
Tyrone P. Thomas
Member / Co-chair, Sports & Entertainment Practice
+1.202.434.7374
Tyrone has gained national recognition for his work in employment and sports law. He advises academic institutions on executive compensation arrangements. Tyrone also provides compliance assessments on governance issues and advises clients on conflicts of interest. In addition, he focuses on legal issues pertaining to intercollegiate athletics and professional sports. Tyrone is highly regarded for his insight on sports matters and has served as a legal analyst for various publications. He also chairs the firm’s Diversity Committee.
Tyrone advises boards, presidents, and other senior executives on employment, consulting and separation agreements. In providing compliance assessments on governance issues, he advises on conflict of interests and IRS regulations governing intermediate sanctions and Form 990 reporting. He has counseled on the development and implementation of affirmative action plans and related matters with OFCCP. Tyrone is a frequent speaker for various associations in higher education on presidential compensation and executive searches, including the American Council on Education, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Council of Independent Colleges.
Tyrone represents clients on complex legal issues in athletics. In intercollegiate athletic matters, his experience includes enforcement investigations, the infractions process, and appeals. He advises colleges on Title IX, employment contracts, and policies for athletics personnel. In professional sports matters, he has advised teams on league compliance issues and other legal matters. He is nationally recognized for his experience in sports matters and has served as a legal analyst for the New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Sports Business Journal, University Business, and the Sports Litigation Alert.
In general employment matters, Tyrone advises companies on reductions in force and allegations of discrimination. He successfully defended a nonprofit organization engaged in food recycling and meal distribution programs on a race discrimination charge. He advised a metro transportation authority on corrective action programs arising from a consent decree on discrimination charges. He has conducted litigation avoidance audits relating to prospective discrimination/harassment/retaliation claims for a power company, an international trucking company and a provider of cleaning and facility services.
In addition to his legal practice, Tyrone is chair of the Mintz Diversity Committee. In this role, he leads the firm’s initiatives promoting diversity in the legal profession. Tyrone is also the Co-chair of the firm's Sports & Entertainment Practice.
Education
- Tulane University (JD)
- Dartmouth College (BA)
Experience
- Advised a university on certain terms for the contract of its then-head football coach, who was at the time subject to high recruitment elsewhere due to the team’s top 5 national ranking.
- Provided employment advice and counseling to the Big Ten Conference on key employment and executive compensation issues for its senior staff.
- Advised and counseled NBA league bylaws and polices as well as involvement in intra-team disputes and matters involving trades and health disclosures.
- Advised a private university on a number of employment matters including compliance with Title IX, regulations applicable to athletics aid and participation, and NCAA bylaws and policies.
- Represented a major league professional sports team in arbitration over appropriate trade disclosures; obtained a seven-figure recovery.
- Represented Vanderbilt University and its Board of Governors regarding the compensation package and employment contract of the university's chancellor.
- Represented the University of Florida and its Board of Trustees in connection with the recruitment process for hiring a new president.
Recognition & Awards
- Lawyers of Color Power List (2020)
Involvement
- Past Deputy General Counsel, National Bar Association
- Member, Sports Lawyers Association
Viewpoints
Conference Recordings: Mintz's Annual Employment Law Summit
March 12, 2021 | Webinar | By Michael Arnold, David Barmak, Jessica Catlow, Micha Mitch Danzig, Geri Haight, Andrew Matzkin, David Lagasse, O'Kelly E. McWilliams, III, Jennifer Rubin, Tyrone Thomas, Alexander Hecht, Danielle Bereznay, Jennifer Budoff, Delaney Busch, Corbin Carter, Emma Follansbee, Natalie C. Groot, Paul Huston, Brie Kluytenaar, Brendan Lowd, Audrey Nguyen, Nicole Rivers, Richard Block
Thoughts for Employers Celebrating Juneteenth for the First Time
June 19, 2020 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas
Whether it is a company recognizing this event by initiating a new diversity action plan, facilitating a day of self-education and reflection on racial progress, or giving staff some form of PTO, here are some of my thoughts related to Juneteenth.
