by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The two-running back system is utilized throughout the National Football League to keep players fresh and perform at optimum levels throughout the season. Usually, one back is an experienced veteran who understands what is needed to achieve success, while the second is a younger back who is driven to prove he can contribute at an elite level.
The same can be said of the Jacksonville Jaguars legal department.
Paul Vance is Jaguars’ senior vice president of football operations and general counsel and was in private practice for 21 years before joining the Jaguars in 1994. He is responsible for the Jaguars’ salary cap strategy and player negotiations. Vance also oversees team training, medical, video and equipment departments along with team travel and logistics.
The day-to-day grind of this list of responsibilities can be enough to wear down most executives.
Enter the younger attorney looking to prove himself.
Sashi Brown recently finished his fourth season with the Jaguars as assistant general counsel. He was born in Boston, Mass., and later earned a bachelor’s in communications from Hampton University. Brown returned to Massachusetts to earn his J.D. at Harvard University, graduating in 2002.
His interest in law lies in its transactional side and he was pleased to combine his passions of law and sports after being hired by the Jaguars in 2005.
“The transactional side of law has always been more interesting to me .... business transactions, corporate law, real estate,” said Brown, a fan of both the Washington Redskins and the Florida State Seminoles. “And I’ve always had an interest in sports. This is a good way to blend my personal interest with a business endeavor.”
Brown admits his job may involve a unique product – a professional football team – but the business approach is standard.
“I advise them on the same matters that would come up for a company, whether their business is professional football or making widgets,” said Brown. “Right now, during the offseason, we are dealing with a lot of contractual negotiations in regards to ticket sales, sponsorships and radio and television broadcasting for preseason games.”
Brown may work in a building that hosts tens of thousands of people on Sundays throughout the fall and into winter, but he experiences the same difficulties with the job that most lawyers do.
“I think, probably with every in-house lawyer it’s the same. The limitations on the amount of time that you have to address a myriad of issues that come up,” said Brown. “Literally, I could fill my day with one or two issues that come up every day, but, normally, there are 10 or 15 that come up that you really need to address. You have to make sure that you are carrying out your duties in a way that you are identifying the issues that are really critical and need more attention.”
Being able to give more attention is one of Brown’s favorite reasons for working with for the Jaguars.
“Coming from private practice, one of the more frustrating parts of that job is that you interact with some dynamic business people, but only on a limited basis,” said Brown. “One of the things I have liked here is being able to develop relationships in-house and being able to work on issues over time so you can see the business progress. You can feel like you are helping to build the business and help to move it forward.”
Vance has been impressed with Brown’s contributions to the organization’s forward progress.
“Sashi is extremely careful and dedicated to what he does and has exhibited very good judgment,” said Vance. “He has been thrown into a lot of situations and has done a good job. From an early point of his time here, he has gained the trust of not only myself, but most of the staff here.”
That trust has allowed Brown’s responsibilities to grow during his four years with the Jaguars.
“I’ve started to work more closely with businesses and have been involved with more major projects,” said Brown. “I’ve been getting more involved with some of the issues that come down from the league office, as well ... Helping the franchise with some of the issues that really affect clubs, but are best handled at the league level and advocating the Jaguars’ positions back to the league office.”
He has experienced some changes during four years with the Jaguars, but the one thing that has remained the same is a picture people have when Brown reveals his occupation and employer.
“The common misconception is that I deal with criminal matters involving our players on a regular basis,” said Brown. “That’s rarely the case. The reality is most of our guys are great guys. I enjoy interacting with them and its more often that I’m helping players get involved with charities.”
When not checking on the Jazz Club he and his brother own in Washington, D.C., (where he worked in private practice) Brown volunteers his time to a handful of different organizations. He is involved with mentoring programs with the Duval County Public Schools, the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation and also serves on the board of directors for the Jacksonville Housing Authority. Brown enjoys reading to two particular second graders at West Jacksonville Elementary School once a week through the mentoring program.
“Keith and Jeremiah (the two elementary school students) are two outstanding second graders,” said Brown, who will marry Paige Williams at the end of May. “It’s nice for them to get some one-on-one time because it’s tough for a teacher when they have a class of 15-20 kids to provide that.”
Brown appears to have a full serving of responsibility on his plate, but hopes to make room for more in the future.
“I’m excited about getting married,” said Brown. “Professionally, I hope to continue to grow and create opportunities in the legal, business and football departments for the Jaguars.”
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