Zachary Mazuzan L’24
The Brooklyn Nets, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) Global, Brooklyn, New York
Zachary Mazuzan L’24 came to law school with an interest in learning about the intersection of law and business in the world of sports. In the fall semester, he was able to turn his goals into a reality through a full-time externship with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) Global. BSE Global is the parent company of Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Liberty, NBA G League team the Long Island Nets, and NBA 2K League affiliate NetsGC. The position reported directly to Jeff Gewirtz, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs & Chief Legal Officer at BSE Global.
Grateful for the support from the Externship Opportunity Fund and generous alumni donors, Maruzan was able to ease the financial challenges associated with undertaking an unpaid externship in New York City for the semester. This assistance also provided an opportunity for him to explore a new field of law.
“My externship was an opportunity to see how a professional sports organization operated outside of just the athletic events that we as fans love to watch,” he reveals.
“From sponsorship agreements, marketing plans, and ticket sales, to proper insurance coverage, creating ways to bolster fan experiences, and staying up to date with new league rules, there are so many moving parts behind the scenes. This externship was an opportunity to learn about the true breadth of work that goes into how sports organizations function!”
Zachary Mazuzan L’24
Having a unique look at an in-house counsel legal role enabled Maruzan to see first-hand the diversity in workflow from day to day on a range of matters spanning different areas of the law. Many of the professionals that he worked with emphasized that finding success in the world of sports goes beyond simply loving the sport the team plays. Being a fan is simply a plus, and your focus needs to lie on honing your legal skills and being able to demonstrate value to the company.
Back at school, Mazuzan is a member of Syracuse Law Review and a part of both the Trial and Alternative Dispute Resolution Divisions of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honors Society.
Post-graduation, he has accepted a job with a law firm in Washington, DC. “I hope to work in their transactional practice groups,” he says, “because that seems to be the most transferrable skillset into an in-house role with a sports team. I hope to equip myself with a transactional skillset and stay in touch with the connections I have made to keep an eye out for future opportunities in the world of sports!”