Sarah Hartley

Sarah Hartley
  1. People /

Sarah Hartley

Sarah Hartley

Partner

Sarah Hartley
  1. People /

Sarah Hartley

Sarah Hartley

Partner

Sarah Hartley

Partner

Washington/Boulder

T: +1 303 866 0363

T: +1 303 444 5955

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Biography

Sarah has nearly 20 years’ experience as a trial lawyer and appellate advocate across a wide variety of industries, and as a trusted advisor and consultant on a broad array of antitrust, athletics, higher education, and governance issues. She is co-chair of BCLP’s Higher Education Team, a member of the Sports & Entertainment Group, and leads BCLP’s workplace investigations team. She is expert in addressing and investigating allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination, and other workplace issues, as well investigating and adjudicating allegations under Title IX. She also advises educational institutions on various aspects of Title IX compliance, including policy reviews, disciplinary proceedings, and athletic compliance with gender equity mandates. She works to find effective solutions in light of the real world challenges facing athletic departments particularly in light of the changing landscape of university athletics. She also assists professional and Olympic sports clients on a broad range of commercial, governance, and compliance issues.

In addition to her practice at BCLP, Sarah serves as adjunct professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she teaches a sports law course focused on governance, sexual misconduct, doping, collegiate sports, and other hot topics in sports, and has previously taught a similar course at the University of Colorado Law School.  She guest lectures for the University of Oregon School of Law’s Summer Sports Law Institute and is a regular contributor to sports law publications such as Law In Sport.

Areas of Focus

  • Outdoor Industry

Civic Involvement & Honors

  • Board of Directors, Colorado Outward Bound School (2015-2022)
  • Board of Directors, Positive Coaching Alliance (2015-2018)
  • Board of Directors, Mile High Squash (2011-2014)
  • Articles Review Editor, Virginia Environmental Law Journal

Professional Affiliations

  • Board Member, College Squash Association (2023 – present)
  • Member, The Women’s Sports Foundation’s Legal & Legislative Subcommittee (2024 – present).
  • Sports Lawyers Association
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), Member

Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 2022
  • Colorado, 2011
  • New York, 2008
  • California, 2005

Education

  • University of Virginia, J.D., 2005
  • Yale University, B.A., with distinction, 2001

Related Practice Areas

  • Business & Commercial Disputes

  • Antitrust

  • Real Estate

  • Real Estate Disputes

  • Investigations

  • Cross-border Employment Issues

  • Employment & Labor

  • Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

  • Appellate

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Sports & Entertainment Contract, Endorsement & Celebrity Representation Practice

  • Anti-Doping Practice

  • Sports & Event Venue Real Estate Infrastructure and Operation

  • Naming Rights & Sponsorship Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment M&A Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment Litigation Practice

  • Collegiate Sports Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment Specialty Counseling Practice

  • Entertainment Industry Practice

  • Outdoor Industry

  • Olympic & National Governing Body Practice

  • Professional Sports Team Practice

  • Campus Free Expression

  • Higher Education Team

  • Israel Practice

  • Sports & Event Financing

  • Oil, Gas and LNG

  • Sports & Entertainment

Experience

Sports

  • Developed policies and procedures for investigation and arbitration of Safe Sport complaints for new U.S. Center for Safe Sport.
  • Works with various NGBs on Safe Sport issues.
  • Handles Safe Sport complaints, including evidentiary hearings.
  • Works with various NGBs and leagues on governance issues, sponsorship deals, and employment matters.
  • Successfully represented professional football team in litigation over use of trademarks.

Antitrust

  • Represented telecommunications manufacturer in a seven-month jury trial and subsequent appeal regarding numerous antitrust issues.
  • Represented state university in defense of antitrust claims regarding on-campus student housing.
  • Won dismissal in Federal Court in Denver in a Section 1 and Section 2 gas transportation antitrust case seeking more than $100 million.  Briefed the appeal in the 10th Circuit.

Commercial Litigation

  • Won trial in Colorado state court, involving control of a $90 million natural gas pipeline.  Briefed and won appeal in Colorado Court of Appeals.
  • Won arbitration involving attempts to shut down a natural gas pipeline.
  • Represented telecommunications manufacturer in $30 billion patent licensing dispute regarding cell phone technology.
  • Obtained favorable settlement for natural gas exploration and development company in royalty dispute.
  • Represented insurance company to develop global strategy for managing and resolving multi-district and international litigation regarding defective Chinese drywall.
  • Represented parties in arbitration contesting ownership of major social media platform.
  • Obtained favorable settlement for transgendered Federal inmate on claims of failure to protect and failure to provide necessary medical treatment.
  • Represented direct sales company in dispute regarding supply of ingredient for cosmetics line.
  • Represented outside directors in indemnification action against former bank.
  • Represented major retail company in trademark suit regarding parody on company marks.

Related Insights

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Apr 11, 2023

Department of Education’s New Proposed Rule for Transgender Participation in Athletics

The participation of transgender athletes in youth, interscholastic, and elite sport has long been a highly charged political issue domestically and internationally, with a vast range of different approaches to regulating participation. Last week’s combination of Supreme Court orders, state legislation, and a proposed rulemaking from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) confirm that this must remain a focal point for educational institutions intending to continue offering athletics participation opportunities.

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The participation of transgender athletes in youth, interscholastic, and elite sport has long been a highly charged political issue domestically and internationally, with a vast range of different approaches to regulating participation. Last week’s combination of Supreme Court orders, state legislation, and a proposed rulemaking from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) confirm that this must remain a focal point for educational institutions intending to continue offering athletics participation opportunities.
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