Ice Miller LLP Expands Collegiate Sports Practice: Barbara Osborne Joins the Firm as Of Counsel

10/28/2009

Indianapolis, October 28, 2009 – Ice Miller LLP announced today that Barbara Osborne joined the Firm as of counsel and member of the collegiate sports practice. Osborne brings 26 years of intercollegiate athletics experience including 16 years as an athletics administrator and 10 years as a professor teaching and conducting research on legal issues in college athletics as well as NCAA governance and compliance.

Osborne's responsibilities at Ice Miller include counseling colleges and universities on a variety of athletics compliance and governance matters including gender equity issues such as Title IX audits, Title VII and coaches compensation issues, contracts, student-athlete eligibility/reinstatement, and strategic planning.

"Ice Miller's collegiate sports practice group is already well-known nationally for its work on NCAA compliance and infractions matters," stated John Thornburgh, chair of the Firm's collegiate sports practice. "Osborne's skills and experience will complement the Firm's existing team of talented lawyers and other professionals in this increasingly complex arena."

Osborne's unique background allows her to relate to athletics directors, academic administrators and general counsel at colleges and universities. She has additional experience as a coach and as a television commentator for sports programming. She also served as a public relations specialist for a well-known sports attorney and facilitated interviews, appearances and promotions for celebrity clients including Larry Bird, Carl Yastrzemski and over 100 other athletes.

Osborne has written extensively on gender issues impacting intercollegiate athletics including participation opportunities, employment, sexual harassment, and pregnancy. She is a member of the Sports and Recreation Law Association and the Sports Lawyers Association. She has chaired the Sports and Entertainment Law section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

The Ice Miller collegiate sports practice provides a variety of NCAA compliance, legislative and infractions related services that include preventative initiatives, education and training programs, and guidance and representation regarding potential NCAA rules violations. The Firm's lawyers and professionals have first-hand student-athlete and coaching backgrounds, and are well-versed on NCAA rules, regulations and procedures. The collegiate sports practice also has extensive experience with and detailed knowledge of the NCAA infractions and waivers processes, and the overall operation of the NCAA governance structure.

Ice Miller's lawyers and business professionals, through their understanding of businesses, organizations, and government entities, help simplify the complexities faced by its clients. Ice Miller is committed to helping its clients achieve their legal and business goals. The Firm has offices in Chicago; DuPage County, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind. and Washington, D.C. For additional information, visit online at www.icemiller.com.

This press release is intended for general information purposes only and does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice.