Barry Evan Axelrod (August 21, 1946 – May 9, 2024) was an American sports agent and lawyer who specialized in sports, entertainment and business law.
Barry Axelrod | |
|---|---|
| Born | Barry Evan Axelrod August 21, 1946 Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 9, 2024 (aged 77) Encinitas, California, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (AB, JD)[1] |
| Occupation(s) | lawyer, agent |
Early life
editBarry Evan Axelrod was born on August 21, 1946, in Burbank, California.[1][2][3] He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts in History[4] in 1968[1] and from UCLA School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1971.[1]
While attending UCLA, he spent more than five years working part-time for a sports team physician, making friendships with many sports athletes who moved on to professional careers.[4]
Legal career
editAxelrod spent three years in the general practice of law in a small firm, before he joined the firm of Steinberg & Demoff as a partner and helped create the firm's Sports and Entertainment practice. Within two years, the firm represented approximately 100 athletes in the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Women's Tennis Association, women's golf, auto racing, and rodeo.[4]
Axelrod left the firm in 1978 and became a sole practitioner with a focus on Sports and Entertainment Law. He began operating his own law firm in Encinitas, California in 1979. He was a member of the Sports Lawyers Association and taught Sports Law at Pepperdine University Law School in 1994 to 1995.[4]
Notable clients
editAxelrod's first client was his UCLA roommate, Mark Harmon. He also represented Harmon's wife, Pam Dawber.[5] Axelrod also represented Jake Peavy, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Matt Morris, Matt Clement, Phil Nevin, as well as former San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers, broadcasters Rick Sutcliffe, Mark Grace and Wally Joyner, and professional figure skater Michelle Kwan.[6]
Other activities
editAxelrod served on the board of directors of the United States Anti-Doping Agency from 2000 to 2011.[4][7]
Death
editAxelrod died at his home in Encinitas, California, on May 9, 2024, at the age of 77.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Martindale-Hubbell Law Profile
- ^ Hubbell, Martindale (April 2008). Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory: California (Volume 2 - 2008). Martindale-Hubbell. ISBN 9781561607891.
- ^ The California Legal Directory. Legal Directories Publishing Company. 1973. p. 21.
- ^ a b c d e Barry Axelrod - Special Assistant to the General Manager (Archived bio)
- ^ "Q&A: Agent Axelrod talks Biggio, Bagwell". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ "Our Background". March 28, 2007. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007.
- ^ USADA Names New Board Chair and Welcomes New Members
- ^ Miller, Bryce. "Legendary Encinitas agent Barry Axelrod remembered by Wally Joyner, Phil Nevin, others". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 10, 2024.