NO LICENSE FOR BRANDT, PACKER GC

PACKER GENERAL COUNSEL NOT LICENSED

Brandt Suspended from D.C. Bar since 1991

Exclusive for the readers of milwaukeeworld

© 2007

By Michael Horne

[UPDATED, Monday, January 28th, 2008 -- The Green Bay Press Gazette is reporting this morning that Brandt has resigned his position with the Packers. Check today's post on milwaukeeworld. -- Ed.]

Andrew D. Brandt, the Vice President of Player Finance / General Counsel of the Green Bay Packers since October, 2001 does not have a license to practice law in Wisconsin – or anywhere else, it appears.

Brandt, 46, is third in the Packers hierarchy, is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Law, in his native Washington, D.C., and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1986.

He was suspended from the D.C. bar on December 2^nd, 1991, for non-payment of dues, and does not appear to have been licensed in any jurisdiction since that time. A spokesperson for the bar said “there is no link on his record to membership in other bar associations. He would be required to list this information.” [Brandt did not respond to a call for comment on this story.]

As milwaukeeworld.com has pointed out previously, a number of general counsels in Wisconsin are not licensed in this state. But it is rare to find a corporate lawyer, such as Brandt, who is not licensed anywhere. This is of particular interest since there are few corporations more iconic of Wisconsin than the Green Bay Packers, Inc., which is chartered by the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Its stock, doled out in small pieces to over 100,000 owners, does not appreciate in value, will never pay a dividend, and is structured to assure that the team remains in Green Bay, by far the nation’s smallest major league city. If a general counsel for an entity as closely linked to Wisconsin as the Packers need not have a license here then who should?

[Interestingly, since Brandt’s accession to the GC post in Green Bay, the firm has been delinquent twice registering its Certificate of Incorporation with the department. The first gap ran from January1st, 2004 to March 2^nd, 2004 and the more recent one from January 1^st, 2007 to January 30^th, 2007, at which point somebody in the front office woke up and the team’s charter was restored. I wonder if that has an impact on the legality of any documents signed during that time.– Ed.]

Although he apparently is not a licensed attorney, Brandt’s 2006 biography, posted on the Packers website, touts his accomplishments and responsibilities, and, in fact, refers to him as “an attorney.”

“Brandt has primary responsibility in the organization for negotiating player contacts, dealing with player representatives and managing the and (sic) all-important [salary]Cap. … The most important contract work came in 2001, ensuring that franchise quarterback Brett Favre would retire as a Packer by virtue of a long-term contract extension.”

His biography continues:

“An attorney, he also handles football-related matters for the organization. Brandt serves as the club’s liaison with the NFL Management Council…”

Brandt is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Marquette University Law School National Sports Law Institute, which lists his Packers general counsel title.

In fact, it seems Brandt’s closest connection with the legal system of the State of Wisconsin lies with his frequent interactions with various law enforcement departments for traffic violations, mostly of a speeding nature, including a September 2005 stop for traveling 83 mph in a 55 mph zone. That cost him $205.30, in Brown County Circuit Court.

The Packers roster also lists a position called “Corporate Counsel.” That is held by Jason G. Wied, a 1998 graduate of Marquette University Law School, and a licensed Wisconsin attorney.