Part Ten of the COVID-19 Roadmap Series: Workplace Communications and Trainings
May 20, 2020 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas, Danielle Bereznay
OFCCP Announces Relief From AAP Requirements For COVID-19 Related Federal Contracts
March 22, 2020 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas
New Law Gives Student-Athletes Mandatory Whistleblower Protections
May 16, 2019 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas
Compliance Issues Facing the Sports Industry
August 27, 2018 | Video | By Tyrone Thomas
Mintz 4th Annual Employment Law Summit -- Navigating Unexpected Terrain in Workplace Investigations
March 23, 2018 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas
Law360: NCAA Transfer Rule Ripe for Reform Despite Court Success
March 14, 2018 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas
New Tax Law Brings Penalties for Top Paid Non-Profit Executives
December 31, 2017 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas, Alden Bianchi
March Inevitableness? Considering the Legal Consequences of Pay to Student-Athletes
March 16, 2017 | Blog | By Tyrone Thomas
News & Press
How College Basketball Can Diversify Its Coaching Ranks
March 31, 2021
NCAA Amateurism On The Line As Top Court Takes Pay Case
December 17, 2020
Myths and Realities About Trump’s Executive Order on Race, Gender
November 19, 2020
Diversity-Fueled ‘Reverse’ Bias Claims Put Employers in Quandary
October 8, 2020
Colleges need new playbook to prepare for NIL rules
July 20, 2020
Mintz Member Tyrone Thomas Named to 2020 Lawyers of Color Power List
February 10, 2020
NCAA Decides Against Exerting More Authority over Academic Misconduct
September 13, 2019
Law360 Ranks Mintz a Top Firm for Minority Attorneys
July 09, 2019
NCAA Reforms Fail To Fix Basketball’s Corruption Problem
August 17, 2018
Mintz Earns Eleventh Consecutive Perfect Score from Human Rights Campaign in LGBTQ Workplace Equality Scorecard
March 28, 2018
NCAA Transfer Rule Ripe For Reform Despite Court Success
March 13, 2018
N.C.A.A.: North Carolina Will Not Be Punished for Academic Scandal
October 13, 2017
LEAD1 Association Interview with Tyrone Thomas of Mintz Explores how "Diversity in perspective can show itself in so many different ways"
September 13, 2017
Mintz Receives its Tenth Consecutive Perfect Score on Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2017 Corporate Equality Index
December 12, 2016
Mintz Attorney Tyrone P. Thomas to Speak at 2016 Learfield Intercollegiate Athletics Forum
November 30, 2016
Louisville’s Rick Pitino Claims Dominion, Except When Scandal Hits
October 20, 2016
High Court Stays Out Of College Athlete Pay Debate, For Now
October 3, 2016
Sports Programs Draw Up a New Playbook for Student Activism
September 23, 2016
Mintz Attorney Tyrone P. Thomas to Speak at Division 1A Athletic Directors Association Annual Meeting
September 15, 2016
The Case Against Ole Miss: Amid Significant Allegations, Will the NCAA Find Smoke or Fire in Rebels' Football Program?
June 29, 2016
College Athlete Employee Claims a Dead End Post-Penn Suit
February 19, 2016
NCAA Relaxes Rules to Allow Players to Gauge NBA Draft
January 14, 2016
Tyrone P. Thomas Elevated to Member of Mintz
May 18, 2015
Tyrone P. Thomas to Chair Mintz’s Diversity Committee
August 01, 2014
Events
ESG 101: Social Impact Investing and Board and C-Suite Diversity & Inclusion as Value-Creation Vehicles
View the Webinar Recording

Tulane 3rd Annual Entertainment and Sports Law Conference
6329 Freret Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
The 24th Annual John Molson Sports Conference
John Molson Sports Marketing
Omni Hotel Mont-Royal Montreal, QC
American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) 2019 Executive Leadership Seminar
Presidential Contracts
Washington, DC
