetterolf

Partner

Office
Washington, DC
New York
Tel.
+1 202.778.1880 (DC) or +1 212.704.4348 (NY)
Fax.
202.822.8106
Others
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Jon R. Fetterolf litigates tough cases, defending clients in criminal matters and fighting for their best interests in complex commercial litigation and investigations.

Jon represents companies and individuals under criminal investigation for antitrust violations, bribery, money laundering, and a variety of other types of financial fraud, including tax, securities, accounting, and government contract fraud. And in his civil practice, Jon focuses on complex commercial matters, with a particular emphasis on antitrust litigation. He has represented corporations and individuals in multidistrict litigation, class action proceedings, and other complex litigation matters in numerous state and federal courts, as well as in international and domestic arbitration proceedings.

In private practice, he has developed a particular niche as a go-to lawyer for sports industry clients. As a certified agent with the Major League Baseball Players Association and founder and head of ZS Sports, the firm’s full service baseball agency, Jon maintains a thriving sports law practice, representing athletes and sports agencies in contract negotiations, salary arbitrations, and free agency, negotiates endorsement and marketing contracts, advised numerous players and their families regarding their selection in the MLB first year player draft, including a number of high-round selections; and advised amateur athletes and their families on NCAA eligibility issues.

As a litigator, Jon handles a variety of sports litigation matters for athletes and agencies having clients in arbitration matters stemming from the governing bodies of their respective sports including baseball, football, basketball and tennis. Such matters include contract and fee disputes, enforcement of restrictive covenants, potential suspension issues and a variety of other types of litigation. Prominently, he is best known for his work in representing athletes in “crisis litigation,” where the underlying matters garner not only significant media attention, but also scrutiny by the relevant league governing body as well as sponsors and others interested parties. Jon has represented players appearing before congressional committees; represented players under investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB) as well as other league bodies.

Jon regularly speaks on panels relating to baseball salary arbitration, as well as other issues regarding major league baseball. He has regularly served as a judge and panelist at the Tulane Law School National Baseball Arbitration Competition, and he has been a speaker at sports law events organized by Michigan Law School, Harvard Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, Northwestern Law School, Fordham Law School, the Penn State Dickinson School of Law, and the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business. He also spoke as a panelist before the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

Prior to joining Zuckerman Spaeder, Jon was a partner at Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, DC.

Education
  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1999
    • Order of the Coif
       
  • Haverford College, B.A., 1993
    • Haverford College Baseball (1989-1993): Captain, Team MVP, All Region
    • Haverford College Basketball (1989-1991, 1992-1993)
    • Alumni Varsity Club Award (1993)
Bar admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • New York
Court admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Clerkships
  • Hon. Pamela A. Rymer, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • Hon. Edmund V. Ludwig, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Professional leadership
  • Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court, 2018-present 
  • Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
  • Member, Criminal Justice and Antitrust Sections, American Bar Association
  • Member, Sports Lawyers Association (SLA)
Community involvement
  • Board of Directors, Strive
Representative matters
  • Represented a Fortune 50 Company in an FCPA investigation brought DOJ, SEC and variety of foreign authorities.
  • Represented a principal of a private equity firm in an internal accounting fraud investigation.
  • Represented a hedge fund in an SEC investigation related to the purchase and sale of certain securities.
  • Obtained dismissal on summary judgment of damages of $400 million over allegations against a Fortune 500 client of theft of trade secrets $400 million.
  • Represented numerous MLB players since 2011 in salary arbitration hearings against their respective Clubs and MLB, prevailing on behalf of the player in 12 of the 19 hearings.
  • Represented a former All-Star MLB pitcher, who was one of the six players to appear and testify at the 2005 Committee on Government Reform congressional hearings on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.
  • Represented a MLB player in a federal civil lawsuit related to allegations of sexual assault.
  • Represented a MLB player in a federal civil lawsuit related to allegations of intentionally transmitting a sexually transmitted disease.
  • Represented a MLB player in federal and league proceedings pertaining to allegations of sexual assault.
  • Obtained dismissal of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order for an MLB player where claims of sexual assault were alleged.
  • Obtained dismissal on summary judgment of a federal civil lawsuit against a MLB player related to claims of assault, battery and civil conspiracy stemming from an altercation at a club.
  • Represented a tennis player against claims that he violated the Tennis Anti-Corruption Rules. All claims were dismissed.
News
Recognitions
Jon Fetterolf_bio

Jon R. Fetterolf

Partner

Office
Washington, DC
New York
Tel.
+1 202.778.1880 (DC) or +1 212.704.4348 (NY)
Fax.
202.822.8106
Others
Send email Send an Email
vCard vCard
LinkedIn LinkedIn