Of counsel Michael David “Mook” Williams is a veteran attorney, multiple-time business founder, and creative sports-industry innovator who is always looking to zig where others would zag. He has advised top athletes & coaches on matters on & away from the field for over a decade, and enjoys pushing the envelope to achieve positive change. A co-founder & former co-owner of NYC-based Vaynersports, he retired as a certified pro football player agent in June 2019, and refocused on his legal practice. Mook continues to represent coaches & front office personnel, and is staying close to the sports world in an assortment of other ways, such as the launch of a groundbreaking football consulting agency.
Mook co-founded two separate successful pro football player agencies (Symmetry and VaynerSports). As general counsel of VaynerSports, he drafted dozens of marketing, endorsement, & event contracts, sitting across the table from some of the top brands and organizations in the world. Mook has drafted industry-leading player representation contracts, and his techniques continue to be widely used in the industry. He has either lead or supported the negotiation of well over $100M of NFL Player Contracts during his 10-year career as a certified player agent.
As a civil litigator, Mook has achieved a consistent history of wins for his clients, including matters featuring multiple real property & zoning, professional design, consumer rights, and business disputes. As an attorney, he has handled cases involving three NFL Stadiums, represented a notable professional boxer in a dispute with a prominent promoter, and has negotiated several early resolutions to significant business disputes.
Utilizing an effective blend of passion, humor, and commitment to detail, Mook excels in both the courtroom and the boardroom.
Mook has made dozens of appearances speaking to college and law school classes, on various topics from the world of sports including amateurism, pro athlete representation, social media use by athletes, and building a sports agency. Some of the schools he has appeared at include Boston College Law School, Hofstra Law School, Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, and Suffolk Law School. He has similarly appeared on various media shows to discuss sports law and the football industry, including the pandemic-era “State of Football” daily streaming show.